"Antenna or antennas"
means any system of poles, panels, rods, dishes, reflecting discs or similar devices used for the transmission or reception of radio frequency signals.
"Associated facility" or "associated facilities"
means a land use whose principal purpose involves the distribution, processing, storage, handling, or other related and supporting activities necessary for a special utility, not including administrative activities or offices.
"Communication facility" or "communication facilities"
means any real property or portion thereof used for the reception, transmission and/or regeneration of electromagnetic and light signals, including but not limited to cellular, fiber-optic, microwave, mobile radio, radio, satellite, and television mediums. The term does not include poles or lattice-work towers supporting aboveground distribution or transmission lines for utility services such as electricity, telephone, or cable television. Communication facilities consist of all buildings, transmission structures, and other appurtenant improvements necessary for the support, shelter and operation of applicable communication equipment.
"Fuel cell" or "fuel cells"
means a device which uses an electrochemical process to produce electrical energy using as its fuel source natural gas, methanol, propane, or like fuel.
"Geothermal power facility" or "geothermal facility"
means a facility used to produce electricity by extracting and converting the natural thermal energy of the earth. The term does not include ground-source heat pumps or the direct use of geothermal energy for the heating of buildings located on or adjacent to the subject property.
"Hydroelectric plant" or "hydroelectric plants"
means a facility used to produce electricity by converting the kinetic energy of flowing water to electric power. Hydroelectric facilities include but may not be limited to a dam, powerhouse apparatus (penstock, turbines and generators), step-up transformers, and any other buildings, support structures, or other related improvements necessary for the generation of electric power. The term does not include irrigation diversion dams, electrical distribution or transmission lines, or electrical substations otherwise regulated by this chapter.
"Major alternative energy facility"
means a hydroelectric plant, or wind farm that is not a minor alternative energy facility.
"Major thermal power plant facility" or "major thermal power plant facilities"
means an electrical generating facility that utilizes nuclear or fossil fuels with output exceeding 10 mva.
"Minor alternative energy facility" or "minor alternative energy system"
means a fuel cell or a facility for the production of electrical energy that:
1. 
i. Uses as its fuel either solar, wind not more than 100 kW and subject to the development standards in KCC § 17.61 B.050, or hydropower; ii. is located on the power beneficiary's premises; iii. is intended primarily to offset part or all of the beneficiary's requirements for electricity; and iv. is secondary to the beneficiary's use of the premises for other lawful purpose(s); or
2. 
Is intended to mitigate electrical system improvement requirements.
"Minor thermal power plant facility" or "minor thermal power plant facilities"
means an electrical generating facility that utilizes nuclear or fossil fuels with an output of at least one mva but equal to or less than 10 mva.
"Normal maintenance"
includes those usual acts to prevent a decline, lapse, or cessation from a lawfully established condition. "Normal repair" means to restore a development to a state comparable to its original condition within a reasonable period after decay or partial destruction.
"Special utility" or "special utilities"
shall mean the following:
1. 
Natural gas, synthetic fuel gas, or liquefied petroleum gas pipelines operating at a pressure which results in a hoop stress of 20 percent or more of the specified minimum yield strength;
2. 
Electrical transmission lines exceeding 115,000 volts;
3. 
Electrical substations;
4. 
Cellular, mobile or fiber-optic telecommunication facilities;
5. 
Geothermal power facilities;
6. 
Minor thermal power plant facilities; 7. Minor alternative energy facilities.
"Utility corridor" or "utility corridors"
means a lineal transportation route utilized by one or more special utilities.
"Utility" or "utilities"
means the supply, treatment and distribution, as appropriate, of gas, gas meter stations, municipal domestic and irrigation water, sewage, storm water, electricity, telephone, fiber-optic and cable television. Such utilities consist of both the service activity along with the physical facilities necessary for the utilities to be supplied, except for associated facilities and special utilities as defined herein. Electric vehicle infrastructure, as provided for in Chapter 17.66, is not a "utility" or "utilities".
"Wind farm"
means a single wind turbine exceeding 120 feet in height above grade or more than one wind turbine of any size proposed and/or constructed by the same person or group of persons on the same or adjoining tax parcels. The term does not include turbines mounted to existing structures principally used for other lawful purposes (such as buildings or electric utility poles) provided the nacelle does not extend more than 20 feet above the uppermost portion of the structure to which it is mounted or attached.
"Wind turbine" or "wind turbines"
means any of various machines used to produce electricity by converting the kinetic energy of wind to rotational, mechanical and electrical energy. Wind turbines consist of the turbine apparatus (rotor, nacelle and tower) and any other buildings, support structures, or other related improvements necessary for the generation of electric power. The term does not include electrical distribution or transmission lines, or electrical substations otherwise regulated by this chapter.
(Ord. 98-17 (part), 1998; Ord. 99-14 (part), 1999; Ord. 2000-06 (part), 2000; Ord. 2001-12 (part), 2001; Ord. 2011-013, 2011; Ord. 2012-009, 2012; Ord. 2018-018, 2018)
1. 
Utilities shall be a permitted use in all zoning districts.
2. 
Minor alternative energy facilities shall be a permitted use in all zoning districts, provided the following limitations shall apply to wind turbines located within urban growth areas:
a. 
Wind turbines shall not exceed a total height of 75 feet above grade; and
b. 
Rotors shall not exceed 30 feet in diameter.
3. 
Minor thermal power plant facilities may be authorized by the Community Development Services director as an administrative conditional use in all zoning districts, pursuant to the criteria and procedures of this chapter and KCC Title 15A.
4. 
Major alternative energy facilities may be authorized in the Agriculture-20, forest and range, commercial agriculture, and commercial forest zones as follows:
a. 
Wind farms may be authorized pursuant to the provisions of KCC Chapter 17.61A;
b. 
All other major alternative energy facilities may be authorized as a conditional use.
5. 
Major thermal power plant facilities may be authorized as a conditional use in the Agriculture-20, forest and range, commercial agriculture, and commercial forest zones.
6. 
Special utilities may be authorized as a conditional use in all zoning districts, except for minor thermal power plant facilities as provided in subsection C of this section, and communication facilities as provided in KCC § 17.61.040. Normal maintenance and repair of existing developments shall be a permitted use for both nonconforming and lawfully established special utilities.
7. 
Associated facilities may be authorized as a conditional use in the general industrial zone (KCC Chapter 17.52).
8. 
All conditional use requests and administrative appeals sale be reviewed pursuant to the procedures contained in KCC Title 15A, Project Permit Application Process, and the criteria contained in KCC Chapter 17.60, Conditional Uses, this chapter, and other applicable law.
9. 
Nothing in this chapter is intended to interfere with the storage and/or distribution of products associated with on-site natural resource activities, including but not limited to fossil fuels.
(Ord. 98-17 (part), 1998; Ord. 99-14 (part), 1999; Ord. 2000-06 (part), 2000; Ord. 2001-12 (part), 2001; Ord. 2002-19 (part), 2002; Ord. 2007-22, 2007; Ord. 2012-009, 2012; Ord. 2013-001, 2013)
1. 
The Hearing Examiner shall determine that adequate measures have been undertaken by the proponent of the special utility and/or associated facility to reduce the risk of accidents caused by hazardous materials.
2. 
The Hearing Examiner, as required by existing statutes, shall determine that the proposed special utility and/or associated facilities are essential or desirable to the public convenience and/or not detrimental or injurious to the public health or safety, or to the character of the surrounding neighborhood.
3. 
The Hearing Examiner shall determine that the proposed special utility and/or associated facilities will not be unreasonably detrimental to the economic welfare of the county and/or that it will not create excessive public cost for public services by finding that:
a. 
It will be adequately serviced by existing services such as highways, roads, police and fire protection, emergency response, and drainage structures, refuse disposal, water and sewers, and schools; or
b. 
The applicant shall provide such services or facilities.
4. 
Special utilities and/or associated facilities as defined by this chapter shall use public rights-of-way or established utility corridors when reasonable. Although Kittitas County may map utility corridors, it is recognized and reaffirmed that the use of such corridors is subject to conditional use approval and just compensation to the landowner for the use of such corridor. While a utility corridor may be used for more than one utility or purpose, each utility or use should be negotiated with the landowner as a separate easement, right-of-way, or other agreement, or other arrangement between the landowner and all owners of interests in the property. Any county map which shows utility corridors shall designate such corridors as "private land closed to trespass and public use" where such corridors are on private land. Nothing in this paragraph is intended to conflict with the right of eminent domain.
5. 
The Hearing Examiner shall consider industry standards, available technology, and proposed design technology for special utilities and associated facilities in promulgating conditions of approval.
6. 
The construction and installation of utilities and special utilities may necessitate the importation of fill material which may result in the displacement of native material. The incidental generation of earthen spoils resulting from the construction and/or installment of a utility or special utility, and the removal of said material from the development site shall not require a separate zoning conditional use permit.
7. 
The operation of some utilities and special utilities identified within this chapter may necessitate unusual parcel configurations and/or parcel sizes. Such parcels:
a. 
Need not conform with applicable zoning requirements; provided, they comply with the procedures provided in KCC Title 16, Subdivisions, and so long as used for a utility or special utility;
b. 
Are not eligible for any other use or any rights allowed to nonconforming lots in the event the utility or special utility use ceases;
c. 
Shall continue to be aggregated to the area of the parent parcel for all other zoning and subdivision requirements applicable to the parent parcel.
(Ord. 98-17 (part), 1998; Ord. 99-14 (part), 1999; Ord. 2000-06 (part), 2000; Ord. 2001-12 (part), 2001; Ord. 2012-009, 2012)
1. 
Communication facilities may be authorized by the Community Development Services director as an administrative conditional use in all zoning districts, pursuant to the criteria and procedures of this chapter and KCC Title 15A and KCC Chapter 17.60. An administrative conditional use permit is not required for the operation of amateur or noncommercial communication equipment as defined by FCC regulations under Part 95D and Part 97 CFR (i.e., citizen band, ham radio).
2. 
Construction of all improvements shall be completed within one year of the date of building permit issuance except as provided for in subsections 4 and 5 of this section.
3. 
The property line setback shall be 1.2 times the height of the structure. The lot line setback requirements of this title may be reduced by the Community Development Services director, in order to improve the facilities' reception and/or transmission capabilities or to achieve greater levels of audible or visual screening provided the applicant can provide evidence that it would not be possible for the tower to fall on neighboring properties. Communication facilities shall be designed to blend with existing surroundings; provided, no conflicts exist with existing Federal Communications Commission and the Federal Aviation Administration regulations relating to aircraft safety. This should be achieved through the use of compatible colors and materials, and alternative site placement to allow the use of topography, existing vegetation or other structures to screen the proposed transmission support structure from adjacent lands.
4. 
The co-location of antennas on both existing and proposed transmission structures is encouraged. Communication antennas shall be permitted outright in all zoning districts provided the following:
a. 
An antenna shall not extend more than six feet horizontally from any structure to which it is attached.
b. 
An antenna shall not extend vertically more than 15 feet above the uppermost portion of the structure to which it is mounted or attached.
5. 
Modifications to, including the expansion of, existing approved communication facilities shall be outright permitted; provided, there is no increase in the height of the transmission tower. For purposes of this subsection, "transmission tower" means a pole or lattice-work structure specifically designed and intended to support antenna and related communication equipment.
(Ord. 2000-06 (part), 2000; Ord. 2001-12 (part), 2001; Ord. 2007-22, 2007; Ord. 2018-001, 2018; Ord. 2019-013, 2019)