20.13.050 Priority of location and prohibited locations.
In reviewing applications for new personal wireless communication facilities, preference shall be given to locations in the following order:
A. Attachment on existing structures shall be preferred to the construction of new support structures. In all cases, sites that are in areas identified in the neighborhood plan as having a special condition of “view,” “historic” or “design review” will have a lower priority than other sites in the same zone. Attachment to nonresidential structures will have a higher priority than attachment to residential structures. In all cases, antennas should not have a negative impact on views from public recreational areas such as parks or trails. Locations for attached antennas are prioritized as follows:
1. Existing Towers. Collocation on an existing tower where a legal wireless communication facility is currently located.
2. Industrial Zones. Public zones on structures used for utility functions. On structures in industrial zones if the facility will not have a negative impact on water views. Public zones (particularly utility or governmental services zones) or sites containing similar government services if the facility will not have a negative impact on water views or views from recreational areas and the use does not adversely affect other public uses on the site.
3. Commercial Zones, Institutional Zones and Other Public Zones. Neighborhood and waterfront commercial zones are a lower priority than other commercial zones.
4. Residential multi. multiple, mixed zones allowing offices or commercial uses.
5. Residential Zones. Nonresidential structures will have priority over residential structures.
B. A new support structure should only be considered when the applicant demonstrates that it is necessary to provide acceptable service and there are no suitable and available locations on existing structures. Support structures are prohibited within (1) the Shoreline Management Act jurisdictional area, (2) sites in any general use type, other than Industrial, designated with a “historic” special condition in the neighborhood plan, (3) sites in any general use type, other than sites owned by the city of Bellingham, designated with a “view” special condition in the neighborhood plan and (4) sites in the Fairhaven design review district as identified in Figure 20.25.020(A). Sites that contain residential structures will have a lower priority than other sites in the same zone. In all cases, towers should not be visible from public recreational areas such as parks and trails. Locations for support structures are prioritized as follows:
1. Heavy industrial zones located east of Interstate 5.
2. Clustering on existing tower sites when additional impacts will be negligible.
3. Industrial Zones. In Industrial zones if the WCF will not have a negative impact on waterfront views and the area is not developed primarily for commercial uses. Generally these areas will be located east of Interstate 5.
4. Planned Commercial and Institutional Zones. Public zones on sites already used for utility structures when the tower will not be visible from public recreational facilities.
5. Other commercial zones.
6. Residential and other public zones. Sites that are not used for residential purposes are preferred. [Ord. 2012-08-041 § 5; Ord. 1998-07-057].