Resident presents tower-siting concept; commissioners ask staff to consider ordinance language

Marty Hatfield, a resident and KOSW radio-board member, briefed the Planning Commission on existing antenna and tower locations in Ocean Shores and recommended the city consider an ordinance to guide future tower siting.

Hatfield said the city’s existing tower at the Public Works yard (currently hosting KOSW and emergency backup systems) is structurally degraded and that other towers in the city are on private property. He identified Crown Castle and Quest-owned towers and a Grays Harbor PUD lattice tower with microwave equipment, noting limited space for new attachments. Hatfield also reviewed FAA height and lighting considerations, explaining that keeping tower heights below FAA thresholds can avoid lighting and painting obligations and associated costs.

Hatfield suggested the city identify municipal parcels suitable for a replacement tower to improve coverage for public-safety handheld radios in fringe areas such as Point Brown. He told commissioners the city code does not contain clear tower siting standards and that the municipal definition and exemptions are “foggy,” so the city should prepare guidance to balance aesthetics, emergency communications needs, FAA requirements and lease negotiations with carriers.

Planning staff and commissioners acknowledged the need for clear guidance. No ordinance was proposed at the meeting; commissioners requested staff review existing code definitions and potential draft ordinance language, and to evaluate municipal sites (water tanks, public works parcels) for feasibility and FAA constraints.