A. Prior to submitting an application for processing, the applicant shall verify that the installation of an electric vehicle charging station will not have specific, adverse impact to public health and safety and building occupants. Verification by the applicant includes but is not limited to: electrical system capacity and loads; electrical system wiring, bonding and overcurrent protection; building infrastructure affected by charging station equipment and associated conduits; areas of charging station equipment; existing vehicle parking and circulation; pedestrian accessibility; and other applicable state, regional, and local standards shall apply.
B. Verify to the Building Official's reasonable satisfaction through the use of standard engineering evaluation techniques that the support structure for the electric vehicle charging station is stable and adequate to transfer all wind, seismic, and dead and live loads associated with the system to the ground. Consistent with Government Code Section 65850.7, a permit application that satisfies the information requirements in the city's adopted checklist shall be deemed complete and be promptly processed. The Building Official shall allow for electronic submittal of permit applications covered by this chapter and associated supporting documentations. In accepting such permit applications, the Building Official shall also accept electronic signatures on all forms, applications, and other documentation in lieu of a wet signature by any applicant. At the time of ordinance adoption, acceptance and processing of electronic applications, related documentation, and signatures is not available due to the current permitting software platform. Once these capabilities are available, the city will accept and process such applications, related documentation, and signatures electronically and update related processing protocols.
C. It shall be the applicant's obligation, to verify to the Building Official's reasonable satisfaction using standard electrical inspection techniques that the existing electrical system including existing line, load, ground and bonding wiring as well as main panel and subpanel sizes are adequately sized, based on the existing electrical system's current use, to carry all new electrical loads.
D. The Building Official determines an application for an electric vehicle charging station satisfies the information requirements of this chapter, the Building Official will deem the application complete pursuant to the requirements of Title 15. If the Building Official receives an incomplete application, the Building Official will issue a written correction notice detailing all deficiencies in the application and any additional required information. After the Building Official determines an application for a charging station is complete, the Building Official will process the application for permit review in accordance with this chapter.
E. The Building Official will review a completed application and determine whether to issue a charging station permit pursuant to the requirements of Title 15 (Buildings and Construction). The Building Official will issue the charging station permit; provided, the Building Official determines proposed installation meets all of the requirements set forth within this chapter and will not have a specific, Adverse Impact upon the public's health, safety, and welfare.
F. If the Building Official determines, based on substantial evidence, that the electric vehicle charging station could have a specific, adverse impact upon the public health and safety, the Building Official shall make written findings to support this determination and may require the applicant to apply for a minor conditional use permit pursuant to the provisions of Chapter 16.52 (Conditional Use Permits) of the Murrieta Municipal Code. The decision of the Building Official on an application for a charging station becomes final unless the decision is appealed to the approval authority pursuant to the provisions of Section 15.63.050.G (Application Procedures) of this chapter.
G. If a Building Official requires a minor conditional use permit (MCUP (with applicable fees)), the approval authority shall approve an application for a MCUP to install an electric vehicle charging station; provided the approval authority is able to make the findings set forth in Section 16.52.040 (Findings and Decision) of the Murrieta Municipal Code and the approval authority determines there are feasible methods to satisfactorily mitigate or avoid specific, adverse impact upon public health and safety. A feasible method to satisfactorily mitigate or avoid the Specific, Adverse Impact includes, but is not limited to, a cost effective method, condition, or mitigation measure imposed by the city on another similarly situated application in a prior approved permit. The approval authority may impose such conditions upon the issuance of a MCUP that are designed to mitigate the Specific, Adverse Impact upon the public health and safety at the lowest cost possible. If the approval authority determines there are not feasible methods to satisfactorily mitigate or avoid specific, adverse impact upon public health and safety, the approval body may deny the application for a minor conditional use permit; provided, it makes written findings to support such determination. The findings shall also include the basis for the rejection of potential feasible alternatives of preventing the specific, adverse impact. (Ord. 554-19 § 2, 2019)