| Draft Environmental Impact Statement Shorts School Road Am Antenna Structures 11 2.2 Description of the Proposed Project The Proposed Action would construct a communications utility facility at 11304 132nd Street SE near Snohomish, Washington in unincorporated Snohomish County. The definition of a �Utility� under the Snohomish County Code is defined as �Utility - means an entity whose principal purpose is to provide electricity, water, sewer, storm drainage, gas, radio, television, telephone or other forms of communication utilizing the electromagnetic spectrum to the public.� SCC 18.90.870. The project site is zoned A-10. A utility use within the A-10 zone is a use permitted with a conditional use permit. The proposal is for the construction of one 349 foot and three 199 foot self-supporting AM signal transmission structures to be used as a digital broadcast replacement site for KRKO Radio, and an 816 sq. ft. equipment shelter (Phase I); and an additional four self-supporting transmission structures at 199 feet tall designed and constructed to co-locate other communications users, including other radio stations (Phase II). These heights include an elevated base for each structure. The tallest structure will be painted and lighted as required by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). The FAA does not require lighting for structures less than 200 feet tall. FAA approval for the structures has been granted. Upon completion of Phase II, S-R Broadcasting plans to remove KRKO�s current antennas on Larimer Road. Construction of a possible second equipment shelter could occur after completion of Phase II if required to accommodate future collocation. Antenna Support Structure Design and Construction Each transmission structure will have a triangular footprint and utilize an open steel latticework design. The design has been engineered specifically to be a narrow, steeply tapering profile to reduce the visible structural width and maximize visual compatibility. The main antenna would have a base dimension of 26 feet on each side, narrowing to approximately 15 inches in width at the top. The remaining smaller antennas have a base dimension of 5 feet on each side of the base, narrowing to 12 inches at the top. Engineering specifications call for piling foundations to be driven up to 55 feet into the ground for each antenna. The base of each transmission structure will include an approximately 12� x 10� equipment platform; these platforms will be elevated approximately 16 feet, to be above the anticipated 100-year flood levels. The structures would be set back distances from the external property boundaries greater than the structural heights. The equipment shelter on the north end of the property conforms to Snohomish County Code for setbacks. A 2,500-sq. ft. surfaced service yard will be constructed at the base of the equipment shelter platform. If constructed, the possible future second equipment shelter would be similar in size to the currently proposed shelter; any such second shelter would not require any additional service yard area. Total impervious surfaces will be less than 4,500 square feet. |