(a) The City of East Palestine, Ohio, is vitally concerned with the use of the various rights-of-way in the City, as such rights-of-way are a valuable and limited resource which must be utilized to promote the public health, safety and welfare, including the economic development of the City.
(b) Changes in the utilities and communication industries have increased the demand and need for access to public rights-of-way and placement of facilities and structures therein.
(c) It is necessary to comprehensively plan and manage access to, and structures and facilities in, the public rights-of-way to promote efficiency, lessen the public inconvenience of uncoordinated work in the rights-of-way, and promote public safety.
(d) In recognition of the limited space available in the City rights-of-way, the City shall promote the collocation of utilities to minimize intrusions into the rights-of-way.
(e) While not a principal purpose of this chapter, an ingredient or component of this chapter is to protect the public welfare by protecting real estate from impairment and destruction of value by taking into account aesthetic considerations in the requirement by the City, when in the opinion of the City practical, the underground placement of any element of a public or private utility system located in the public rights-of-way.
(f) The City has rights under the laws and Constitution of the State of Ohio, including, but not limited to, Article 18, Sections 3, 4, and 7, to regulate public and private entities which use the public rights-of-way.
(Ord. 4-2007. Passed 3-12-07.)