HomeMy WebLinkAboutCity Council Committees - Land Use and Planning Board - 07/12/2021 Pending Approval
Land Use and Planning Board
KENT Land Use Regular Meeting
WA9H... Minutes
July 12, 2021
Date: July 12, 2021
Time: 6:02 p.m.
Place: THIS IS A REMOTE MEETING
Attending: Michael Purwal,
Sally McDonough,
Ali Shasti, Chair
Shane Amodei, Vice Chair
Dione Dittmar,
Katherine Jones,
Joseph O'Toole
Agenda:
1. Call to Order 6:02 p.m.
Attendee Name i Status Arrived
Michael Purwal Present
Sally McDonough Present
Ali Shasti Chair Present
Shane Amodei Vice Chair Present
Dione Dittmar Excused
Katherine Jones _ Present
Joseph O'Toole Present
3. Approval of Minutes dated May 24, 2021
MOTION: Move to approve the Minutes dated May 24, 2021
RESULT: APPROVED [4 TO 0]
MOVER: Shane Amodei, Joseph O'Toole
AYES: Shasti, Amodei, Jones, O'Toole
ABSTAIN: Purwal, McDonough
EXCUSED: Dittmar
4. Changes to the Agenda
No changes.
5. Introduction of New LUPB Members
Hayley Bonsteel made a brief introduction of the new LUPB members, Sally
McDonough and Michael Purwall.
6. Code Amendments to Kent City Code Chapters 6.15, 6.16, and 15.08
RE: Wireless Facilities
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Land Use and Planning Board Land Use Regular July 12, 2021
Meeting Kent, Washington
Minutes
A presentation for the code amendment changes regarding Wireless Facilities
was made by Christina Schuck and Erin George.
City right-of-way supports a variety of telecommunication facilities installed
on utility poles and streetlights. These telecommunication facilities are
primarily governed by federal law and therefore much of the City's ability to
regulate these facilities is pre-empted. The City retains the authority to
impose regulations for safety and aesthetics. The City regulates larger
wireless facilities, such as towers and monopoles, within Zoning Code (KCC
15.08.035). Small wireless facilities (SWF), also known as small cells, are
governed by Public Works chapter KCC 6.16, initially adopted in 2019 and
titled "Utility Design Standards in the Right-of-Way." The authority to access
the right-of-way through franchise agreements and master license
agreements for the deployment of small wireless facilities is set forth in
chapter 6.15 KCC.
As wireless technology and federal law continue to evolve and change, minor
amendments to these code provisions are necessary to address these
changes and to better facilitate the deployment of this technology.
Specifically, the proposed ordinance updates the design standards for street
lights to better accommodate new designs and 5G antennas and to allow for
the installation of strand-mounted small wireless facilities on the cables
between utility poles. This amendment also clarifies that the small wireless
facilities design standards apply to any light poles within and outside of the
right-of-way (e.g., in parking lots).
To limit the visual effects and physical bulk of the proliferation of wireless
facilities on residential areas, the ordinance prohibits the installation of small
wireless facilities outside of the right-of-way and prohibits ground-mounted
equipment within the right-of-way, the boundary of which can extend into
front yards. These amendments also limit the height of replacement utility
poles used to install larger wireless facilities in all areas of the City.
Additionally, this ordinance updates terminology and definitions to better
align with federal law and to reflect the evolving types of wireless
telecommunication facilities (not small cells) being installed throughout the
City.
There were questions from the board regarding the differences in codes for
SWF and the larger wireless towers as well as concern regarding how much
discretion staff has in approving or rejecting permit requests based on
aesthetics. Members and staff worked on adding more locations in
residentially zoned neighborhoods outside of the right-of-way that can house
SWF including public schools and City parks with appropriate set-backs. The
changes agreed to are: 6.16.040(D) Small wireless facilities are not
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Land Use and Planning Board Land Use Regular July 12, 2021
Meeting Kent, Washington
Minutes
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permitted in residential zoning districts outside of the right-of-way, except in
public parks and on public school campuses, set back 30 feet away from
property lines.
Two speakers from the Wireless Policy Group representing Verizon and AT &T
supported the additional language and pushed for more flexibility in Pole
height and separation. Those were tabled in favor of passing what was in
front of the board.
MOTION: Recommend City Council adopt the ordinance amending chapter
6.16 to update the design standards for small wireless facilities, and to
update definitions and references within Kent City Code 6.15.050 and
15.08.035 related to wireless facilities.
RESULT: RECOMMENDED TO COUNCIL [UNANIMOUS] Next: 7/27/2021
4:00 PM
MOVER: Joseph O'Toole
SECONDER: Sally McDonough
AYES: Purwal, McDonough, Shasti, Amodei, Jones, O'Toole
EXCUSED: Dittmar
7. House Bill 1220
Hayley Bonsteel presented on zoning changes the City of Kent must consider
to be in compliance with House Bill 1220.
During the regular legislative session of 2021, the state legislature passed
House Bill 1220, supporting emergency shelters and housing through local
planning and development regulations.
The bill makes changes to the Growth Management Act, specifically through
increasing the requirements of the Housing Element of the Comprehensive
Plan; it also defines new parameters for the zoning of indoor emergency
shelters, permanent supportive housing, and transitional housing.
Hayley provided an overview of the bill, including known and unknown
characteristics of the relevant types of housing/facilities, and discussed the
potential impacts on Kent's planning, zoning, and development regulations.
S. Adjournment 7:45 p.m.
Ta,nycv K.asew
Committee Secretary
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