The policies listed in this section apply to the review of a transmission facilities permit application.
A. Lattice towers along new transmission lines right-of-way or along portions of existing right-of-way utilized for expansion of the transmission system are discouraged.
B. Projects shall incorporate mitigation measures appropriate to the site of a particular project and each transmission line segment of a project whenever feasible, such as undergrounding or rerouting transmission lines to reduce visual impacts and antenna reception interference, reducing the number of poles or towers used for a project, using landscaping to screen or soften the visual impacts of projects, and sound attenuation measures.
C. Substations shall be on other than local or collector streets.
D. Preference shall be given to the location of transmission lines in the following rank order:
1. Within existing SMUD transmission rights-of-way or rights-of-way anticipated for other projects proposed pursuant to this section.
2. Adjacent to railroads or adopted freeway routes.
3. Along or adjacent to major arterial streets where existing or planned uses are commercial or industrial.
4. Adjacent to or through existing or planned commercial, industrial, or agricultural uses.
5. Along arterial streets where residential uses designated in an adopted plan are R-2 or greater density.
6. Through areas where land uses in an adopted plan are predominantly commercial, but include residential uses.
7. Through residential areas, including side and rear yards, irrespective of density.
E. Preference shall be given to the location of substations in the following rank order:
1. Areas designated for industrial or commercial land uses in an adopted plan.
2. Undeveloped areas designated for residential use in an adopted plan.
3. Areas designated agricultural-urban reserve in an adopted plan.
4. Sites designated for residential use in an adopted plan and surrounded by existing residential uses. (Ord. 2013-0020 § 1; Ord. 2013-0007 § 1)