The purpose of the standards set forth in this section is to establish guidelines for the design, placement, and installation of facilities in the right-of-way. All facilities placed in the right-of-way pursuant to this subchapter shall comply with these standards; provided, the City Administrator may authorize the waiver of partial relief or exemption from any one or more of these standards pursuant to § 151.411.
(A) Undergrounded facilities. When facilities are proposed in areas where other similar facilities are currently located underground, said facilities shall be placed underground to the extent technically feasible.
(B) Existing aesthetics. To the extent technically feasible, all ground-mounted facilities shall reasonably match the appearance of existing adjacent developments and infrastructure to promote a uniform appearance.
(C) Consolidation. To the extent technically feasible:
(1) Facilities shall be designed to consolidate all ground-mounted components within approved singular enclosures; and
(2) All cables, wires and conduits shall be concealed from view.
(D) Location. Except as prohibited by law, the placement of proposed facilities with existing facilities shall be preferred over placement of facilities at new sites. If an applicant chooses not to place its facilities with available existing facilities, the applicant must document that location of its proposed facilities with available existing facilities is not technically feasible.
(E) Camouflage. Facilities shall be designed to camouflage and conceal all above-ground components of such facilities to the extent technically feasible.
(F) Signs.
(1) Ground-mounted facilities shall have a four inch by six-inch metallic sign permanently mounted between four feet and six feet from ground level and clearly visible to the public which provides the identifying information and emergency contact number for the owner of such facilities.
(2) No other signs, advertising or banners are permitted on facilities except to the extent the same are mandated by state or federal law.
(G) Generators. Generators are not permitted in the right-of-way.
(H) Lighting. Lighting is not permitted on facilities except to the extent required or otherwise allowed by state or federal law.
(I) Historic districts.
(1) All ground-mounted facilities and new poles located in a historic district shall be subject to such other design and concealment standards required by the city for such districts to avoid or to remedy the intangible public harm of unsightly or out-of character facilities deployed or which are inconsistent with the appearance of existing facilities.
(2) Without limiting the foregoing, all facilities located in the city’s Historic District shall be subject to the design and aesthetic standards for an historic overlay district set forth in the this chapter.
(J) Traffic signals. Facilities shall not be allowed on traffic signal systems without permission from the authority or agency in control of said traffic signal systems.
(K) Placement guidelines. All facilities including ground-mounted equipment and new utility poles proposed to be located at new sites:
(1) Shall be located in a manner or location that:
(a) Does not obstruct, impede or hinder the usual pedestrian or vehicular travel;
(b) Does not adversely affect public safety or impair legal access and use of the right-of-way;
(c) Conforms to applicable law (including the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990) and right-of-way design standards, specifications and design requirements; and
(d) Does not in any way create a risk to public health, safety or welfare.
(2) Shall be located in a manner that does not significantly create a new obstruction to primary and inherently valuable sightline(s) of an adjacent property;
(3) Shall be located in alignment with existing trees, utility poles and streetlights and placed to avoid disturbance within the critical root zone of any tree;
(4) All above ground facilities located in zones with no side yard setback, shall be located no more than 25 feet from either side yard lot line;
(5) Shall not be located in front of the buildable area of properties as shown in unless otherwise approved by the city;
(6) Shall be located with separation from any low-pressure natural gas line or intermediate or high-pressure natural gas line and with appropriate clearance as approved from all existing utilities;
(7) Shall not materially impact any existing bridges, culverts or retaining walls; and
(8) Shall be located outside of all American Association of State Highway Transportation Officials (AASHTO) clear zones and outside of clear sight triangles (at a minimum) as follows:
(a) Five-foot leg pedestrian sight triangle at each residential driveway;
(b) Ten-foot leg pedestrian sight triangle at each driveway and alley;
(c) Thirty-foot leg corner sight triangle; and
(d) Roadway sight triangles shall be based on AASHTO standards for each driveway, alley and intersection.
(9) Shall be located with a minimum separation distance of 150 feet from any other facilities including ground-mounted equipment or new utility poles to the extent allowed by applicable law and technically feasible.
(Ord. 23-09, passed 8-21-2023)