A. 
A pre-application meeting is encouraged prior to submitting an application for a wireless communications facility permit.
B. 
Applications for a macro facility shall be filed with the director on forms prescribed by the city. All applications shall be accompanied by applicable fees as established in MCMC § 17.42.010. Each application shall contain the following:
1. 
The name, address, phone number and authorized signature on behalf of the applicant;
2. 
If the proposed site is not owned by the city, the name and address of the owner and documentation establishing the lease or easement right and permission of the property owner to locate the macro facility on the private property;
3. 
A statement identifying the nature and operation of the macro facility;
4. 
A vicinity sketch showing the relationship of the proposed use to existing streets, structures and surrounding land uses, and the location of any nearby bodies of water, wetlands, critical areas or other significant natural or manmade features;
5. 
A plan of the proposed use showing proposed streets, structures, land uses, open spaces, parking areas, fencing, pedestrian paths and trails, buffers, and landscaping, along with text identifying the proposed use(s) of each structure or area included on the plan;
6. 
Information necessary to demonstrate the applicant’s compliance with FCC rules, regulations and requirements which are applicable to the proposed macro facility;
7. 
An explanation of the technical need for the macro facility; this may include but is not limited to capacity or coverage requirements;
8. 
If not proposing a collocation, then documentation showing that the applicant has made a reasonable attempt to find a collocation site acceptable to engineering standards and that collocating was not technically feasible or that it posed a physical problem;
9. 
Map showing all existing property lines within and adjacent to the proposed project and the names and mailing addresses in written and electronic format of the owners and residents of adjacent property; and
10. 
Such additional information as deemed necessary by the director for proper review of the application, and which is sufficient to enable the director to make a fully informed decision pursuant to the requirements of this chapter.
(Ord. 2019-850 § 4; Ord. 2025-943 § 2 (Exh. B))
A. 
Application. Upon receipt of a complete application for a macro facility, the application shall be processed administratively pursuant to MCMC § 14.09.010.
B. 
Review. The director shall review the application for conformance with the application requirements and review criteria to determine whether the application is consistent with this chapter.
C. 
Decision. A permit may be granted, granted with conditions pursuant to this chapter and the code, or denied. Any condition reasonably required to enable the proposed use to meet the standards of this chapter and code may be imposed. If no reasonable condition(s) can be imposed that ensure the application meets such requirements, the application shall be denied.
D. 
Conditions. Conditions imposed under this chapter shall constitute permanent regulations on the exercise of the approved use. Each permit issued by the city shall be conditioned to:
1. 
Require the permittee to allow collocation of proposed macro facilities on the permittee’s site, unless the permittee demonstrates that collocation will substantially impair the technical operation of the existing macro facilities to a substantial degree.
2. 
Require the permittee to maintain the macro facility in a state of good repair and to maintain or replace, if necessary, vegetation and landscaping required as a condition of approving the permit.
3. 
Require the permittee to notify the city of any sale, transfer, assignment of a site or a macro facility within 60 days of such event.
4. 
Require the permittee to comply with the provisions of this title and all other applicable city ordinances and rules and regulations.
(Ord. 2019-850 § 4)
No application for a macro facility may be approved unless all of the following criteria are satisfied:
A. 
The proposed use will be served by adequate public facilities including roads, water, and fire protection.
B. 
The proposed use will not be materially detrimental to uses or property in the immediate vicinity of the subject property, and will not materially disturb persons in the use and enjoyment of their property.
C. 
The proposed use will not be materially detrimental to the public health, safety and welfare.
D. 
The proposed use is in accord with the comprehensive plan.
E. 
The proposed use complies with this chapter and all other provisions of this code.
F. 
The director shall review the application for conformance with the following criteria:
1. 
Compliance with prioritized locations pursuant to MCMC § 17.29.080.
2. 
Compliance with design standards pursuant to MCMC § 17.29.090.
(Ord. 2019-850 § 4)
Wireless communication facilities shall be located in the following prioritized order of preference:
A. 
Collocation with existing macro facility(ies) or another existing public facility/utility facility (i.e., existing or replacement PUD pole or an existing monopole/tower).
B. 
Collocation on existing buildings and structures located in nonresidential zones.
C. 
Collocation on existing buildings and structures in residential zones not used for residential use (e.g., religious facility or public facility).
D. 
New monopole structure proposed in a commercial or business zone district, where the sole purpose is for wireless communication facilities. Said monopole structure shall be the minimum height necessary to serve the target area; however, the structure shall be designed to allow extensions to accommodate the future collocation of additional antennas and support equipment. Further, the monopole structure shall comply with the setback requirements of the commercial or business zone districts, as applicable. In no case shall the antenna be of a height that requires illumination by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA).
E. 
New monopole structure proposed in a residential zone district, where the sole purpose is for wireless communication facilities, but only if the proposed WCF structure meets all of the following criteria:
1. 
The structure shall be set back from residential structures and public right-of-way a minimum of 150 feet.
2. 
The structure must be no higher than the minimum height necessary to serve the target area; however, the structure shall be designed to allow extensions to accommodate the future collocation of additional antennas and support equipment. In no case shall the antenna be of a height that requires illumination by the FAA.
(Ord. 2019-850 § 4)
All macro facilities shall be constructed or installed according to the following standards:
A. 
Macro facilities must comply with applicable Federal Communications Commission (FCC), Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), state, and city regulations and standards.
B. 
Antennas shall be located, mounted and designed so that visual and aesthetic impacts upon surrounding land uses and structures are minimized, and so that they blend into the existing environment. Panel and parabolic antennas shall be screened from residential views and city right-of-way.
C. 
Macro facilities must be screened or camouflaged employing the best available technology, such as compatible materials, location, color, artificial trees and hollow flagpoles, and other tactics to minimize visibility of the facility from public streets and residential properties.
1. 
Macro facilities shall be designed and placed or installed on a site in a manner that takes maximum advantage of existing trees, mature vegetation, and structures by:
a. 
Using existing site features to screen the macro facility from prevalent views; and
b. 
Using existing or new site features as a background in a way that the macro facility blends into the background.
2. 
As a condition of permit approval, the city may require the applicant to supplement existing trees and mature vegetation to screen the facility.
3. 
A macro facility shall be painted either in a nonreflective color or in a color scheme appropriate to the background against which the macro facility would be viewed from a majority of points within its viewshed, and in either case the color must be approved by the city as part of permit approval.
4. 
Macro facilities may be subject to additional screening requirements by the director to mitigate visual impacts to adjoining properties or public right-of-way as determined by site-specific conditions.
D. 
Equipment facilities shall be placed underground if applicable, or, if above ground, shall:
1. 
Be screened from any street and adjacent property with fencing, walls, landscaping, structures or topography or a combination thereof; and
2. 
Not be located within required building setback areas.
E. 
If a security barrier is installed that includes a fence, wall or similar freestanding structure, the following shall apply:
1. 
The height of the barrier shall not exceed six and one-half feet if located in a setback area, unless the director determines additional height is necessary and then it can be up to eight feet. In all other areas the height shall be restricted by the height limitations in the zoning district. The height is measured from the point of existing or finished grade, whichever is lower, at the exterior side of the barrier to the highest point of the barrier;
2. 
Be screened from adjoining properties and city right-of-way through the use of appropriate landscaping materials including:
a. 
Placement of landscape vegetation shall include areas outside of the barrier and shall obscure the site within three years; and
b. 
Landscaping and the design of the barrier shall be compatible with other nearby landscaping, fencing and freestanding walls; and
3. 
If a chain link fence is allowed in the zone district it shall be black vinyl.
F. 
Macro facilities may not (1) produce noise in excess of the limitation set forth in Chapter 9.14 MCMC; and (2) not be used for mounting signs, billboards or message displays of any kind.
G. 
The director shall consider the cumulative visual effects of macro facilities mounted on existing structures and/or located on a given permitted site in determining whether the additional permits can be granted so as to not adversely affect the visual character of the city.
(Ord. 2019-850 § 4)
A macro facility permit issued under this chapter must be substantially implemented within three years from the date of final approval or the permit shall expire. The holder of the permit may request one extension to be limited to 12 months, if the applicant cannot construct the macro facility within the original three-year period.
(Ord. 2019-850 § 4)