Each utility pole, box, vault, cabinet and related facilities, shall be located, installed and maintained so that none of the facilities: endanger the lives or safety of persons; interfere or damage public improvements; unnecessarily hinder or obstruct the free use of public rights-of-way or other public property; or cause any interference with the rights and reasonable convenience of property owners who adjoin any of the streets or other public property where the utility pole, box or cabinet is located.
The following standards shall constitute minimum standards for the location and appearance of above ground utility poles, boxes, vaults, cabinets and related facilities unless otherwise approved by the director.
A. Interference.
1. Utility cabinets shall not be placed at locations where the city traffic engineer determines based on engineering standards, that such placement would create a hazard. These locations include driveways, intersections, and road tapers where stopping sight distance is required.
2. Utility cabinets shall not be placed in planter strips between the sidewalk and the curb.
3. Utility boxes and cabinets shall be placed at property lines whenever possible.
4. Utility vaults installed for private development should be installed on private property to avoid diminishing planter or mow strips.
5. To the extent practicable and reasonable, each company shall accommodate the desires of any property owner respecting location within easements or rights-of-way traversing private land of the property owner.
B. Appearance.
1. Utility cabinets shall be no higher than six feet unless otherwise approved by the director.
2. No exposed conduit or raceways will be permitted and all conductors, transformers, and other related equipment shall be concealed, except pole risers or drops.
3. Utility cabinets requiring power shall have the power pedestals attached to the utility cabinets.
4. No more than one utility cabinet per lot and adjacent sidewalk shall be allowed unless otherwise approved by the director.
5. Utility boxes placed in sidewalks shall be centered in sidewalk flags.
6. Utility vaults should be located behind the curb and not within the sidewalk whenever possible.
7. Colors shall be from earth tone ranges and utility cabinet coatings shall be graffiti resistant.
C. Accessibility.
1. Utility poles and utility cabinets shall not be placed within the sidewalk or within any element of a pedestrian ramp and shall comply with disability access laws.
2. Utility poles shall be located behind sidewalks and out of pedestrian travel ways whenever possible.
3. All utility box grates and covers shall be non-slip, withstand heavy vehicular loading, and be adjustable to grade unless otherwise approved.
4. Utility box ventilation grates shall be of a non-slip, heal-safe design, and shall not be located in high volume pedestrian areas whenever possible. (Ord. 2009-022 § 2)