Chapter 20.46
SPECIAL DEVELOPMENT STANDARDS
Sections:
20.46.010 ACCESSORY DWELLING UNITS.
20.46.050 RECREATIONAL VEHICLE ON A PRIVATE LOT.
20.46.070 ADAPTIVE REUSE OF COMMERCIAL BUILDINGS.
20.46.080 MINERAL RESOURCE OVERLAY.
20.46.090 TEMPORARY ENCAMPMENT PERMIT.
20.46.110 ADULT ENTERTAINMENT BUSINESSES.
20.46.140 WIRELESS COMMUNICATIONS FACILITIES.
20.46.150 PUBLIC UTILITY FACILITIES.
20.46.160 PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION/ TRANSMISSION FACILITIES.
20.46.010 ACCESSORY DWELLING UNITS.
An accessory dwelling unit (ADU) may be permitted anywhere a new or existing single-family dwelling unit (hereafter, "principal unit") is allowed. Accessory dwelling units are exempt from the density requirements of the underlying zone and shall be subject to the following requirements:
(a) An ADU shall comply with the development standards of the underlying zone for the principal unit including setbacks, height, and lot coverage or BMC 20.44.060, accessory structures setbacks for detached ADUs.
(b) An ADU may be attached or detached from the principal unit.
(c) Two (2) ADUs may be created per lot. The lot shall only contain one (1) single-family dwelling unit and a maximum of two (2) ADUs.
(d) Manufactured homes may be allowed as an accessory dwelling unit provided it complies with the design criteria of ADUs and must comply with BMC 20.46.040, manufactured home provisions, excluding BMC 20.46.040(a)(2) and (6) regarding size and roof pitch.
(e) The ADU shall be limited to one thousand (1,000) square feet or not more than sixty (60) percent of the principal unit’s total habitable floor area, whichever is greater, with the following exception:
(1) To encourage the compact infill development and use of existing single-family homes, if a residence that was constructed or remodeled prior to December 31, 2020, is proposed to be divided into a principal unit and an ADU, the Director may allow equal square footage for the principal unit and the ADU if the ADU is located completely on a single floor of the existing residence. This does not apply to detached ADUs.
(f) Any ADU shall be designed so that the appearance of the building remains that of a single-family residence and should architecturally blend into the existing neighborhoods through careful design. The exterior of an ADU shall have siding and roofing which in color, material and appearance are comparable to the predominant materials of the primary dwelling unit and/or characteristics of the neighborhood.
(g) One ADU is not required to provide an additional off-street parking space. The second ADU shall provide one (1) off-street parking space in addition to that which is required for the principal unit. The site must comply with Chapter 20.48 BMC, specifically that the required parking spaces for the principal unit shall be provided and that all driveways and areas used for loading, parking, and maneuvering vehicles on the parcel shall have a paved surface.
(h) When development of an ADU is for people with disabilities, the Director may allow reasonable deviation from the stated requirements to install features that facilitate accessibility such as those required by the International Building Code.
(i) An ADU shall be required to be served by City water and sewer or an approved septic system.
(j) The property owner, which shall include titleholders and contract purchasers, must abide by the following:
(1) International Property Maintenance Code Chapter 3, Section 302, concerning exterior property areas, as adopted at BMC 17.04.020(f), except those not adopted as enumerated in BMC 17.04.110, or as hereby amended; and
(2) All applicable provisions in BMC Title 6 regarding health and sanitation including maintaining nuisance vegetation, proper garbage and refuse containment, and maintaining the buildings to not qualify as an unfit dwelling, building, structure and/or premises.
(k) Conversion of Existing Detached Structures. To encourage the compact infill development of existing structures throughout the City, a detached ADU that does not comply with certain development standards of this chapter may be permitted provided the requirements of this section are met. The following shall apply to all development seeking to utilize this provision:
(1) The structure must have been constructed prior to December 31, 2020. The structure must either have received a City or County permit, not needed a permit at the time of construction, or be recognized as a structure per the Kitsap County Assessor records.
(2) The structure must meet, either currently or through permitted remodeling, the requirements of the building (BMC Title 17) and fire (BMC Title 18) code for habitable structures.
(3) The conversion of an existing structure to an ADU, with no expansions, may be exempt from:
(i) Compliance with the development standards for setbacks, height, and lot coverage of the underlying zone.
(ii) Compliance with the ADU provisions of this section related to size and design, except as provided at subsection (k)(4) of this section.
(4) An existing structure may be enlarged or extended, provided the following provisions are met:
(i) The enlargements do not violate underlying zone requirements. Structures that do not conform to the setback requirements may expand up to twenty (20) percent of the gross floor area, and to the building line, provided these enlargements do not further violate setback requirements.
(ii) The enlargements do not cause the entire structure to exceed the ADU size requirements of subsection (e) of this section.
(iii) Any altered or new facades shall have siding and roofing which in color, material, and appearance match or complement the predominant materials of the existing structure.
(5) A conversion of the structure to an ADU will not be approved if it conflicts with the City’s plans, Capital Improvement Plan or other capital projects related to nearby expansion of utilities or infrastructure including the need for additional right-of-way. (Ord. 5416 §3, 2021; Ord. 5410 §3, 2020; Ord. 5330 §3, 2017: Ord. 5301 §3 (Exh. B) (part), 2016: Ord. 5008 §4, 2007: Ord. 4950 §8 (Exh. A) (part), 2005)
20.46.020 FENCES AND WALLS.
(a) Fences and walls shall observe the following height and setback requirements:
(1) Residential Zones.
(i) Maximum height shall be six (6) feet.
(ii) Maximum height within the front yard setback area shall be four (4) feet.
(iii) On corner lots with a specified front yard setback on each street frontage, both frontages will require a height of no more than four (4) feet.
(iv) To obtain a six (6) foot high fence on a corner lot, a fence permit is required. The Director can determine that the street frontage of the residence’s principal orientation is a "primary frontage" and may permit a six (6) foot maximum height fence in the yard on the other (secondary) frontage only if all of the following conditions are met:
(A) The higher fence will not block any existing front yard views from an adjoining residence with its principal orientation to that same street;
(B) The higher fence will not be closer to the residence’s front property line on the street of principal orientation than the closest part of the front facade of the residence;
(C) The higher fence will not encroach into the front yard of the primary frontage where the maximum height limit in subsection (a)(1)(ii) of this section takes precedence.
(v) Six (6) foot tall side yard fences may not project into the front yard setback except when the house’s front facade is within the front yard setback area, in which case the taller fence may extend no further than the front facade of the house.
(2) Commercial Zones.
(i) Maximum height shall be eight (8) feet.
(ii) Maximum height shall be six (6) feet when adjacent to a public right-of-way, or to a residential zone.
(3) Industrial Zone.
(i) Maximum height shall be ten (10) feet.
(ii) Maximum height shall be six (6) feet when adjacent to a public right-of-way, or to a residential zone.
(4) District and Neighborhood Center Zones.
(i) Maximum height shall be four (4) feet in front yard setback areas.
(ii) Maximum height shall be six (6) feet for side and rear yard setback areas.
(iii) To obtain an eight (8) foot tall fence, a fence permit is required. The Director may allow for a maximum height of up to eight (8) feet in side and rear yard setback areas provided the use is nonresidential and the fence is necessary for security purposes.
(5) Essential Public Facilities. Essential public facilities may have up to ten (10) foot tall fences in any zone through a fence permit application provided the fence is the minimum necessary for security purposes.
(b) A Type II conditional use permit may be granted for fences or walls up to eight (8) feet high in a side or rear yard only if the fence or wall is necessary to provide privacy and security between a residential and a nonresidential use.
(c) Fences and walls shall not block or hinder the sight distance of traffic. Exact location and design of a fence or wall is subject to the approval of the City Engineer when visibility or public safety is an issue.
(d) No electric or electrified fences shall be permitted within the City of Bremerton.
(e) Barbed wire or similar wire protective devices are permitted only in industrial zones or any property containing a public facility above a height of six (6) feet; provided, that adjoining a residential zone, devices may be allowed by approval of a Type II conditional use permit pursuant to BMC 20.58.020 only if the following criteria are met:
(1) The applicant demonstrates that the protective device cannot be installed outside of the specified setback without significantly diminishing the utility of the industrial property;
(2) The protective device will be designed to minimize adverse aesthetic impact to the residential use by installing the device behind the top of a fence or wall or screening the device with landscape; and
(3) The applicant demonstrates that the protective device is necessary to provide additional security along the residential property line to protect the industrial premises.
(f) Notwithstanding the provisions of subsection (a)(1)(ii) of this section, architectural appurtenances such as trellises or entry gates that define a walkway or driveway entry are allowed in a front yard up to ninety (90) inches high; provided, that:
(1) No individual structural support for such features shall be more than sixteen (16) inches square in section;
(2) Any gate shall not obscure more than twenty (20) percent of visibility to the yard as viewed perpendicular to the gate’s installation; and
(3) Any entry feature greater than three (3) feet in height shall not be more than six (6) feet wide for a walkway entry or more than sixteen (16) feet wide for a driveway entry. (Ord. 5326 §5, 2017: Ord. 5301 §3 (Exh. B) (part), 2016: Ord. 5008 §5, 2007: Ord. 4950 §8 (Exh. A) (part), 2005)
20.46.030 HOME OCCUPATIONS.
Home occupations are permitted in a residential dwelling unit subject to the following limitations:
(a) The business shall clearly be subordinate to the use of the dwelling unit for residential purposes.
(b) The business shall be wholly situated indoors.
(c) No person shall be employed in the home occupation unless a resident of the dwelling unit.
(d) There shall be no exterior display, storage or other exterior indication of the existence of the home occupation, except as allowed by the underlying zone.
(e) One (1) additional off-street parking space shall be provided in addition to the number of off-street parking spaces already required for the dwelling. The Director may waive this requirement if the home occupation involves internet services that do not require customers or deliveries at the residence.
(f) Any sales of product shall be limited to those produced on the premises, except products produced elsewhere may be allowed, provided the business is primarily involved in the product’s distribution and does not attract buyers to the property for retail or wholesale sales.
(g) Sales and services to patrons shall be arranged through appointment so that only one (1) patron vehicle is on the premises at any given time.
(h) Not more than fifty (50) percent of the gross floor area of the dwelling may be devoted to the home occupation use.
(i) The garage shall not be used in the business unless the required off-street and customer parking can be adequately accommodated elsewhere on the site.
(j) An independent taxi driver may operate as a home occupation; provided, that the business has only one (1) single driver and one (1) taxi vehicle.
(k) Automotive painting, body, and engine repair, small engine repair services and any activity likely to produce excessive noise are prohibited as home occupations.
(l) The home occupation business must acquire and maintain a general business license issued under Chapter 5.02 BMC.
(m) Persons engaged in legal home occupations on the effective date of the ordinance codified in this chapter shall be considered legal, provided the operation is consistent with all of the above-listed performance standards. Any home occupation which was legally established but does not currently conform to all those standards may not expand or enlarge and shall terminate that use upon:
(1) Change of use or ownership of the property; or
(2) Written complaint of adjacent or nearby property owners after due notice and hearing is provided and if the Director determines that the home occupation is interfering with the use and enjoyment of the neighboring premises and is not compatible with the residential environment in which it is located. (Ord. 5421 §10, 2021; Ord. 5301 §3 (Exh. B) (part), 2016: Ord. 4950 §8 (Exh. A) (part), 2005)
20.46.040 MANUFACTURED HOMES.
(a) Manufactured homes are permitted on one (1) individual parcel, lot, or tract in residential zones; provided, that the home is:
(1) Approved by the Washington State Department of Labor and Industries or the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, and the appropriate certification insignia is affixed to the unit, in accordance with the provisions of Chapter 43.22 RCW;
(2) Comprised of at least two (2) fully enclosed parallel sections each of not less than nine-and-a-half (9.5) feet wide by thirty-six (36) feet long;
(3) Set upon a permanent foundation, as specified by the manufacturer, and that the space from the bottom of the home to the ground be enclosed by concrete or an approved concrete product which can be either load-bearing or decorative;
(4) Compliant with all local design standards applicable to all other homes within the neighborhood in which the manufactured home is to be located;
(5) Thermally equivalent to the State Energy Code;
(6) Originally constructed with and now has a composition or wood shake or shingle, coated metal, or similar roof of nominal three to twelve (3:12) pitch or greater;
(7) Sided with exterior siding similar in appearance to materials commonly used on conventional site-built International Building Code single-family residences; and
(8) A new manufactured home as defined in RCW 35.63.160(2).
(b) A manufactured home which was legally placed and maintained prior to the date of adoption of this chapter, and does not meet the requirements of this chapter, shall be deemed to be a nonconforming structure. If a legal nonconforming manufactured home is partially or wholly destroyed, replaced, or altered, it shall be required to meet the relevant requirements set forth in the nonconforming provisions of this title.
(c) The Building Official or designee shall inspect the installation of manufactured homes prior to occupancy and issue certificates of occupancy for manufactured homes. If all requirements are met, a certificate of occupancy shall be issued. No manufactured home shall be occupied until after the City issues a valid certificate of occupancy.
(d) If a manufactured home is replaced by another manufactured home, a new certificate of occupancy shall be required for the installation of a manufactured home after the date of adoption of the ordinance codified in this chapter. (Ord. 5423 §3, 2021; Ord. 5301 §3 (Exh. B) (part), 2016: Ord. 4950 §8 (Exh. A) (part), 2005)
20.46.050 RECREATIONAL VEHICLE ON A PRIVATE LOT.
A recreational vehicle, occupied or not, may be parked on a private lot or lots only as an accessory use subject to the parking provisions of this title and the following provisions:
(a) A recreational vehicle may be occupied for a cumulative period not to exceed thirty (30) days during any twelve (12) consecutive month period;
(b) A recreational vehicle may be parked and occupied by the owner of a lot as temporary housing during the period of new house construction on the lot for a period not to exceed one (1) year;
(c) Only one (1) recreational vehicle may be occupied on a single lot at any time;
(d) A recreational vehicle shall not be parked within a required front yard setback for more than fifteen (15) consecutive days and not more than thirty (30) days cumulative in any twelve (12) consecutive months; and
(e) Any occupied recreational vehicle must be self-contained and all garbage and sanitation shall be disposed of in a manner approved by the City.
(f) In order to legally occupy a recreational vehicle, the property owner must obtain a permit from the City indicating details such as the dates the recreational vehicle will be occupied. (Ord. 5326 §6, 2017: Ord. 5301 §3 (Exh. B) (part), 2016: Ord. 4950 §8 (Exh. A) (part), 2005)
20.46.060 DISH ANTENNAS.
(a) A ground-mounted dish antenna is subject to the setback requirements of the underlying zone.
(b) Dish antennas may not be placed above the maximum underlying zoning district height.
(c) All dish or other parabolic antennas having a collector dish diameter of six (6) feet or greater shall be ground-mounted, except as provided for otherwise. An antenna having a dish diameter smaller than six (6) feet may be pole- or roof-mounted in a location that has the least visual impact on surrounding properties and views while maximizing the effectiveness of the antenna’s operation. (Ord. 5301 §3 (Exh. B) (part), 2016: Ord. 4950 §8 (Exh. A) (part), 2005)
20.46.070 ADAPTIVE REUSE OF COMMERCIAL BUILDINGS.
The intent of these provisions is to provide opportunities for reusing commercial buildings that are structurally sound with new uses to extend their economic life. The adaptive reuse shall not be granted if the new use adversely affects adjacent properties. Consideration shall be given to the relative intensity of the proposed use compared to the intensity of the planned land use environment.
(a) Approval of an administrative Type II conditional use permit (CUP) pursuant to BMC 20.58.020 is required when an adaptive reuse is for a legally established commercial building located within a residential zone. However, the notice of application shall follow BMC 20.02.100(c)(1)(iv) with notification of property owners within three hundred (300) feet. The Director may require a nonadministrative CUP whenever the use has a significant impact beyond the immediate site, is of a neighborhood or community-wide interest, or is of a controversial nature. The adaptive reuse shall meet the following criteria in order to be granted approval:
(1) New traffic shall be accommodated within the existing levels of service on the surrounding neighborhood streets.
(2) Provision for off-street parking must be evaluated and to the greatest extent possible, meet the parking demand for change of uses. The Director or Hearing Examiner may reduce the number of off-street parking spaces if commute trip reduction methods are employed and the adaptive reuse does not generate an increase in on-street parking demand.
(3) The new use does not generate noise that exceeds City standards for residential zones.
(4) Adequate street trees and landscaping are incorporated in a manner that buffers the adaptive reuse from adjacent residential uses and makes it more compatible with the surrounding neighborhood.
(5) Additional conditions may be applied including, but not limited to, limiting hours of operations, density, restrictions for noise attenuation and other conditions deemed necessary to ensure compatibility with surrounding residential uses.
(b) The following uses may be approved for adaptive reuse:
(1) Residential, underlying zone density limit, provided no new floor area is constructed;
(2) Foster homes;
(3) Day care facilities;
(4) Group residential facilities, Class I (assisted living);
(5) Youth, teen, senior, or community centers;
(6) Medical and dental clinic and related services (not hospitals);
(7) Religious worship facilities;
(8) Libraries;
(9) Museums and art galleries;
(10) Consultants (architectural, engineering, planning, design and similar);
(11) Computer assistance and training (but not repair);
(12) Office/business assistance services, call centers, and general offices;
(13) Social services/facilities;
(14) Welfare and charitable services/facilities;
(15) Public services;
(16) Hotels and lodging places;
(17) General retail; and
(18) Restaurants. (Ord. 5301 §3 (Exh. B) (part), 2016: Ord. 4971 §7, 2006: Ord. 4950 §8 (Exh. A) (part), 2005)
20.46.080 MINERAL RESOURCE OVERLAY.
The intent of this overlay is to protect and enhance significant sand, gravel and rock deposits as identified mineral resource lands. It is also used to ensure the continued or future use without disrupting or endangering adjacent land uses, while safeguarding life, property, and the public welfare.
(a) Uses. Mineral resource extraction with associated structures and equipment for soil and gravel, quarried stone or ore may be allowed within the mineral resource overlay. In addition, the following provisions shall be met:
(1) A single on-site security or superintendent dwelling for his or her family may be permitted as an accessory use.
(2) All uses not listed above are prohibited within the development area while mineral extraction is being actively pursued.
(b) Performance Standards. Potential impacts related to traffic, dust control, light emission, visual screening, loss of tree cover, noise emission and protection of environmentally sensitive areas shall be examined. The city recognizes impacts to other elements of the environment including air and water quality are regulated by the state, regional and federal authorities. At a minimum the following shall be met:
(1) Hours of Operation. Noise associated with surface mining may constitute a nuisance or a public health concern, therefore, when surface mining activity, hours of operation for excavating, processing, and loading shall be prohibited on Saturday, Sundays and legal holidays, and limited to between 7:00 a.m. and 6:00 p.m. Monday through Friday; provided, that the surface mining operation may continue until 9:00 p.m. if the noise created is less than the ambient night time noise levels for that area; and further provided, that the following activities are exempt from these requirements:
(i) Activity under public contract when in the public interest. Hours of operation shall be between 7:00 a.m. and 6:00 p.m.
(2) Maximum Permissible Noise Levels. Maximum permissible noise levels shall be according to the provisions of the Bremerton Noise Ordinance per Chapter 6.32 BMC with the following exceptions:
(i) The mineral resource operation site may have the district of sound source be classified as District III during the hours of operation per subsection (b)(1) of this section.
(3) Setbacks. The tops and toes of cut and fill slopes shall be set back from property boundaries according to the State Department of Natural Resources standards for safety of adjacent properties, and to prevent water runoff or erosion of slopes and to provide adequate reclamation slopes per subsection (b)(4) of this section.
(4) Slope. When reclaimed, no slope of cut and fill surfaces shall be steeper than is safe for the intended use, and shall not exceed one and one-half horizontal to one vertical (1-1/2:1) for unconsolidated material such as gravel, and one-fourth horizontal to one vertical (1/4:1) for consolidated material, unless otherwise approved by the Director after a qualified professional certifies that steeper slopes are appropriate.
(5) Access Roads Maintenance. Access roads to mining and quarrying sites shall be maintained and located to the satisfaction of the Director of Public Works and Utilities, to minimize problems of dust and mud, and connection access to the city roadways.
(6) Best Practices Management. Require mineral extraction and processing operations to implement best management practices to reduce environmental impacts and mitigate any remaining impacts.
(c) Permitting Process. Mineral resource extraction with associated structures and equipment for soil and gravel, quarried stone or ore may be allowed if a Type III Hearing Examiner conditional use permit (CUP) is approved pursuant to BMC 20.58.020, with the notice of application shall be mailed to all property owners within five hundred (500) feet of the property.
(1) The owner or agent of the quarry shall submit to the City copies of all documents submitted to the Washington State Department of Natural Resources with the application.
(2) Notice of application for the CUP shall be provided to the local tribal government, typically during the environmental review; however, if environmental review is not required, a fourteen (14) day comment period to the local tribal government of the proposal will be required prior to issuance of approval.
(d) Transition of Uses from Mineral Resource Overlay. As an option to reclaim a property(s) and extinguish a Washington State Department of Natural Resources (DNR) surface mining permit, the City may accept, review and approve development permits for uses consistent with the property(s) underlying zone. If a permit meets all applicable, zoning, building, stormwater, fire and other county codes, such permits shall be forwarded to the DNR to be reviewed as a reclamation plan. Upon receipt by the City of DNR confirmation of the closing of the surface mining permit for the property(s), the City will revert the property(s) back to their underlying zone and compatible designation.
(e) Special Provisions. All plats, short plats, development permits and building permits issued for land development activities on or within five hundred (500) feet of designated mineral resource overlay lands shall contain the following notice:
The subject property is within or near land in which resource activities are permitted and encouraged, including a variety of activities which may not be compatible with residential use for certain periods of limited duration. In addition to other activities, these may include noise, dust, smoke, visual impacts and odors resulting from harvesting, planting, surface mining, quarrying, application of fertilizers, herbicides and associated reclamation and management activities. When performed in accordance with state and federal law, these resource activities are not subject to legal action as a nuisance.
(Ord. 5301 §3 (Exh. B) (part), 2016: Ord. 4971 §8, 2006; Ord. 4950 §8 (Exh. A) (part), 2005)
20.46.090 TEMPORARY ENCAMPMENT PERMIT.
(a) Intent. The City of Bremerton desires to establish reasonable development standards for sponsors of outdoor temporary encampments. These facilities do not represent a permanent solution to homelessness but rather can provide vitally needed shelter and a first step to more permanent forms of housing. This section provides an equitable process, with reasonable conditions and an associated permit, to meet the need for temporary shelter for local homeless persons while ensuring public health, safety and welfare.
(b) Definitions.
(1) "Applicant" shall mean a group or individual(s) that host, sponsor and/or manage a temporary encampment.
(2) "Property owner" shall mean the owner of the property or legal representative of the real property proposed for use as a temporary encampment.
(3) "Shelter(s)" shall mean tents, sheds, huts, cabins, tiny homes, trailers or other enclosures which are not permanently attached to the ground, may be easily erected and dismantled, and are intended for temporary occupancy.
(4) "Temporary encampment(s)" shall mean an area of a parcel(s) that hosts shelters, security, and other facilities, for housing the homeless for humanitarian purposes. Temporary encampment facilities that are established for this use shall be easily erected and dismantled and shall only be temporary.
(5) "Temporary" shall mean, for the purposes of this section, one hundred eighty-three (183) days.
(c) Siting Criteria. A temporary encampment may be placed on a property in the City that complies with the following:
(1) Location. Temporary encampments can be permitted in all zoning districts.
(2) Site Size and Encampment Size Requirements.
(i) Site Size. The minimum site size shall be one (1) acre. The one (1) acre site can include one (1) or more contiguous parcels but in no case may the parcels be separated by a right-of-way (streets, alleyways, etc.), critical area, or other means. All property owners shall jointly apply for the temporary encampment permit and shall be equally responsible for compliance with all conditions of the permit.
(ii) Encampment Size. The area of the parcel(s) dedicated to the encampment must equal one hundred fifty (150) square feet or more for each resident (not including the required setback area). This size requirement is to ensure that there is sufficient land area to support the activities of the temporary encampment without overcrowding of occupants, degradation of vegetation, eroding soils or otherwise overtaxing the land.
(3) Perimeter Setback. A temporary encampment shall be set back no less than twenty (20) feet from all exterior boundary lines, with an additional twenty (20) foot setback when adjacent to residential uses (for a total of forty (40) foot setback when adjacent to a residential use). This setback is intended to ensure all activities of the temporary encampment are set back from adjacent properties a sufficient distance so as not to impinge upon or otherwise unduly influence activities on said adjacent properties. The required exterior setback may be reduced or waived if the owners of such adjacent property consent in writing to support a reduction or waiver of such setback.
(4) Screening of Activities. All activities (shelters, toilets, cooking facilities, etc.) of the temporary encampment shall be obscured from view from adjacent properties and public right-of-way to the maximum extent feasible. This can be accomplished by a minimum six (6) foot high sight-obscuring temporary fence, existing dense vegetation, an existing topographic difference, distance from exterior property lines, or other means.
(5) Critical Areas. A temporary encampment may not be located within critical areas or their associated buffers. All proposed temporary encampments shall comply with the City’s critical areas regulations as set forth in Chapter 20.14 BMC and the Shoreline Master Program.
(6) Limit of Encampments. No more than one (1) temporary encampment shall be permitted and operating at any one time in the City.
(d) Preapplication Work. Prior to application submittal, the applicant and property owners must address community and neighborhood impacts from the proposed temporary encampment by developing the following:
(1) Impact Mitigation Plan. The applicant shall identify potential adverse effects of the proposed temporary encampment on neighboring properties and the community and shall develop measures to mitigate such effects. The applicant shall develop a temporary encampment impact mitigation plan. The plan shall contain a narrative and drawing(s) that describe the measures the applicant will use to mitigate the effects of the temporary encampment. At a minimum, the plan shall specifically describe the measures that will be implemented to satisfy the approval criteria provided in this section. The impact mitigation plan shall be updated to address the comments and suggestions received at the required neighborhood meeting and review as identified in subsections (d)(3) and (4) of this section (discussions with police, fire, school, childcare, and health district). The implementation and enforcement of the plan shall be a condition of permit approval.
(2) Security Management Plan. The applicant shall develop a plan demonstrating security measures, site specific or otherwise, necessary to ensure the safety of the residents of the temporary encampment and the public. At a minimum, the plan shall specify the following:
(i) The person or entity responsible for providing security;
(ii) The type of security to be used, e.g., private security firm, volunteers, or other means; and
(iii) Recommendations and/or requirements provided by the Police Department.
(3) Discussions with Police, Schools, and Child Care Services. A representative of the applicant or property owner shall meet and confer with the following entities regarding the proposal and any proposed security measures for the temporary encampment: (i) the Bremerton Police Department; (ii) the administration of any public or private preschool, elementary, middle, junior high, or high school if within five hundred (500) feet of the boundaries of the proposed site; and (iii) the operators of any properly licensed child care service(s) within five hundred (500) feet of the boundaries of the proposed site.
(4) Discussions with Kitsap Public Health District. A representative of the applicant or property owner shall meet and confer with the Kitsap Public Health District regarding the proposal and the proposed plan for providing adequate drinking water, solid waste management, and the waste management (trash removal) plan for the temporary encampment.
(5) Parking Plan. The applicant shall develop a parking plan. The parking plan shall address the following:
(i) Adequate parking for the temporary encampment shall be provided so as not to reduce parking utilized by existing site uses;
(ii) The temporary encampment shall not displace the site’s parking lot in such a way that the site no longer meets the minimum or required parking of the principal use as required by code or previous approvals;
(iii) An alternative parking plan may be approved by the Director if the parking plan can demonstrate how the existing use on the site and the encampment can provide off-site parking sufficient to have no off-site impact to the surrounding neighborhoods. This alternative parking plan will be not valid after the expiration of the temporary encampment;
(iv) Parking vehicles shall only be allowed in existing approved parking areas and shall not be located in unapproved areas such as the grass or field; and
(v) A temporary encampment permit cannot permit new site development such as paving, gravel laydown, and structure installation. This work requires a separate process through the approval of a site development permit as outlined in BMC 20.58.090.
(e) Neighborhood Meeting. The applicant shall conduct a neighborhood meeting to inform nearby residents and the public about the proposed temporary encampment prior to submittal of an application. The following process shall be used:
(1) Notification. The applicant shall provide notice of the neighborhood meeting by mail, first class and postage prepaid, to all owners of property within five hundred (500) feet of the lot(s) containing the proposed temporary encampment, provided such area shall be expanded as necessary to send mailed notices to at least twenty (20) different property owners. The notice of the neighborhood meeting shall be mailed at least fifteen (15) days prior to the neighborhood meeting.
(2) Neighborhood Meeting. At the neighborhood meeting, a representative of the applicant or property owner shall present in writing and verbally the proposed temporary encampment location, timing, site plan, code of conduct, impact mitigation plan, accommodations concerns, and a security management plan. The presentation shall also include copies of all previously submitted comments received on the proposed temporary encampment, including comments from the Bremerton Police Department, school(s), and child care services. Copies of the agenda and the other specified comments and materials shall be provided by the applicant at the meeting. The meeting shall be conducted on the proposed temporary encampment site whenever feasible; this meeting shall be held in a location that is ADA (Americans with Disabilities) accessible.
(f) Performance Criteria. Temporary encampments shall be operated in such a manner as to ensure the health and safety of occupants of the encampment and surrounding properties. Accordingly, all temporary encampments shall comply with the list below. Demonstration of compliance with this section is a requirement of the temporary encampment permit. Any proposed mitigation or actions from this section shall be identified in the impact mitigation plan.
(1) Health Regulations. All applicable City, county and state regulations pertaining to public health shall be met.
(2) Fire Safety. Inspections of the site by the City for fire safety purposes may be conducted at any time and without prior notice. Adequate access, as determined by the Fire Marshal, shall be maintained within and around the temporary encampment at all times to ensure that emergency vehicles can ingress/egress the site.
(3) Building Code Inspections. Inspections of the temporary encampment by the City to ensure the public health and safety may be conducted at any time and without prior notice.
(4) Drinking Water and Solid Waste. An adequate supply of potable water and adequate toilet facilities shall be available on site at all times. All City, county and state regulations pertaining to drinking water connections and solid waste disposal shall be met.
(5) Trash. Adequate facilities for dealing with trash shall be provided on site. A regular trash patrol or other method of regular maintenance in the immediate vicinity of the site shall be provided.
(6) Noise. Any temporary encampment shall comply with City noise regulations as set forth in Chapter 6.32 BMC.
(7) Light and Glare. Any temporary encampment shall comply with City light and glare regulations as set forth in BMC 20.44.110.
(8) Security. Any temporary encampment shall provide all required legal access to public areas of the site by the City of Bremerton Police Department and any other relevant law enforcement agency at all times.
(9) Codes of Conduct. The applicant shall enforce a written code of conduct which mitigates impacts to neighbors and the community. Said code shall be incorporated into the conditions of approval. The code shall contain the following as a minimum:
(i) Prohibit possession or use of firearms and/or illegal drugs;
(ii) No violence;
(iii) No open flames;
(iv) No loitering in the surrounding neighborhood; and
(v) Quiet hours (at a minimum between the hours of 10:00 p.m. and 7:00 a.m.).
(g) Process and Permit. Notwithstanding any other provision in the Bremerton Municipal Code, the following procedures shall apply in accepting, noticing, reviewing, and otherwise processing temporary encampment permit applications. A City-issued temporary encampment permit is required prior to the commencement of such a use.
(1) A temporary encampment permit is a Type I action and shall be processed accordingly, as set forth in Chapter 20.02 BMC, Project Permits. The prospective temporary encampment applicant and property owner(s) shall jointly apply for the temporary encampment permit and shall be equally responsible for compliance with all conditions of the permit. A complete application for a temporary encampment permit shall be submitted a minimum of thirty (30) days prior to the anticipated start of the encampment.
(2) The following documentation is required for a complete application:
(i) Application;
(ii) The date that the temporary encampments will commence;
(iii) The maximum duration requested of said temporary encampment;
(iv) The number of residents to be accommodated on the site;
(v) The host location;
(vi) The names of the managing agency and host, with contact information;
(vii) Impact mitigation plan;
(viii) Security management plan;
(ix) Code of conduct;
(x) Documentation of Actions Taken Prior to Application Submittal. This document shall include a summary of the neighborhood meeting, including who was notified of the meeting (mailing list and map of mailed property owners), who attended the meeting, summary of the items discussed at the neighborhood meeting, and summary of discussion and any request for mitigations of the temporary encampment from the health district, police, fire, school district(s) and child care services;
(xi) Vicinity map including buildings and uses on properties surrounding the proposed temporary encampment, and the distance the proposed accommodations would be set back from the property lines; and
(xii) Site plan showing at least the following:
(A) Existing buildings and parking and vehicle maneuvering area;
(B) Location of where encampment will be located including overall dimensions;
(C) Location of on-site parking for primary use of the site and number of vehicles associated with the encampment (parking plan); and
(D) Access routes for emergency vehicles.
(xiii) Encampment layout showing at least the following:
(A) Layout of all encampment facilities, including, but not limited to, food and security facilities, arrangement of shelters, etc.;
(B) Method and location of potable water;
(C) Method and location of waste receptacles;
(D) Method and location of required screening; and
(E) Location of required sanitary stations including toilets and hand washing facility; and
(xiv) Application fee.
(3) Decisions May Be Appealed. Appeals of a Type I decision shall be heard and decided by the Hearing Examiner in accordance with the procedures set forth in BMC 20.02.140.
(4) Emergencies. The Director may waive the requirements of this section when a natural or manmade disaster necessitates the immediate establishment of temporary encampments.
(h) Duration and Site Restoration.
(1) Duration. A proposed temporary encampment may be allowed at one property for up to one hundred eighty three (183) days, either consecutively or cumulatively, during any twenty-four (24) month period, except that where the one hundred eighty-third day falls on Friday through Sunday, an additional two (2) days shall be allowed to dismantle and remove the accommodation over the immediately following weekend. The applicant and/or property owner shall store, out of sight from adjacent properties, the residents’ personal belongings that are left on site after the dismantling of the site.
(2) Restoration of Site. Upon cessation of the temporary encampment, the site shall be restored, as near as possible, to its original condition. The applicant shall replant areas in which vegetation had been removed or destroyed.
(i) Revocation and Indemnification.
(1) Failure to Comply. If a temporary encampment permit has been issued, and the Director determines that the applicant has violated any condition of that permit, the Director shall issue a notice of violation and require compliance in accordance with the procedures set forth in Chapter 1.04 BMC, Code Enforcement. The City may revoke a temporary encampment permit for any violation of this section or the temporary encampment permit where such a violation is:
(i) Not cured following notice from the City and an opportunity to cure such violations;
(ii) Intentionally or knowingly committed by the applicant or property owner; or
(iii) So severe as to substantially threaten public health and safety.
(2) Upon revocation of the temporary encampment permit, all residents of the encampment must vacate the premises within seventy-two (72) hours of revocation. The applicant or property owner shall be required to remove all physical evidence of the use and to restore or replant any required vegetation within one (1) week of revocation. The applicant and/or property owner shall store, out of sight from adjacent properties, the residents’ personal belongings that are left on site after the seventy-two (72) hours.
(3) Indemnification. The applicant, except for religious facilities per RCW 35.21.915, shall defend, indemnify, and hold the City, its officers, officials, employees and volunteers harmless from any and all claims, injuries, damages, losses or suits of any nature, including attorney fees, due to the acts or omissions of the applicant in connection with the operation of the temporary encampment.
(4) Liability Insurance. Except for religious facilities, the applicant shall procure and maintain in full force, through the duration of the temporary encampment, comprehensive general liability insurance with a minimum coverage of one million dollars ($1,000,000) per occurrence/aggregate for personal injury and property damage. (Ord. 5393 § 3, 2019)
20.46.110 ADULT ENTERTAINMENT BUSINESSES.
This section regulates the location of adult entertainment businesses. The purpose of these regulations is to reduce conflicts between adult entertainment businesses and other land uses. The intent is to protect the City from the blighting impacts of concentrations of adult entertainment businesses while assuring the full enjoyment of all the constitutionally guaranteed rights of the general public.
(a) Location of Adult Entertainment Businesses.
(1) Adult entertainment businesses as defined in subsection (c) of this section are prohibited within the area circumscribed by a circle which has a radius of five hundred (500) feet from the following specified uses or zones:
(i) Any zone in which residential use is listed as a principal use.
(ii) Any public or private school.
(iii) Any day care facility as defined in BMC 20.42.040.
(iv) Any worship, religious, or church facility as defined in BMC 20.42.040.
(v) Any public park.
(vi) Any center designated within the Comprehensive Plan.
(vii) Any public library.
(2) The distances provided in this section shall be measured by following a straight line, without regard to intervening buildings, from the nearest point of the property or parcel upon which the proposed use is to be located, to the nearest point of the parcel of property or the land use district boundary line from which the proposed land is to be separated.
(3) Violation of the use provisions of this section is declared to be a public nuisance per se, which shall be abated by the City Attorney as authorized under state law or the City code.
(4) Nothing in this section is intended to authorize, legalize, or permit the establishment, operation, or maintenance of any business, building, or use which violates any city code or statute of the state regarding public nuisances, sexual conduct, lewdness, or obscene or harmful matter or the exhibition or public display thereof.
(b) Development Standards. Adult entertainment businesses are subject to the development standards of the underlying zone.
(c) Definitions.
(1) "Adult entertainment" means any dance, amusement, show, display, merchandise, material, exhibition, pantomime, modeling, or any other like performance of any type, for the use or benefit of a member or members of the public or advertised for the use or benefit of a member of the public where such is characterized by an emphasis on the depiction, description, or simulation of "specified anatomical areas," defined in this chapter, or the exhibition of "specified sexual activities," also defined in this chapter, or the case of live adult entertainment performances, which emphasizes and seeks to arouse or excite the patron’s sexual desires. Any patron of an adult entertainment business, as defined in this section, shall be deemed a member of the public.
(2) "Adult entertainment business" means any establishment providing adult entertainment as defined in this section including, but not limited to, adult arcade, adult retail establishment, adult motion picture theater, and exotic dance studio, more specifically defined herein.
(3) "Adult arcade" means a commercial establishment where, for any form of consideration, one (1) or more still or motion picture projectors, slide projectors, computer-generated or enhanced pornography, panoramic peep show, or similar machines, or other image-producing machines, for personal viewing, are used to show films, motion pictures, video cassettes, slides or other photographic reproductions which provide material for individual viewing by patrons on the premises of the business which are characterized by an emphasis on the depiction, description or simulation of "specified anatomical areas" or "specified sexual activities."
(4) "Adult motion picture theater" means a commercial establishment where films, motion pictures, video cassettes, slides, or similar photographic reproductions characterized by an emphasis on the depiction, description, or simulation of "specified anatomical areas" or "specified sexual activities" are regularly shown for any form of consideration.
(5) "Adult retail establishment" means any bookstore, adult novelty store, adult video store, or other similar commercial establishment, business service, or portion thereof, which, for money or any other form of consideration, provides as a significant or substantial portion of its stock-in-trade the sale, exchange, rent, loan, trade, transfer, and/or provision for viewing or use off the premises of adult entertainment material defined in this chapter. For purposes of this provision, it shall be a rebuttable presumption that thirty (30) percent or more of a business’ stock-in-trade in adult retail material, based on either the dollar value (wholesale or retail) or the number of titles of such material, is significant or substantial. In determining whether or not the presumption is rebutted, the Director may consider the following factors, which are not inclusive:
(i) Whether minors are prohibited from access to the premises of the establishment due to the adult entertainment nature of the inventory;
(ii) Whether the establishment is advertised, marketed, or held out to be an adult merchandising facility;
(iii) Whether adult entertainment material is an establishment’s primary or one (1) of its principal business purposes; or
(iv) Whether thirty (30) percent or more of an establishment’s revenue is derived from adult entertainment material.
An establishment may have other principal business purposes that do not involve the offering for sale or rental of adult entertainment materials and still be categorized as an adult retail establishment. Such other business purposes will not serve to exempt such establishments from being categorized as an adult retail establishment so long as one (1) of its principal business purposes is offering for sale or rental, for some form of consideration, the specified adult entertainment materials. The Director shall have full discretion to give appropriate weight to the factors set forth above as well as other factors considered depending on the particular facts and circumstances of each application.
(6) "Exotic dance studio," also known as "erotic dance studio," "topless bar" and "adult cabaret," means a nightclub, bar, restaurant, or similar commercial establishment, or any premises or facility to which any member of the public is invited or admitted and where an entertainer provides live performances to any member of the public, which performances are characterized by an emphasis on the depiction, description, or simulation of "specified anatomical areas" or "specified sexual activities" or which emphasize and seek to arouse or excite the patron’s sexual desires.
(7) "Adult entertainment material" means any books, magazines, cards, pictures, periodicals or other printed matter, or photographs, films, motion pictures, video tapes, slides, or other photographic reproductions, or visual representations, CD-ROMs, DVDs, disks, electronic media, or other such media, or instruments, devices, equipment, paraphernalia, toys, novelties, games, clothing or other merchandise or material, which are characterized by an emphasis on the depiction, description or simulation of "specified anatomical areas" or "specified sexual activities."
(8) "Specified anatomical areas" means:
(i) Less than completely and opaquely covered human genitals, pubic region, buttocks, anus, or female breast below a point immediately above the top of the areola; or
(ii) Human male genitals in a discernibly turgid state, even if completely and opaquely covered.
(9) "Specified sexual activities" means:
(i) The caressing, touching, fondling or other intentional or erotic touching of male genitals, female genitals, pubic region, buttocks, anus, or female breasts of oneself or of one (1) person by another; or
(ii) Sex acts, normal or perverted, actual or simulated, including masturbation, intercourse, oral copulation, flagellation, sodomy, bestiality, or any sexual acts which are prohibited by law; or
(iii) Human genitals in a state of sexual stimulation, arousal, or tumescence or visual state of sexual stimulation, arousal or tumescence, even if completely and opaquely covered; or
(iv) Excretory functions as part of or in connection with any of the activities set forth in subsections (c)(9)(i) through (iii) of this section. (Ord. 5301 §3 (Exh. B) (part), 2016: Ord. 5091 §4, 2009; Ord. 4950 §8 (Exh. A) (part), 2005)
20.46.140 WIRELESS COMMUNICATIONS FACILITIES.
(a) Purpose and Intent. The purpose of this section is to provide specific regulations for the placement, construction, modification and removal of these facilities. These standards were designed to comply with the Telecommunications Act of 1996 (“the Act”) and Section 6409 of the Middle Class Tax Relief and Job Creation Act (the “Spectrum” Act). The provisions of this section are not intended to and shall not be interpreted to prohibit or have the effect of prohibiting personal wireless services as defined in the Act. This section shall not be applied in such a manner as to unreasonably discriminate between providers of functionally equivalent personal wireless services, as defined in the Act.
(b) General Provisions.
(1) Exemptions. The following are exempt from the provisions of this section and shall be permitted in all zones:
(i) Temporary wireless communications facilities during an emergency declared by the City;
(ii) Licensed amateur (ham) radio stations;
(iii) Wireless communications facilities which legally existed or had a vested application on or prior to the effective date of the ordinance codified in this section, except that this exemption does not apply to modifications of such facilities;
(iv) Routine maintenance or repair of wireless communications facilities and related equipment (excluding structural work or changes in height or dimensions of antennas, support structures or buildings); provided, that compliance with the standards of this code are maintained.
(2) Principal or Accessory Use. Wireless communications facilities may be either a principal or accessory use. A different use of an existing structure on the same lot shall not preclude the installation of a wireless communications facility on that lot.
(3) Reimbursement of Costs. In addition to the application fee, the applicant shall reimburse the City for costs of professional engineers and other consultants hired by the City to review and inspect the applicant’s proposal when the City is unable to do so with its existing staffing resources. By way of illustration and not limitation, these professional services may include engineering and technical review, legal review, planning review, Hearing Examiner services, environmental review, critical areas review, financial and accounting review, soils review, and mechanical and structural engineering review. In the event that a project requires professional services beyond that which is included in the base fee, the applicant shall reimburse the City the full cost of such engineer or consultant services plus a City service charge of ten (10) percent as calculated from before-tax cost.
(c) Definitions.
(1) "Base station" means a structure or equipment at a fixed location that enables FCC-licensed or authorized wireless communications between user equipment and a communications network. The term does not encompass a tower as defined herein or any equipment associated with a tower. "Base station" includes, without limitation:
(i) Equipment associated with wireless communications services such as private, broadcast, and public safety services, as well as unlicensed wireless services and fixed wireless services such as microwave backhaul.
(ii) Radio transceivers, antennas, coaxial or fiber-optic cable, regular and backup power supplies, and comparable equipment, regardless of technological configuration (including Distributed Antenna Systems (“DAS”) and small-cell networks).
(iii) Any structure other than a tower that, at the time the relevant application is filed with the City under this section, supports or houses equipment described in subsections (d)(1)(i) and (ii) of this section that has been reviewed and approved under the applicable zoning or siting process, or under another state or local regulatory review process, even if the structure was not built for the sole or primary purpose of providing that support.
The term does not include any structure that, at the time the relevant application is filed with the City under this section, does not support or house equipment described in subsections (d)(1)(i) and (ii) of this section.
(2) "Co-location" means the mounting or installation of transmission equipment on an eligible support structure for the purpose of transmitting and/or receiving radio frequency signals for communications purposes.
(3) "Concealed" means a wireless communications antenna or facility that is not evident; it is disguised, hidden by, or integrated with a structure that is not a wireless communications facility.
(4) "Eligible facilities request" means any request for modification of an existing tower or base station that does not substantially change the physical dimensions of such tower or base station, involving:
(i) Co-location of new transmission equipment;
(ii) Removal of transmission equipment; or
(iii) Replacement of transmission equipment.
(5) "Eligible support structure" means any tower or base station as defined in this section; provided, that it is existing at the same time the relevant application is filed with the City of Bremerton under this section.
(6) "Existing" means a constructed tower or base station is existing for purposes of this section if it has been reviewed and approved under the applicable zoning or siting process, or under another State or local regulatory review process; provided, that a tower that has not been reviewed because it was not in a zoned area when it was built, but was lawfully constructed, is existing for purposes of this section.
(7) "Nonsubstantial change" means any modification to an existing support structure not classified as or meeting the criteria of a substantial change, as defined in this section.
(8) "Provider" means every corporation, company, association, joint stock company, firm, partnership, limited liability company, other entity and individual licensed to provide personal wireless services over personal wireless communications facilities.
(9) Right-of-Way. For the purpose of this chapter, "right-of-way" means any site located in City right-of-way, or on City property.
(10) "Site" means, for towers other than towers in the public rights-of-way, the current boundaries of the leased or owned property surrounding the tower and any access or utility easements currently related to the site, and, for other eligible support structures, further restricted to that area in proximity to the structure and to other transmission equipment already deployed on the ground.
(11) "Structure" means any existing building, utility pole, or tower capable of supporting a wireless communications antenna. Structures include, but are not limited to, existing buildings, water towers, and utility poles and/or towers.
(12) "Substantial change" means a modification substantially changes the physical dimensions of an eligible support structure if it meets any of the following criteria:
(i) For towers other than towers in the public rights-of-way, it increases the height of the tower by more than ten (10) percent or by the height of one (1) additional antenna array with separation from the nearest existing antenna not to exceed twenty (20) feet, whichever is greater; for other eligible support structures, it increases the height of the structure by more than ten (10) percent or more than ten (10) feet, whichever is greater;
(ii) For towers other than towers in the public rights-of-way, it involves adding an appurtenance to the body of the tower that would protrude from the edge of the tower more than twenty (20) feet, or more than the width of the tower structure at the level of the appurtenance, whichever is greater; for other eligible support structures, it involves adding an appurtenance to the body of the structure that would protrude from the edge of the structure by more than six (6) feet;
(iii) For any eligible support structure, it involves installation of more than the standard number of new equipment cabinets for the technology involved, but not to exceed four (4) cabinets; or, for towers in the public rights-of-way and base stations, it involves installation of any new equipment cabinets on the ground if there are no preexisting ground cabinets associated with the structure, or else involves installation of ground cabinets that are more than ten (10) percent larger in height or overall volume than any other ground cabinets associated with the structure;
(iv) It entails any excavation or deployment outside the current site;
(v) It would defeat the concealment elements of the eligible support structure; or
(vi) It does not comply with conditions associated with the siting approval of the construction or modification of the eligible support structure or base station equipment; provided, however, that this limitation does not apply to any modification that is noncompliant only in a manner that would not exceed the thresholds identified in subsections (g)(3)(i) through (iv) of this section.
(13) "Transmission equipment" means equipment that facilitates transmission for any FCC-licensed or authorized wireless communication service, including, but not limited to, radio transceivers, antennas, coaxial or fiber-optic cable, and regular and backup power supply. The term includes equipment associated with wireless communications services including, but not limited to, private, broadcast, and public safety services, as well as unlicensed wireless services and fixed wireless services such as microwave backhaul.
(14) "Tower" means any structure built for the sole or primary purpose of supporting any FCC-licensed or authorized antennas and their associated facilities, including structures that are constructed for wireless communications services including, but not limited to, private, broadcast, and public safety services, as well as unlicensed wireless services and fixed wireless services such as microwave backhaul, and the associated site.
(15) "Wireless communications facility" means a facility for the transmission and reception of radio or microwave signals used for communication, cellular phones, personal communications services, enhanced specialized mobile radio or any other services licensed by the FCC, and unlicensed wireless services including but not limited to associated equipment shelter, support tower and antenna array.
(d) Process. The applicant shall provide proof of legal authority to co-locate on an existing structure, modify an existing structure, or construct a new structure at the time of permit submittal. This shall include any current franchise agreements for projects located within the City’s right-of-way and lease agreements on private or City real property. Only a complete application shall be accepted for review. Prior to acceptance, the permit application shall be reviewed for completeness. If an application is deemed complete, the application will be processed and reviewed. The Director has the discretion to elevate a Type I permit to a Type II permit, and/or a Type II permit to a Type III permit in cases where views from residential properties or views from the public right-of-way may be affected.
(1) Type I Permit.
(i) An eligible facilities request, as defined by this chapter.
(ii) The installation of new wireless communications facilities in the public right-of-way.
(2) Type II Permit.
(i) All other wireless communications facilities not exempt by this chapter, and not eligible for a Type I permit, require a Type II permit.
(ii) A Type II permit, including the notification of adjacent property owners within three hundred (300) feet, is required for all new wireless communications facilities in residential zoning districts, and for sites adjacent to residential zones.
(e) Siting Wireless Communications Facilities. It is the policy of the City to minimize the number of wireless communication towers. The City encourages the location of antenna arrays on existing structures and encourages the co-location of antenna arrays of more than one (1) wireless communication service provider on a single tower. All wireless communications facilities shall be screened or concealed to the greatest degree feasible unless otherwise exempt. Priority of location shall be as follows:
(1) Co-Location. Mount antennas on eligible support structures as defined by this chapter.
(2) Antennas on Street (Utility) Poles Located in the Right-of-Way. The total bulk added to a pole shall not exceed double the average bulk of existing poles within three hundred (300) feet. An existing street pole may be replaced with a new street pole of the same diameter and appearance as the existing street pole; provided, the highest element on the pole, including antennas, does not exceed the average height of existing poles within three hundred (300) feet. Alterations for increased height and bulk may be granted by the Director if the applicant can demonstrate that a superior method of concealment will be utilized. When well concealed, a greater number of sites spread over a larger area is preferable to replacing an existing pole with a taller pole.
(3) Antennas Mounted on Existing Structures. The applicant shall exhaust co-location possibilities and locating on other structures (i.e., buildings, roofs, light standards, etc.) before applying for a new tower. The antennas, mounting hardware and antenna cables shall be concealed to match the existing building or structure. Rooftop equipment shall be screened in a manner and material that is architecturally compatible with the building. Examples of appropriate screening include, but are not limited to, lattice, parapet walls or rooftop plantings.
(4) New Towers. The applicant bears the burden to show that mounting antennas on existing structures or towers is not technically feasible before applying for an application for a new tower. This burden includes documenting existing structures that were studied prior to the application and an analysis explaining why those locations were not technically feasible. New towers, support structures and equipment areas shall be designed to accommodate antennas for more than one (1) user, unless the applicant demonstrates why such design is not technically feasible.
(f) Siting and Design of Towers and Associated Equipment. Site location and development shall:
(1) Be integrated through location and design to blend in with the existing characteristics of the site.
(2) Preserve the existing on-site vegetation and minimize disturbance of the existing topography, unless such disturbance would result in less visual impact of the site to the surrounding area.
(3) Be designed and placed on the site in a manner that takes the maximum advantage of existing trees, mature vegetation, and structures as to use existing site features to screen as much of the total facility as possible, and/or use existing site features as a background so that the facility blends into the background with increased sight distances. Equipment shelter/cabinets at ground level shall be screened with landscaping and/or other such material that provides screening during the entire year. Setbacks from property lines shall be maximized where practical.
(4) When comparing potential sites for a new wireless communication tower, sites that can provide substantial screening of the tower will be preferred over sites where the tower will be highly visible.
(5) New towers shall be located in the following locations in order of preference: City property, industrial zone (I), freeway corridor zone (FC), general commercial zone (GC), place antennas and towers in other zone districts which do not adjoin or adversely impact residential neighborhoods.
(g) Minimum Design and Submittal Requirements. All wireless communications facilities not specifically exempted by this chapter shall provide the following:
(1) Photo simulations of the proposed facility from affected residential properties and public rights-of-way at varying distances.
(2) A landscaping plan which complies with BMC 20.50.050. The Director may adjust these requirements when co-locating on an existing structure.
(3) All new wireless communications facilities shall provide signed statements indicating that:
(i) The applicant and landowner (if different) agree they will diligently negotiate in good faith to facilitate co-location of additional wireless communications facilities by other providers on the applicant’s structure or within the same site location; and
(ii) A letter signed by the applicant stating the tower will comply with all Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) regulations and Electronic Industries Alliance (EIA) standards and all other applicable federal and local laws and regulations.
(iii) Certification that the antenna usage will not interfere with other adjacent or neighboring transmission or reception functions.
(iv) If technology should change and a wireless communications facility becomes obsolete, or the use of the facility abandoned or discontinued, the applicant shall remove facilities per subsection (j) of this section.
(4) Wireless communications facilities shall be screened or concealed to the greatest degree feasible by employing the best available technology. This may be accomplished by use of compatible materials, location, color, stealth technologies, and/or other tactics to achieve minimum visibility of the facility as viewed from public streets or residential properties. All screening and concealment is subject to the approval of the City.
(5) Tower bases, equipment enclosures and cabinets and related security fencing shall be screened from public view. This screening requirement may be met in a number of ways, including use of a solid masonry wall, earthen berms, artwork, or landscaping. If landscaping is employed, it shall meet all applicable requirements of Chapter 20.50 BMC.
(6) In reviewing the proposed placement of a wireless facility on the site and any associated landscaping, the City may make a condition of the permit that the applicant supplement existing trees and mature vegetation to more effectively screen the facility.
(7) Towers, antennas, and any associated hardware and equipment shall be painted a nonreflective color or color scheme appropriate to the background against which the facility would be viewed from a majority of points within its viewshed, unless otherwise required by the FAA. A proposed color or color scheme shall be approved by the City.
(8) Fencing, if used, shall conform to BMC 20.46.020 and the following:
(i) Security fencing shall be effectively screened from view through the use of appropriate landscaping materials; and
(ii) Chain-link fences shall be painted or coated with a nonreflective color, and shall have a minimum three (3) foot deep area to be planted with approved plant species in a manner that will completely screen the fencing.
(9) No wireless equipment enclosures reviewed under this section shall be located within required yard setback areas, and when located outside the right-of-way, shall not be permitted within ten (10) feet of any property line.
(h) Proof of Necessity. Providers are required to demonstrate that their facilities must be placed in the proposed location in order to satisfy their grid system and provide adequate coverage. Regional grid maps shall be submitted showing the proposed site and its relation to sites in the area. The companies shall also demonstrate that the height of the facility they are requesting is the minimum height necessary to provide adequate coverage within the grid system. Some gaps in coverage and less than seamless coverage may be acceptable. In some instances, there may be a need for expert review by a third party of the technical data. The City may require such a technical review, to be paid for by the applicant. The expert review may include, but not be limited to, a recommendation on the height of the proposed facilities relative to the applicant’s coverage objectives and system design parameters, or the structural requirements for accommodating co-location. Based on the results of the third party review, the City may require changes to the application that comply with the recommendations of the expert.
(i) Noise. All wireless communications facilities and supporting equipment shall conform to levels established in Chapter 6.32 BMC. A noise study verifying that the maximum level is not being exceeded may be required prior to issuance of the building permit. If complaints regarding noise levels are registered with the City, the City may require additional testing and certification of the noise level, at the expense of the communications facility owner/operator.
(j) Abandonment or Discontinuation of Use.
(1) At such time that a provider plans to abandon or is required to abandon the operation of a wireless communications facility, such provider will notify the City Department of Community Development by certified U.S. mail of the proposed date of abandonment. Such notice shall be given no less than thirty (30) days prior to abandonment.
(2) In the event that a licensed provider fails to give such notice, the personal wireless facility shall be considered abandoned.
(3) Upon abandonment, the provider shall physically remove the wireless communications facility within one hundred eighty (180) days from the date of abandonment. "Physically remove" shall include, but not be limited to:
(i) Removal of antennas, mounts, equipment cabinets and security barriers from the subject property.
(ii) Removal of towers.
(iii) Transportation of the antennas, mounts, equipment cabinets, security barriers, and towers to a location outside of the City of Bremerton, or to an approved storage area.
(iv) Restoring the location of the personal wireless facility to its natural condition, except any remaining landscaping and grading.
(k) Maintenance.
(1) Wireless communications facilities shall be maintained. For purposes of this section, "maintenance" shall include but not necessarily be limited to the following:
(i) Keeping of all plant materials used for screening in a live and healthy condition;
(ii) Regular painting of towers, enclosures, artwork, fences and all paintable items on the site such that rust, peeling paint, or oxidation is not evident;
(iii) Repair of any loose or hanging equipment or parts; and
(iv) Replacement of missing plants, artwork, fencing or fencing parts, or portions of towers, enclosures, and other equipment. (Ord. 5301 §3 (Exh. B) (part), 2016: Ord. 4950 §8 (Exh. A) (part), 2005)
20.46.150 PUBLIC UTILITY FACILITIES.
Public utility facilities as defined in Chapter 20.42 BMC may be permitted in all zones where not listed as an allowable use, provided a conditional use permit is approved pursuant to BMC 20.58.020, and subject to the following conditions. Decisions shall be a Type II Director’s decision per Chapter 20.02 BMC.
(a) The public facility does not substantially interfere with or detract from the intent of the zone district, as determined by the Director;
(b) The public facility conforms to applicable development standards of the zone, including setback and height standards, unless modified by the Director;
(c) Measures are taken to provide screening for the public facility in cases where the facility would otherwise have a negative impact on the visual character of a neighborhood as seen from rights-of-way or adjacent properties. (Ord. 5301 §3 (Exh. B) (part), 2016: Ord. 4950 §8 (Exh. A) (part), 2005)
20.46.160 PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION/ TRANSMISSION FACILITIES.
Public distribution/transmission facilities as defined in Chapter 20.42 BMC are permitted outright in all zones. The Director shall determine whether a utility facility is most appropriately classified as a public distribution/transmission facility or a public utility facility (see BMC 20.46.150) according to the definitions set forth in Chapter 20.42 BMC. (Ord. 5301 §3 (Exh. B) (part), 2016: Ord. 4950 §8 (Exh. A) (part), 2005)