After March 1, 1964, all building and electrical permits issued
for the construction of new homes, buildings and other structures
which require electrical, telephone, or television service, or other
services provided by means of wires, cables or electrical conduits,
and all alterations, remodeling or repairs of a structural nature
to an existing structure, where the value of such alterations, repairs
or remodeling in any calendar year exceeds the assessed valuation
of the structure or the sum of $20,000.00, whichever is less, shall
be issued with the condition that the conduits or conductors for such
services shall be installed underground between the location of the
main service switches or service entrance to such structures, and
the poles, junction or pull boxes from which such service is supplied
by the utility company, provided that such service is available to
the property by pole, junction or pull box which is situated in the
public street on the same side of the street as the structure and
within the extension of the property lines of the parcel on which
the structure is located. Exceptions to the requirements of this section
may be permitted by the City Council, upon application of the permit
applicant or the supplying utility company, in cases where such undergrounding
cannot be accomplished feasibly within applicable safety regulations
and other laws applicable to the installation, or in cases of unnecessary
or unusual hardship. Exceptions shall be made upon such conditions
as the Council may prescribe in order to further the health, safety
and general welfare objectives and purposes set forth in this chapter.
All installations made pursuant to this section shall be made in compliance
with all applicable building and electrical codes and safety orders
and other applicable rules promulgated and approved by the California
Public Utilities Commission. Installations within streets and alleys
shall be made at depths and locations approved by the City Engineer
and in accordance with plans and specifications approved by him.
(Prior code § 22.32.1; Ord. 2579 § 1(part), 1986; Ord. 2609 § 1(part), 1987)
(A) Effective December 19, 1986, all distribution lines supplying electrical energy to major subdivisions, nonsubdivided residential developments containing five or more dwelling units, and nonresidential developments whose value as calculated for the purpose of issuing a building permit exceeds $500,000.00, at standard voltages necessary to furnish permanent electrical service within such subdivisions and developments, and all telephone, telegraph and television services, and any other service to such subdivisions and developments which are provided by means of wires, cables or conduits designed to carry electrical energy or electromagnetic energy of any kind whatsoever, be they constructed via joint-pole electrical distribution lines or independent systems, shall be installed and maintained underground. Such installations shall be made in compliance with all applicable building and electrical codes, safety regulations and orders, and rules and regulations approved and promulgated by the California Public Utilities Commission. The depth and location of such installation within the streets and alleys shall be approved by the City Engineer. This subsection shall be applicable to all existing and proposed services described in this subsection locate
d or propose
d to b
e located within the subject development or adjacent to and located on the same side of the street as the subject development.
(B) Effective December 19, 1986, all electrical utility main feeder lines supplying electrical energy to major subdivisions, nonsubdivided residential developments containing five or more dwelling units, and nonresidential developments whose value as calculated for the purpose of issuing a building permit exceeds $500,000.00, at high voltages necessary to furnish permanent electrical service within regional service areas shall be permitted to remain overhead, but a vacant conduit system shall be placed underground to allow undergrounding of these facilities in the future. Where relocation of such overhead lines is necessitated by project improvements and/or existing conditions and facilities, such relocation shall also be permitted to be overhead. Such installations shall be made in compliance with all applicable building and electrical codes, safety regulations and orders, and rules and regulations approved and promulgated by the California Public Utilities Commission. The depth and location of such installations within streets and alleys shall be approved by the City Engineer. This subsection shall be applicable to all existing and proposed services described in this subsection locate
d or propose
d to b
e located within the subject development or adjacent to and located on the same side of the street as the subject development.
(C) Equipment appurtenant to underground facilities such as surface-mounted
transformers, pedestal-mounted terminal boxes, meter cabinets, concealed
ducts, and poles or electroliers used exclusively for street lighting
and/or traffic signals may be located aboveground provided all wires
leading to or from the equipment are located below ground or concealed
within the equipment.
(D) This section applies to a developer's responsibilities and
obligations associated with new development and new construction as
above described and does not prohibit the maintenance, repair, alteration,
or relocation, in the ordinary course of service, of overhead electrical,
telephone, telegraph and other wire systems existing on March 1, 1964.
(1) This section does not in any way apply to highvoltage transmission
lines.
(E) The City Engineer may grant a variance from the requirement of placing
vacant conduit systems for existing electrical utility feeder lines
if one of the following circumstances exist:
(1) A proposed subdivision is a subdivision of an existing developed
parcel and no additional building sites are being proposed; or
(2) The main feeder line under consideration is not located on a major
street in the City as denoted on the City of Santa Rosa General Plan/Circulation
Element; or
(3) A majority of the frontage of the abutting property, 500 feet in
either direction, has developed with the feeder system left overhead
and no vacant conduit placed.
(F) The City Engineer may also grant a variance from any requirement
imposed pursuant to this section if, on the basis of the grounds asserted
and the evidence submitted, the City Engineer makes findings of fact
that establish that one or both of the circumstances set forth below
apply:
(1) That there are special circumstances applicable to the subject property
such as perimeter dimension, topography, location or encumbrances
provided by existing improvements that the strict interpretation of
the requirements under this section would result in practical difficulties
or unusual hardships inconsistent with the general purpose and intent
of this chapter. The cost of undergrounding is normally not a special
circumstance; or
(2) That the nature and extent of relocating or undergrounding of existing
utility improvements, as required in this chapter, neither bears a
reasonable relationship to the proposed use or uses of property nor
improves the visual appearance of the general roadway area; and
In addition, the City Engineer finds and determines, based on
articulated facts, that the granting of such a variance will not be
materially detrimental to the public welfare or injurious to property
in the same zone and vicinity in which the property is located.
(Prior code § 22.32.2; Ord. 2234 § 1, 1982; Ord.
2579 § 1, 1986; Ord. 2609 § 1(part), 1987)
The redevelopment project area identified as Santa Rosa Center
Project No. 1, as particularly described and delineated in the official
development plan adopted by Ordinance No. 1036, as amended by Ordinance
No 1127, and all of the public right-of-way of E Street and Santa
Rosa Avenue adjacent to the project area, is included in the electrical
underground district and is subject to the regulations of this chapter,
except as provided in this section. All facilities hereafter constructed
in the project area for the supplying and distribution of electric
energy and service for telephone, telegraph and television services
and any other service provided by means of wires, cables or conduits
designed to carry electrical energy or electromagnetic energy of any
kind whatsoever shall be installed and maintained underground except
pad-mounted transformers on private property. Such installation shall
be made in compliance with all applicable building and electrical
codes, safety regulations and ordinances, and also in compliance with
the rules approved or promulgated by the Public Utility Commission
of the State. The depths and locations of such installations within
streets and alleys shall be approved by the City Engineer. The following
exceptions are made to the provisions of this section:
(A) Exception of made until April 15, 1975, for primary electrical distribution
lines on E Street and on Santa Rosa Avenue within the project area
designed to carry 4,000 volts or more, provided that such lines are
installed on tapered steel poles of general appearance approved by
the City Council, and on the further condition that all secondary
leads from pole transformers will be installed inside of the poles
and connected underground to the secondary distribution facilities,
and further provided that the supplying utility company shall install
such underground ducts and other facilities in E Street and Santa
Rosa Avenue during construction of such streets in connection with
redevelopment project improvements as may be necessary to eliminate
the unnecessary opening of such streets when the excepted facilities
are replaced by underground facilities;
(B) Further exception is made for the installation of the east side of
E Street of aboveground facilities consisting of tubular type steel
poles, wires and necessary appurtenances for the continued use of
60 kilovolt wires between the power substation at E Street and Santa
Rosa Creek and the southerly boundary of the redevelopment project
area;
(C) Exception is also made for 60 kilovolt lines overhead at the southwesterly
corner of the project area between Tupper Street and Santa Rosa Avenue
at precise locations approved by the City Council.
(Prior code § 22.32.3)
From and after February 15, 1965, the following described district is included in the electric underground district and is subject to all of the regulations of this chapter that are applicable to the electric underground district described in Section
13-12.160. The said district is described as follows:
Beginning at the northwesterly corner of that parcel of land,
Clark to Clark as recorded October 25, 1948, in Official Records of
Sonoma County, Book 835, page 269, said corner being also in the southerly
line of Ellis Street; thence southerly along the westerly line of
said parcel of land of Clark to its intersection with the northerly
line of that tract of land, Haverlock to Haverlock as recorded October
22, 1957, in Official Records of Sonoma County, Book 1552, page 350;
thence westerly along said northerly line to the northwesterly corner
of said tract; thence southerly along the westerly line of said tract
of land of Haverlock to the southwesterly corner of said tract; thence
easterly along and the westerly extension of said southerly line to
the northwesterly corner of that parcel of land, Selligo to Begeer,
as recorded January 20, 1947, in Official Records of Sonoma County,
Book 716, page 303; thence southerly along the westerly line of said
parcel of land of Begeer to the southwesterly corner of said parcel;
thence easterly along the southerly line of said parcel to the northwesterly
corner of that tract of land, Hopkins to Scott, Parcel Two, as recorded
November 16, 1945, in Official Records of Sonoma County, Book 667,
page 369; thence southerly along the westerly line of said tract to
the southwesterly corner of said Parcel Two; thence easterly along
the southerly line of said Parcel Two to the northwesterly corner
of that parcel of land, Distant Horizons, Inc. to G. K. Hardt Development
Co., as recorded November 26, 1963, in Official Records of Sonoma
County, Book 2004, page 668; thence southerly along the westerly line
of said parcel of land of G. K. Hardt Development Co. to the southwesterly
corner of said parcel, said corner being in the northerly line of
a 10-foot alley in Lemmon and Barnetts Addition to the City of Santa
Rosa as said alley and addition are shown upon a map recorded May
2, 1903, in Maps, Book 15, page 7, Sonoma County Records; thence southerly
and crossing said alley in a straight line to the northeasterly corner
of Lot 3 of the aforementioned Lemmon and Barnetts Addition; thence
southerly along the easterly line of said Lot 3 to the southeasterly
corner of said Lot 3, said corner being also in the northerly line
of Sebastopol Avenue; thence southerly and crossing Sebastopol Avenue
in a straight line to the northeasterly corner of Lot 16, Block A,
in Hoffingers Addition as said lot and block are shown upon a map
recorded March 17, 1893, in Maps, Book 10, page 30, Sonoma County
Records; thence southerly along the easterly line of said Lot 16 and
the southerly extension of said easterly line, and crossing Palm Avenue,
to its intersection with the northerly line of that tract of land,
Hardt to G. K. Hardt Development Co., Parcel Thirteen as recorded
August 28, 1957, in Official Records of Sonoma County, Book 1541,
page 101; thence westerly along the northerly line of said Parcel
Thirteen and following the meanderings thereof to the northwesterly
corner of said Parcel Thirteen; thence southerly along the westerly
line of said Parcel Thirteen to its intersection with the northerly
line of Parcel Seven of the aforementioned tract of land of G. K.
Hardt Development Co.; thence westerly along said northerly line to
the northwesterly corner of said Parcel Seven; thence southerly along
the westerly line of said Parcel Seven to the southwesterly corner
of said parcel; thence easterly along the southerly line of said Parcel
Seven to the northwesterly corner of Parcel Nine of the aforementioned
tract of land of G. K. Hardt Development Co.; thence southerly along
the westerly line of said Parcel Nine and following the meanderings
thereof to its intersection with the northerly line of South A Street;
thence easterly along the northerly line of South A Street to its
intersection with the northerly extension of the westerly line of
Santa Rosa Avenue southerly of South A Street; thence southerly along
said extension and said westerly line of Santa Rosa Avenue, and crossing
South A Street to the northeasterly corner of that tract of land,
Santa Rosa Management Co., Inc. to Rogers, Parcel One, as recorded
October 10, 1961, in Official Records of Sonoma County, Book 1850,
page 6; thence westerly along the northerly line of said Parcel One
to the northwesterly corner of said Parcel One; thence southerly along
the westerly line of said Parcel One; and the southerly extension
of said westerly line, to its intersection with the northerly line
of Earle Street; thence southerly and crossing Earle Street in a straight
line, to the northwesterly corner of Lot 4, Block 1, in Plat of Sunnyside
Addition as said lot, block and addition are shown upon a map recorded
November 3, 1887, in Maps, Book 1, page 29, Sonoma County Records;
thence southerly along the westerly line of said Lot 4 to the southwesterly
corner of said lot; thence easterly along the southerly line of said
Lot 4, and the easterly extension of said southerly line and crossing
Santa Rosa Avenue and Petaluma Hill Road to its intersection with
the easterly line of Petaluma Hill Road; thence southerly along the
east line of Petaluma Hill Road to its intersection with the northwesterly
corner of that parcel of land, Leete to Leete, as recorded September
27, 1951, in Official Records of Sonoma County, Book 1079, page 190;
thence easterly along the northerly line of said parcel of land of
Leete to its intersection with the westerly line of Rutledge Avenue;
thence northerly along the westerly line of Rutledge Avenue and the
northerly extension of said westerly line and crossing Bennett Avenue
to its intersection with the northerly line of Bennett Avenue; thence
westerly along the northerly line of Bennett Avenue to its intersection
with the easterly line of Santa Rosa Avenue; thence northerly along
the easterly line of Santa Rosa Avenue to its intersection with the
southerly line of Maple Street; thence easterly along the southerly
line of Maple Street to its intersection with the southerly extension
of the westerly line of Lot 301, Block 9, in Wheelers Second Addition
to the City of Santa Rosa as said lot, block and addition are shown
upon a map recorded January 10, 1908, in Maps, Book 20, page 25, Sonoma
County Records; thence northerly along said extension and said westerly
line of said Lot 301, and crossing Maple Street and the northerly
extension of said westerly line to its intersection with the southerly
line of Oak Street; thence northerly and crossing Oak Street in a
straight line, to the southwesterly corner of Parcel Five of the aforementioned
tract of land, G. K. Hardt Development Co.; thence northerly along
the westerly line of said Parcel Five to its intersection with the
southerly line of Lot 197 of Block 7 of the aforementioned Wheelers
Second Addition; thence easterly along said southerly line to the
southeast corner of said Lot 197; thence northerly along the easterly
line of said Lot 197 and the northerly extension of said easterly
line and crossing Pine Street to the northwesterly corner of Lot 159
of Block 5 of the aforementioned Wheelers Second Addition; thence
easterly along the northerly line of said Lot 159 and the easterly
extension of said northerly line to the northeasterly corner of Lot
157 of Block 5 of said addition; thence northerly along the northerly
extension of the easterly line of said Lot 157 and crossing Mill Street
to its intersection with the northerly line of Mill Street; thence
westerly along the northerly line of Mill Street to the southwesterly
corner of that parcel of land, Price to Lesbille, as recorded August
31, 1964, in Official Records of Sonoma County, Book 2070, page 451;
thence northerly along the westerly line of said parcel of land of
Lesbille to the northwesterly corner of said parcel; thence easterly
along the northerly line of said parcel to the northeasterly corner
of said parcel; thence northerly along the northerly extension of
the easterly line of said parcel to land of Lesbille to the northeasterly
corner of that tract of land of Evans to Rudat, et al., as recorded
January 31, 1956, in Official Records of Sonoma County, Book 1412,
page 72; thence westerly along the northerly line of said tract of
land of Rudat et al. to the southwesterly corner of that parcel of
land, Giacolini to Bader, as recorded February 7, 1955, in Official
Records of Sonoma County, Book 1325, page 120; thence northerly along
the westerly line of said parcel of land of Bader to its intersection
with the southerly line of Wheeler Street; thence easterly along the
southerly line of Wheeler Street to its intersection with the southerly
extension of the westerly line of that tract of land, Browning to
Spencer, as recorded September 25, 1961, in Official Records of Sonoma
County, Book 1847, page 173; thence northerly along said southerly
extension and said westerly line of said tract of land of Spencer
and crossing Wheeler Street to its intersection with the southerly
line of that tract of land, Bona to Blake, Parcel Two, as recorded
March 17, 1949, in Official Records of Sonoma County, Book 867, page
247; thence westerly along the southerly line of Parcel Two to the
southwesterly corner of said parcel; thence northerly along the westerly
line of said Parcel Two to the southeasterly corner of that tract
of land described in Decree Establishing Fact of Death, as recorded
November 20, 1961, in Official Records of Sonoma County, Book 1857,
page 660; thence westerly along the southerly line of said tract of
land to the southwesterly corner of said tract; thence northerly along
the westerly line of said tract and the northerly extension of said
westerly line, and crossing Charles Street to its intersection with
the northerly line of Charles Street; thence westerly along the northerly
line of Charles Street to its intersection with the easterly line
of Santa Rosa Avenue; thence northerly along the easterly line of
Santa Rosa Avenue and crossing Tupper Street, to its intersection
with the easterly extension of the southerly line of Ellis Street
(now Sonoma Avenue); thence westerly along said extension and said
southerly line to the point of beginning.
(Prior code § 22.32.4)