Public utilities shall be subject to the following conditions and standards:
(a) Site standards for essential services and utility uses:
(1) Utility substations shall be located at least 100 feet from an R district boundary.
(2) The site shall access an arterial street as identified on the Land Use Plan Map or on a street pavement wider that 30 feet.
(3) All proposed uses and facilities located within 100 feet of an R district boundary shall be contained within buildings or structures.
(4) A landscaped berm at least five (5) feet in height shall be required in all yards abutting an R district or street.
(b) Location of utility lines:
(1) Such use shall not affect the general plan.
(2) Such use shall not endanger the health and safety of residents or workers in the area.
(3) The location of the use shall provide for minimal visual impact and shall not impair the use of surrounding properties.
(4) The use of utility corridors shall be encouraged, using existing utility line or transportation right-of-way for various transmission uses.
(5) The alignment shall follow the topography to minimize any effects to the terrain.
(6) There shall be minimal vegetative clearance for soil erosion control.
(c) Installation of underground utilities:
(1) All new extensions of electrical and communications distribution and service facilities, equipment and lines carrying less than 34,500 volts, hereafter constructed or installed shall be placed underground, unless special permission to construct said facilities above ground is granted, as hereinafter provided.
(2) All relocations of existing overhead electrical and communications distribution and service poles supporting lines carrying less than 34,500 volts, required to be relocated by reason of change of grade or alignment, or the widening of the street within which such overhead facilities exist, shall, upon relocation, be placed underground, unless special permission to reconstruct said facilities above ground is granted, as hereinafter provided. This provision shall apply only as to those streets within an area of the city declared by the City Commission to be an underground utility district.
(3) Overhead electrical and communications distribution and service poles supporting lines carrying less than 34,500 volts shall not be installed to support overhead facilities, where such installation would duplicate an existing pole line within an entire city block.
(4) Electric and communication service wires or cables to any new building or structure shall be placed underground.
(5) Exceptions:
A. Poles used exclusively for street lighting.
B. Overhead wires attached to the exterior surface of a building by means of a bracket or other fixture and extended from one location on the building to another location on the same building or to an adjacent building on the same lot or parcel without crossing any street.
C. Equipment appurtenant to underground facilities, such as surfaced-mounted transformers, pedestal-mounted transformers, pedestal-mounted terminal boxes, and meter cabinets and concealed ducts.
D. Transformers, switching boxes, terminal boxes, meter cabinets, pedestals, ducts and other facilities necessarily appurtenant to such underground and street lighting facilities may be placed above ground within the street or other public place as appropriate.
E All facilities reasonably necessary to connect underground facilities to existing or permitted overhead or above ground facilities.
F. Overhead electric transmission and distribution feeder lines and overhead communication long distance, trunk and feeder lines, existing or new.