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City of Bellevue, WA City Council
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Council Roundup: Code changes for wireless facilities

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    Published September 29 2023

    Representatives of Bellevue Schools accept a Walk and Roll to School proclamation.

    Plus, housing amendments in county planning policies, parks summer recap and Walk and Roll to School 

    On Monday, the City Council advanced proposed code amendments related to wireless communications facilities and small wireless facilities to address technology and regulation changes. 

    Small wireless facilities have smaller radios and antennas than traditional cell towers and complement larger towers by adding capacity and resiliency to carrier networks. The city has been working with wireless carriers to expand wireless connectivity in Bellevue as part of its “Smart City Plan.” The city recently celebrated the expansion of wireless connectivity with a ribbon-cutting marking the first of four completed small wireless facilities downtown. 

    These facilities are typically installed on utility or streetlight poles in the street right of way. In 2019, the Bellevue City Code was amended to comply with Federal Communications Commission regulations, while also establishing aesthetic guidelines and expediting the permitting process for these facilities. Monday’s code amendment expands antenna and equipment placement options, increases enclosure options for concealment, provides more temporary installation options for one-time events or emergencies and improves the permitting process.

    The council voted unanimously to place the code amendment on the consent calendar at a future meeting.

    The council also considered a code amendment that aligns the city’s wireless communications facilities regulations in the Land Use Code with changes in wireless technology and federal regulations. The amendment updates provisions that regulate wireless facilities on private or public property for consistency with federal law, while maintaining existing design standards for them. The land use code amendment will be scheduled for a future public hearing. 

    Details about the code amendments are available in the meeting materials and at Wireless Code Amendments. 

    Housing amendments in county planning policies

    The council also discussed whether to ratify housing-related amendments made to the 2021 Countywide Planning Policies to reflect housing needs by affordability level across the county, including in Bellevue. The county policies inform the city’s approach to its update of the Comprehensive Plan, the guiding document for the city’s long-term growth strategies. 

    The King County Council approved and ratified the housing-related amendments to its policies on Aug. 15 and Bellevue has until Nov. 30 to take formal action to either ratify or disapprove the amendments. Amendments must be ratified by at least 30% of city and county governments representing 70% of the population of King County.

    Some councilmembers voiced a desire for more information to understand the implications of ratification, given that housing needs data in the amendments do not exactly match Bellevue-specific data generated through local analysis as part of the city’s comprehensive planning process. 

    The council voted 5-2 to bring back legislation to ratify the amendments at a future meeting where members could have additional information. Councilmembers Conrad Lee and Jennifer Robertson voted ‘no’ to bringing the legislation back at a future meeting.

    The full discussion is available on video replay through Bellevue Television.  

    Parks summer recap

    The council received a report from Bellevue Parks & Community Services about the programs and events held during a busy summer. 

    Parks processed requests for 875 individual outdoor events and over 2,000 sports field reservations from Memorial Day to Labor Day. During that time, more than 48,000 visitors enjoyed Bellevue’s beach parks and more than 250 summer day camps were held. 

    This year’s Bellevue Family 4th attracted more than 50,000 people to Downtown Park for the festivities, 12,000 people attended Movies in the Park, and parks in Bellevue served as locations for many cultural events this summer including the CHIME Music Festival, Flavors of India, and the Pakistan Independence Day celebration. 

    Still to come, Kelsey Creek Farm Fair takes place Oct. 7, 11 a.m.-4 p.m. Festivities include pony rides, a pumpkin patch, hands-on heritage activities, animal viewing, a children’s play area, wagon rides, food trucks and more.

    Walk and Roll to School proclamation

    In other business, the Bellevue School District was on hand as the council proclaimed Wednesday, Oct. 4, Walk and Roll to School Day in Bellevue.

    The day was created to encourage children to safely walk or roll to school or to the school bus
    and to develop and promote local Safe Routes to School programs across the United States and globally. The effort also aims to relieve traffic congestion and offer environmental benefits. 

    Note: The next City Council meeting will be Monday, Oct. 9.

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