§ 30.52.060. Utility Improvement Requirements.

a.

The purpose of this section is to decrease the obstructions of streets and other rights-of-way; standardize, regulate and control the location, size, type, maintenance and quantity of cuts, breaks, alterations and installations of any improvements in the county rights-of-way; promote the health, safety, convenience and general welfare of the public; and improve the aesthetic appearance of the community or area, by requiring that new utility lines including, but not limiting to, electrical and communication distribution lines and appurtenances thereto, be located underground except as hereinafter provided.

b.

New utility lines or the modification of existing lines including, but not limited to, electric, water, sewer, gas, petrochemical, and communication transmission and distribution lines and related equipment, shall be located underground except as provided below.

1.

Exceptions to Underground Requirements. The following are not required to be installed underground:

A.

County equipment installed under the supervision, and to the satisfaction, of the Director of Public Works including, but not limited to, traffic control devices and streetlight systems.

B.

New electrical or communications poles proposed to be installed to replace existing overhead poles located along the same existing utility line where no increase in the number of poles is being requested or utility lines being dropped from an existing pole, except as permitted in Table 30.44-1.

C.

New high voltage transmission lines of thirty-four thousand five hundred (34,500) volts or more (= 34.5 kv) which may be carried on overhead poles, upon approval of a special use permit identifying the route, pole locations and system design.

D.

Radio antenna and associated equipment, and supporting structures used for furnishing communications services.

E.

Service switch boxes and exposed conduit at buildings and gas and electric meters. The transformers shall be pad-mounted at the back of the sidewalk.

F.

Fire hydrants, valves, vaults, meters, reservoirs and substations for public or private facilities.

G.

Utility lines and related equipment serving, and located within, subdivisions recorded prior to 1968, unless the adopted land use plan or guide specifies that utilities for the area should be underground.

H.

Temporary power poles needed for construction, for approved temporary projects, or for temporary government facilities.

I.

Attachments to existing utility poles shall be allowed until utility poles are removed, retired or as underground location becomes mandatory. Underground relocation shall be at the owner's expense.

2.

Location of Utility Poles. When permitted, the forward edge of a utility pole may be located:

A.

Fifty-eight and a half (58 ½) feet from the centerline of the existing or proposed street right-of-way along a township or range line, plus any additional setbacks at intersections, as required under this Chapter and Chapter 30.56.

B.

Forty-eight and a half (48 ½) feet from the centerline of the existing or proposed street right-of-way along a section line, plus any additional setbacks at intersections, as required under this Chapter and Chapter 30.56.

C.

Thirty-eight and a half (38 ½) feet from the centerline of the existing or proposed street right-of-way along a quarter section line, plus any additional setbacks at intersections, as required under this Chapter and Chapter 30.56.

D.

Eighteen (18) inches from the edge of any other rights-of-way, or future rights-of-way, lines.

E.

In no case shall a utility pole or above ground related equipment be located such that the resulting existing, or proposed, sidewalk is less than thirty-six (36) inches wide adjacent to the pole, or as required by the Americans with Disabilities Act, whichever is greater.

(Ord. 3296 § 7, 2005; Ord. 2482 § 12 (part), 2000; Ord. 2481 § 3 (part), 2000)

(Ord. No. 4019, § 1, 4-18-2012)