(A) Purpose and intent. It is the purpose and intent of this section is to reduce the adverse impacts of overhead utility lines by requiring all utility facilities proposed within major plans of development to be located underground.
(B) Plan of development submittal requirements. Each plan of development should show the location and type of wired utilities on the plan of development.
(C) General requirements.
(1) Major plan of development utilities underground. All utility facilities proposed within major plans of development including, but not limited to, wires, cables, pipes, conduits, and appurtenant equipment carrying or used in connection with the furnishing of electric, telephone, cable television, or similar service shall be placed underground. The plan-approving authority may waive this requirement in the case of exceptionally large lots or unusual topographic conditions.
(2) Exemptions. The following shall be permitted aboveground:
(a) Electric transmission lines and facilities in excess of 50 kilovolts;
(b) Equipment such as electric distribution transformers, switch gear, meter pedestals, telephone and cable television pedestals, outdoor lighting poles or standards, radio antennas, traffic control devices, and associated equipment which is, under accepted utility practices, normally installed aboveground;
(c) Meters, service connections, and similar equipment normally attached to the outside wall of the customer’s premises;
(d) Temporary aboveground facilities required in conjunction with an authorized construction project; and
(e) Facilities necessary to extend utility service to the property line of the site under development.
(3) Existing aboveground utilities grandfathered. Existing aboveground facilities may be maintained or repaired provided that such repair does not involve relocation. Whenever any existing on-site, aboveground utilities require relocation for any reason, they shall be removed and placed underground.
(4) Utilities to be located within easements. All utilities shall be placed within easements approved by the plan-approving authority. The developer shall coordinate easement size and location with the appropriate utility providers. The utility providers shall submit written documentation that the proposed utility easements are coordinated and adequate for all intended utilities. At a minimum, all utility easements for underground wired facilities shall be 15-feet wide along all roads and a minimum of eight feet along each side of all other property lines. When overhead wired utilities are allowed, the minimum utility easement shall be 30-feet wide along all roads and 15-feet wide along each side of all other property lines. No utility easement shall be permitted to have a slope greater than two to one. Wherever cuts and fills adjacent to highway right-of-way are greater than two to one, the utility easement shall be located beyond the steep slope. Where feasible, utilities should be ganged together so as to minimize the disturbance of natural areas.
(Ord. passed 11-9-1995) Penalty, see § 157.999