(A) General requirements. In addition to location requirements applicable to specific types of utility facilities, all utility facilities, regardless of type, shall be subject to the general location requirements of this division (A).
(1) No interference with city facilities. No utility facilities shall be placed in any location if the Public Works Director or designee determines that the proposed location will require the relocation or displacement of any of the city’s utility facilities or will otherwise interfere with the operation or maintenance of any of the city’s utility facilities.
(2) Minimum interference and impact. The proposed location shall cause only the minimum possible interference with the use of the right-of-way and shall cause only the minimum possible impact upon and interference with the rights and reasonable convenience of property owners who adjoin said right-of-way.
(3) No interference with travel. No utility facility shall be placed in any location that interferes with the usual travel on such right-of-way.
(4) No limitations on visibility. No utility facility shall be placed in any location so as to limit visibility of or by users of the right-of-way.
(5) Size of utility facilities. The proposed installation shall use the smallest suitable vaults, boxes, equipment enclosures, power pedestals, and/or cabinets then in use by the facility owner, regardless of location, for the particular application.
(B) Parallel facilities located within highways.
(1) Overhead parallel facilities. An overhead parallel facility may be located within the right-of-way lines of a highway only if:
(a) Lines are located as near as practicable to the right-of-way line and as nearly parallel to the right-of-way line as reasonable pole alignment will permit;
(b) Where pavement is curbed, poles are as remote as practicable from the curb with a minimum distance of two feet (0.6 m) behind the face of the curb, where available;
(c) Where pavement is uncurbed, poles are as remote from pavement edge as practicable with minimum distance of four feet (1.2 m) outside the outer shoulder line of the roadway and are not within the clear zone;
(d) No pole is located in the ditch line of a highway; and
(e) Any ground-mounted appurtenance is located within one foot (0.3 m) of the right-of-way line or as near as possible to the right-of-way line.
(2) Underground parallel facilities. An underground parallel facility may be located within the right-of-way lines of a highway only if:
(a) The facility is located as near to the right-of-way line as practicable and not more than eight feet (2.4 m) from and parallel to the right-of-way line;
(b) A new facility may be located under the paved portion of a highway only if other locations are impracticable or inconsistent with sound engineering judgment (e.g., a new cable may be installed in an existing conduit without disrupting the pavement); and
(c) In the case of an underground power or communications line, the facility shall be located as near to the right-of-way line as practicable and not more than five feet (1.5 m) from the right-of-way line and any above grounded appurtenance shall be located within one foot (0.3 m) of the right-of-way line or as near as practicable.
(C) Facilities crossing highways.
(1) No future disruption. The construction and design of crossing facilities installed between the ditch lines or curb lines of city highways may require the incorporation of materials and protections (such as encasement or additional cover) to avoid settlement or future repairs to the roadbed resulting from the installation of such crossing facilities.
(2) Cattle passes, culverts or drainage facilities. Crossing facilities shall not be located in cattle passes, culverts or drainage facilities.
(3) Ninety-degree crossing required. Crossing facilities shall cross at or as near to a 90-degree angle to the centerline as practicable.
(4) Overhead power or communication facility. An overhead power or communication facility may cross a highway only if:
(a) It has a minimum vertical line clearance as required by ICC’s rules titled, “Construction of Electric Power and Communication Lines” (83 Ill. Adm. Code 305 (2003));
(b) Poles are located within one foot (0.3 m) of the right-of-way line of the highway and outside of the clear zone; and
(c) Overhead crossings at major intersections are avoided.
(5) Underground power or communication facility. An underground power or communication facility may cross a highway only if:
(a) The design materials and construction methods will provide maximum maintenance-free service life; and
(b) Capacity for the utility’s foreseeable future expansion needs is provided in the initial installation.
(6) Markers. The city may require the utility to provide a marker at each right-of-way line where an underground facility, other than a power or communication facility, crosses a highway. Each marker shall identify the type of facility, the utility and an emergency telephone number. Markers may also be eliminated as provided in current federal regulations. (49 CFR 192.707 (1989)).
(D) Facilities to be located within particular rights-of-way. The city may require that facilities be located within particular rights-of-way that are not highways, rather than within particular highways.
(E) Freestanding facilities.
(1) The city may restrict the location and size of any freestanding facility located within a right-of-way.
(2) The city may require any freestanding facility located within a right-of-way to be screened from view.
(F) Facilities installed aboveground. Aboveground facilities may be installed only if:
(1) No other existing facilities in the area are located underground;
(2) New underground installation is not technically feasible; and
(3) The proposed installation will be made at a location and will employ suitable design and materials to provide the greatest protection of aesthetic qualities of the area being traversed without adversely affecting safety. Suitable designs include, but are not limited to, self-supporting armless, single-pole construction with vertical configuration of conductors and cable. Existing utility poles and light standards shall be used wherever practicable; the installation of additional utility poles is strongly discouraged.
(4) The proposed installation shall comply with all applicable city codes and regulations, including but not limited to any and all lighting standards provided for in the Zoning Code.
(G) Facility attachments to bridges or roadway structures.
(1) Facilities may be installed as attachments to bridges or roadway structures only where the utility has demonstrated that all other means of accommodating the facility are not practicable. Other means shall include, but are not limited to, underground, underwater, independent poles, cable supports and tower supports, all of which are completely separated from the bridge or roadway structure. Facilities transmitting commodities that are volatile, flammable, corrosive or energized, especially those under significant pressure or potential, present high degrees of risk and such installations are not permitted.
(2) A utility shall include in its request to accommodate a facility installation on a bridge or roadway structure supporting data demonstrating the impracticability of alternate routing. Approval or disapproval of an application for facility attachment to a bridge or roadway structure will be based upon the following considerations:
(a) The type, volume, pressure or voltage of the commodity to be transmitted and an evaluation of the resulting risk to persons and property in the event of damage to or failure of the facility;
(b) The type, length, value and relative importance of the highway structure in the transportation system;
(c) The alternative routings available to the utility and their comparative practicability;
(d) The proposed method of attachment;
(e) The ability of the structure to bear the increased load of the proposed facility;
(f) The degree of interference with bridge maintenance and painting;
(g) The effect on the visual quality of the structure; and
(h) The public benefit expected from the utility service as compared to the risk involved.
(H) Appearance standards.
(1) Unless otherwise prohibited by law, the city may prohibit the installation of facilities in particular locations in order to preserve visual quality.
(2) A facility may be constructed only if its construction does not require extensive removal or alteration of trees or terrain features visible to the right-of-way users or to adjacent residents and property owners, and if it does not impair the aesthetic quality of the lands being traversed.
(Ord. 19-21, passed 8-13-2019)