§ 22-206. Underground utility facilities.
(a)
All new utility facilities to be constructed within all new additions or subdivisions shall, to the extent practicable and feasible, be placed underground within dedicated utility easements so as to promote and preserve the health, peace and safety and general welfare of the public and to assure the orderly development of all such new additions and subdivisions.
(b)
Any plat for a new addition or subdivision, or any amendment thereto, shall not be approved unless that plat provides that all new utility facilities shall, to the extent practicable and feasible, be placed underground.
(c)
The provisions of the above subsections (a) and (b) shall not apply to above ground utility facilities within any addition or subdivision platted or on which a preliminary plat had been approved, or which existed prior to February 8, 1966, nor shall it apply to the maintenance, repair or replacement of such existing above ground utility facilities.
(d)
The provisions of the above subsections (a) and (b) shall not apply to:
(1)
Poles used exclusively for police or fire alarm boxes, traffic control facilities, or any similar City equipment installed under the supervision and to the satisfaction of the City Manager or his designated representative.
(2)
Thoroughfare street lighting systems on arterial streets or highways designated by the City, and lighting units comprised of poles, standards, luminaries and appurtenant equipment for other street lighting systems and for area lighting. However, prior to the installation of any such street lighting system the plans therefore, describing the materials, structural characteristics and other details shall be submitted to the Public Works Director, who shall thereafter submit the same, with his recommendations, to the City Council for its approval.
(3)
Radio antennae and associated equipment, including supporting structures. (This exception specifically does not include facilities extending to and from such equipment).
(4)
Temporary utility facilities used for supplying services to new construction, or for maintaining services during periods of restoration or replacement.
(5)
Electric transmission lines, feeder lines, substations and switching stations. However, the plans and routing of all feeder lines, except those to be installed on section lines or half section lines and which do not pierce any existing subdivision, shall be submitted to the Public Works Director, who shall thereafter submit the same, with his recommendations, to the City Council for its approval.
(6)
Electric service terminals in pedestals; enclosed pad mounted distribution transformers; riser facilities for connecting distribution lines to feeder lines.
(7)
Gas systems field line terminals, pressure reducing, regulating, odorizing and/or metering stations housed in surface masonry structures; serving meters and regulators one and one-half maximum size and eight (8) ounces maximum pressure where located in the rear of the properties served.
(8)
Service equipment and connections mounted against walls of buildings being served, including gas risers, electric risers and meters, and communications or television risers and terminals.
(e)
The City Council may approve additional exceptions to those set forth in the above subsection (d) However, in hearing and determining applications for exceptions, the City Council must be presented supporting evidence that one or more of the following conditions exist:
(1)
There is no value in underground utility installations for purposes of esthetics or consistency because of the presence of existing overhead utility facilities in a substantial portion of the area within or surrounding the new addition or subdivision.
(2)
Underground construction would not be practicable or feasible due to the nature of the services to be rendered or required, the soil or rock formations in the area, unusual rodent or animal infestation, the presence of existing impeding underground drainage ditches, open storm sewers and impediments of like nature, or because of some other unusual circumstances.
(3)
The cost of the installation will be unduly burdensome or confiscatory when compared with the revenue which could reasonably be anticipated therefrom.
(f)
It shall be the responsibility of the utility company to restore the grounds, soil, and ground cover to their condition existing prior to the installation of underground utilities.
(Ord. No. 0-1833; Ord. No. 0-8485-15)