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Utilities Use Category refers to facilities serving the public by means of an integrated system of collection, transmission, distribution, and processing facilities through more or less permanent physical or wireless connections between the plant of the serving entity and the premises of the customers or their mobile devices. Included are systems for the delivery of natural gas, electricity, broadband and telecommunication services, the collection of stormwater, and for the collection and disposal of sewage and refuse.

A. Telecommunication Towers or Wireless Facilities. Telecommunication Towers or Wireless Facilities Use Type refers to facilities used in the transmission of information by radio, radio frequency, electromagnetic, or other similar means. These types of facilities may also include, but are not limited to, central office switching units, remote switching units, telecommunications radio relay stations, and ground-level equipment structures or utility power poles that have been modified or replaced at an increased height for the purposes of accommodating wireless communications.

Level 1:    Antennas or dishes attached to the roof or sides of a building, water tank, modified or replaced utility pole, or a similar structure or the modification of existing telecommunication towers to accommodate collocation with additional antennas or dishes and associated equipment structures. The following types of antenna(s), for example, but without limitation, are allowed as follows: an omnidirectional or whip antenna no more than seven inches in diameter and extending no more than 16 feet above the structure to which it is attached; or a panel antenna, no more than 17 square feet, extending above the structure to which it is attached by no more than 16 feet; or a replacement utility pole extending the height of the original pole by no more than 16 feet. This level also includes small wireless facilities and distributed antenna systems meeting the requirements of PCC 18J.15.275, and Eligible Facilities Request under 47 C.F.R. § 1.6100.

Level 2:    Monopole towers with associated antennas or dishes not exceeding 60 feet in height, or stealth, camouflaged, or concealed monopole towers with associated antennas or dishes not exceeding 150 feet in height and meeting the criteria for a camouflaged or concealed design in PCC 18J.15.270. This level includes any utility pole that has been modified or replaced at an increased height (of up to 60 feet) for the purposes of accommodating wireless communication facilities.

Level 3:    Monopole towers with associated antennas or dishes over 60 feet in height and not exceeding 150 feet in height. This level includes any utility pole that has been modified or replaced at an increased height (of up to 150 feet) for the purposes of accommodating wireless communication facilities.

Level 4:    Telecommunication towers with associated antenna or dishes over 150 feet in height. This level includes any utility pole that has been modified or replaced at an increased height (over 150 feet) for the purposes of accommodating wireless communication facilities.

Level 5:    Telecommunication towers with associated antenna or dishes over 150 feet in height, that are used for: (1) emergency services including, but not limited to, fire, police, and ambulance services; or (2) public utility services including, but not limited to, electric, water and wastewater. This level includes any utility pole that has been modified or replaced at an increased height for the purposes of accommodating wireless communication facilities.

B. Electrical Facilities. Electrical Facilities Use Type refers to above-ground electrical transmission lines of an operating voltage of greater than 55 kV, and above-ground substations and switching stations. Electrical facilities are utility facilities that provide service in urban and rural areas. Also, see PCC 18A.05.025, Exempted Uses.

C. Electrical Generation Facilities. Electrical Generation Facilities Use Type refers to facilities that generate or cogenerate electric energy. Electrical generation facilities include wind farms, hydropower facilities, solar energy facilities, solar thermal facilities, thermal generation facilities such as cogeneration and combustion turbines, and other facilities employed to generate electric energy by or as a resource for utilities.

Level 1:    Generation of electricity from landfill gas if the Tacoma-Pierce County Health Department determines this method as a Best Available Control Technology for the control of odor and air emissions from a permitted landfill located within an Essential Public Facility – Solid Waste Facility Overlay (EPF-SWFO) as set forth in PCC 18A.10.100 H.

Level 2:    A solar energy facility or solar thermal facility that has a total coverage area of one acre or less.

Level 3:    A solar energy facility or solar thermal facility that has a total coverage area of five acres or less.

Level 4:    A solar energy facility or solar thermal facility of any size.

Level 5:    All other electrical generation facilities.

D. Natural Gas Facilities. Natural Gas Facilities Use Type refers to facilities engaged in the distribution and storage of natural gas. Natural gas gate stations, natural gas storage facilities, and interim propane storage systems fall within this use type.

Level 1:    Interim propane storage facilities.

Level 2:    Natural gas storage for transportation.

Level 3:    Natural gas gate stations.

Level 4:    Natural gas storage facilities including compression and liquification.

Level 5:    Natural gas storage for transportation, sale and distribution as an accessory use, not to exceed 1,200 gallons.

Level 6:    Conversion of landfill gas to a usable fuel product if the Tacoma-Pierce County Health Department determines this method as a Best Available Control Technology for the control of odor and air emissions from a permitted landfill located within an Essential Public Facility – Solid Waste Facility Overlay (EPF-SWFO) as set forth in PCC 18A.10.100 H.

E. Organic Waste Processing Facilities. Organic Waste Processing Facilities Use Type refers to any solid waste facility specializing in the controlled decomposition of organic solid waste and which meets requirements of solid waste regulations for the type of feedstock it is composting or treating. Typical uses include composting facilities and soil treatment facilities.

Level 1:    Contaminated soil treatment facilities.

Level 2:    Composting facility designed to handle more than 40 cubic yards.

Level 3:    MSW composting facility.

F. Pipelines. Pipelines Use Type refers to facilities engaged in the transmission of water, petroleum, oil, or natural gas.

G. Sewage Collection Facilities. Sewage Collection Facilities Use Type refers to facilities used to collect sewage including, but not limited to, wastewater transfer facilities, odor control structures, pump stations, and lift stations. (Also see PCC 18A.05.025, Exempted Uses).

H. Sewage Treatment Facilities. Sewage Treatment Facilities Use Type refers to facilities used to treat any liquid or waterborne waste of domestic origin or a combination of domestic, commercial, or industrial origin, and which by its design requires the presence of an operator for its operation, including alternative treatment works and package treatment plants. Also included are all of the various types of associated equipment, structures, and operations as they are currently constructed and operating or will result from technology including, but not limited to, administrative offices, storage, laboratories, public walkways, recreational and educational uses, and parking lots. It shall not include any facility used exclusively by a single-family residence, septic tanks with subsoil absorption, industrial pretreatment facilities, privately owned treatment plants for industrial wastewater, or wastewater collection systems.

I. Surface Water Management Activities. Surface Water Management Activities Use Type includes activities undertaken to reduce flooding, protect water quality and preserve natural drainage courses. The activities and uses include stormwater facilities, flood plain reconnection, channel restoration, flood management actions, levees/revetments, and associated habitat restoration activities.

J. Waste Disposal Facilities. Waste Disposal Facilities Use Type refers to permanent disposal sites for solid waste. Typical uses include inert or limited purpose landfills, MSW, landfills, and waste-to-energy facilities handling municipal solid waste (MSW).

Level 1:    Inert landfills.

Level 2:    Inert landfills as accessory uses to mineral extraction sites.

Level 3:    Limited purpose landfills.

Level 4:    Special Waste-to-Energy Facilities designed to burn more than 12 tons per day.

Level 5:    MSW landfill, special incinerator ash landfill, any landfill not previously identified, and MSW waste-to-energy facility.

Level 6:    Municipal Solid Waste (MSW) landfill located within an Essential Public Facility-Solid Waste Facility Overlay (EPF-SWFO) as set forth in PCC 18A.10.100 H.

K. Waste Transfer Facilities. Waste Transfer Facilities Use Type refers to solid waste facilities where solid waste is collected or subjected to interim processing before being transported to a permanent disposal site or for reuse. Typical uses include recycling collection sites, drop-box transfer stations, transfer stations with or without recyclables recovery facilities, moderate-risk waste facilities, and tire piles.

Level 1:    Recycling collection sites.

Level 2:    Drop-box transfer stations.

Level 3:    Tire piles.

Level 4:    Transfer stations with or without recyclables recovery facilities (MRF) and Moderate-Risk Waste Facilities.

L. Water Supply Facilities. Water Supply Facilities Use Type refers to potable water production and treatment facilities, water storage facilities and reservoirs, wellheads, booster stations, and pump stations.

Level 1:    Wellheads, pump stations, water storage facilities, and water treatment facilities which do not exceed a cumulative building footprint of 10,000 square feet nor exceed the building height for the zone except those water treatment facilities that propose to use gaseous chlorine or sodium hydroxide system.

Level 2:    Wellheads, pump stations, water storage facilities, and water treatment facilities which exceed the building height of the zone and do not exceed a cumulative building footprint of 10,000 square feet and do not exceed 60 feet in height except those water treatment facilities that propose to use gaseous chlorine or sodium hydroxide system.

Level 3:    All water storage or treatment facilities that exceed 10,000 square feet or exceed 60 feet in height or propose to use gaseous chlorine or sodium hydroxide system.

M. Utility or Public Maintenance Facilities. Utility or Public Maintenance Facilities Use Type refers to facilities for open and enclosed storage and maintenance of vehicles, equipment, or related materials used in a utility or public facility activity.

Level 1:    Total enclosed floor area up to 1,000 heated square feet or up to 4,000 unheated square feet.

Level 2:    Total enclosed floor area greater than 1,000 square feet.

(Ord. 2021-9s § 3, 2021; Ord. 2020-40s § 1 (part), 2020; Ord. 2017-89s § 2 (part), 2018; Ord. 2017-28s § 7 (part), 2017; Ord. 2016-24s2 § 1 (part), 2016; Ord. 2014-67 § 1 (part), 2014; Ord. 2013-85 § 1 (part), 2013; Ord. 2013-30s2 § 5 (part), 2013; Ord. 2012-2s § 5 (part), 2012; Ord. 2010-13s § 2 (part), 2010; Ord. 2007-85s § 2 (part), 2007; Ord. 2007-109s § 3 (part), 2007; Ord. 2007-6 § 2 (part), 2007; Ord. 2006-53s § 1 (part), 2006; Ord. 2004-52s § 3 (part), 2004)