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HomeMy WebLinkAboutAgenda Statement 1988/01/05 Item 21COUNCIL AGENDA STATEMENT • Item 21 Meeting Date 1/5/88 ITEM TITLE: Public Hearing to consider a request for the deferral of the undergrounding of overhead electrical facilities at 72 Walnut Drive Resolution ~3 ~~ 3 Approving the deferral of an undergrounding requirement for overhead wires and authorizing the Mayor to sign the agreeme t on behalf of the City SUBMITTED BY: Director of Public Works REVIEWED BY: City Manage (4/5ths Vote: Yes No X ) The Chula Vista Congregation of Jehovah's Witnesses has applied for a building permit to construct a church at 72 Walnut Drive. The City Code requires that all structures and buildings being constructed within the property shall have all electrical, communication, distribution and service wires and/or cables placed underground. The owners have requested a deferral of the undergrounding requirements. According to Chapter 15.32 of the Municipal Code, that request must be • considered by the City Council at a public hearing. RECOMMENDATION: That Council hold the subject public hearing and adopt a resolution deferring the undergrounding requirement. BOARDS/COMMISSIONS RECOMMENDATION: Not applicable. DISCUSSION: Recently the owners of the subject property applied for a building permit to construct a church at 72 Walnut Drive. Section 15.32 of the tunicipal Code requires the owner to place the existing overhead wires underground within the limits of the property. The owners have undergrounded the electrical facilities for the new construction. The subject of this deferral is the remaining overhead lines on the southerly end of the property (see Exhibit A). Subsequently, the owners have applied for a deferral of the undergrounding requirements, stating that: 1. This primary overhead facility is at the end of the line and would not serve any other property in tF~e foreseeable future. 2. SDG&E has already designed, and the owners have paid for a new service pole and transformer. • 3. The cost of undergrounding has been estimated at $30,000.00. 4. The expense of undergrounding would necessitate abandonment of the project after spending several hundred thousand dollars on development costs up to the present. Page 2, Item 21 • Meeting Date 1 5 88 f~lost of the Woodlawn Park Subdivision has existing overhead facilities. The overhead facilities along Walnut Drive end at the subject property. The deferral requested is for a 275-foot-long span that runs across the southerly portion of the property to its terminus just west of the westerly property 1 i ne ( see Exhi bi t A) . Four properties are served from the end of thi s 1 i ne with overhead facilities. Should the overhead lines through the subject property be undergrounded, the lines within the road right-of-way along the frontage of the property and the four service facilities to the properties southerly of the west property line would still be overhead facilities. A letter from an SDG&E planner indicates that the cost of undergrounding could be as high as $40,000 to $55,000. The valuation of the structure being built on the property is $193,000. Findings Provisions called out in Section 15.32.070 of the Code allow for a deferral of the undergrounding if all the following facts are present: 1. Extraordinary conditions exist to the extent that enforcement of this subsection would result in unnecessary hardship to the owner or utility • cornpany. 2. Such a deferral will not, under the circumstances of the particular case, be detrimental to the health, safety or general welfare of the neighborhood. Enforcement of the requirement to convert the overhead lines would add 15% to 28% to the estimated cost of the church. Since much of the construction is being accomplished by volunteer help, these dollar percentages are actually higher, but undetermined. Inasmuch as the overhead lines have been in place since Woodlawn Park Subdivision was developed (the map was approved in 1910), allowing them to remain until an undergrounding district is formed will not be detrimental to the general welfare of the neighborhood. Based on the findings, it is staff's opinion that the benefits derived from enforcing the undergrounding requirements would not outweigh the cost. A deferral in this case will not be detrimental to the health, safety or general welfare of the public. Recomr~iendati on The applicant shall enter into an agreement with the City, wherein he agrees to waive the right to protest the formation of any future undergrounding district and to participate in the district in the event such formation occurs. • Slides and transparencies are available for Council viewing. FISCAL IMPACT: None. DA:nr/PB-019/WPC 3332E y ,V~, -_