HomeMy WebLinkAboutAgenda Statement 1987/10/13 Item 27•
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COUNCIL AGENDA STATEMENT
Item 27
Meeting Date 10/13/87
ITEM TITLE: Public hearing to consider a request to waive the requirement
of undergrounding existing overhead utilities in the Woodland
Park Subdivision
Resolution~`i~~'3 Approving the deferral of an
undergrounding requirement for overhead wires and directing
staff to prepare a deferral agreement on behalf of the City
SUBMITTED BY: Director of Public Works/City Engineer
REVIEWED BY: City Manager
(4/5ths Vote: Yes_No % )
The Lendel Corporation, owners of the Woodland Park Subdivision (Chula Vista
Tract 82-1) have requested that the requirement to underground existing
overhead utilities within the subdivision boundary as required by Municipal
Code be waived. The basis of the request i.s that the amount of work necessary
to .accomplish the undergrounding is not conunensurate with the benefits
derived, and thus, the project is impractical.
RECOMMENDATION: That Council:
1. Conduct the public hearing.
2. Approve a resolution deferring the requirement to underground utilities,
authorizing an agreement deferring said undergrounding to be prepared.
BOARDS/COMMISSIONS RECOMMENDATION: Not applicable.
DISCUSSION:
The Tentative Map for Chula Vista Tract 82-1 (Woodland Park) was approved by
Council Resolution 10682. The project will create 27 single family lots on
3.54 acres of land, located in the Woodlann Park area of Chula Vista. Three
power poles containing electrical distribution lines and telephone lines are
located within the subdivision boundary. All of these lines are subject to
undergrounding requirements contained in Section 15.32 of the Municipal Code.
The Woodlann Park area was created by the Woodlann Park subdivision in 1910.
At that time, all streets were designated as private streets. The County of
San Diego eventually inherited the n-aintenance responsibility far the streets
and installed and maintained minimal improvements for the local street
system. A characteristic of the area is that many houses are physically
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Page 2, Item 27
• lSeeting Date 10!13/87
located within the lots designated for streets and many of the street roadways
are physically located on private property. In this particular situation,
several of the houses on the north side of Lotus Drive (opposite the subject
subdivision} are also located so close to the roadway that relocation of pales
to this side of the street is physically impossible. These houses receive
their electrical and phone services from the poles and lines which are subject
to undergrounding.
The problem of the roadway lying outside the right-of-way also affected the
location of the utility poles. Utility poles are normally placed in the
right-of-way, adjacent to the roadway. In this situation, the poles were
placed adjacent to the roadway, but both the roadway and poles are located on
private property. If these poles had been located in the right-of-way in a
normal fashion, they would not be subject to undergrounding because the actual
length of utility lines to be undergrounded would be less than the 600 feet
required by the City Code.
The effect of undergrounding would require that all services to these homes be
undergrounded too. This would require the installation of new electrical
panels (to receive service from underground lines) and modifications to the
houses and property (sidewalks, retaining walls, fences, etc.) of those to
receive underground services. Permission would have to be obtained from at
least five property owners to perform this work. Additionally, the
undergrounding might require a realignment of the remaining overhead utilities
• which run north-south between homes on the north side of Lotus Drive. This
realignment might cause utilities to be located directly above some
residences. The developer. must also take precautions in relocating the power
poles to avoid restricting the use of some lots created by the subdivision by
placing power Lines in conflict with the locations of the proposed homes.
Aesthetically, the effect of undergrounding of utilities and removing or
relocating the poles would be minimal. A deferral of undergrounding is
required to be supported by the findings that:
a. That extraordinary conditions exist to the extent that enforcement of this
subsection would result in unnecessary hardship to the subdivider or the
utility company;
b. That such deferral will not, under the circumstances of the particular
case, be detrimental to the health, safety, or general welfare of the
neighborhood.
The requirement for undergrounding has, in this instance, been created by the
construction of the road and some homes in the wrong lacations. Correcting
the utility location by conversion to underground would also entail the
conversion of services to a number of existing homes. 0n that basis, we
believe that the findings are appropriate.
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Page 3, Item 27
!leeting Date 10/13/87
If the deferral of the undergrounding requirement is approved, the developer
will be reQuired to enter into a standard undergrounding deferral agreement in
which he agrees to not protest formation of an undergrounding district.
A plat is available for Council viewing.
FISCAL IlSPACT: Mot applicable.
ST:fp/PB020, EY154
WPC 3225E
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