Los Gatos Municipal Code Art. V Underground Installation

Footnotes:

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Cross reference— Special requirements in locations where underground electrical cable is laid, § 23.30.040.

The Town Council does hereby find and determine that the public interest requires that facilities and wires for the extension of existing facilities for the supply and distribution of electrical energy and service, including communication service, shall be placed underground in order to promote and preserve the health, safety and general welfare of the public, and to assure the orderly development of the Town.

(Code 1968, § 32-24)

(a) All new extensions of existing utility distribution facilities, including but not limited to electric, communication and cable television lines, hereafter constructed or installed shall be underground.

(b) When any building or structure is built, all electric and communication service lines to it shall be underground. When in the course of remodeling any existing building or structure new electric or communication service lines are installed, they shall be underground.

(c) When underground installation is required, the owner, builder, remodeler or lessee of the premises involved shall make all necessary arrangements with the utility companies in compliance with their rules as approved by the State's Public Utilities Commission.

(Code 1968, § 32-25)

The provisions of section 27.50.015 do not apply to:

(1) Any municipal equipment or facilities installed under the supervision and to the satisfaction of the Town Engineer;

(2) Poles, overhead wires and associated overhead structures used for the transmission of electric energy at nominal voltages in excess of thirty-four thousand five hundred (34,500) volts;

(3) Antennae, associated equipment and supporting structures used by a utility for furnishing communication services;

(4) Equipment appurtenant to underground facilities, such as surface-mounted transformers, pedestal-mounted terminal boxes and meter cabinets, and concealed ducts;

(5) Temporary poles, overhead wires and associated overhead structures used or to be used in conjunction with construction projects;

(6) Existing poles, overhead wires and associated overhead structures required to be moved to accommodate street improvements;

(7) Emergency services installed and maintained for not more than ten (10) days;

(8) With reference to section 27.50.015(b) only, service lines to remodeled one-family and two-family dwellings;

(9) Poles, overhead wires and associated overhead structures used or to be used in conjunction with agriculture and which by their nature are not suitable for future use in nonagricultural activities.

(Code 1968, § 32-26)

Where the enforcement of the provisions of section 27.50.015 can be shown to be unreasonable, application for waiver of the provisions thereof may be made in the following manner:

(1) Written application shall be filed in the same manner and subject to the same fee and notice requirements as applications for architecture and site approval, as provided for in chapter 29 of this Code.

(2) Such application shall include all information necessary to properly apprise the deciding body (as the term is used in chapter 29 of this Code) of the circumstances existing which require such waiver.

(3) The deciding body shall consider the application and, if based upon the supporting data, finds that enforcement would be unreasonable, may waive or modify these requirements as deemed appropriate.

(Code 1968, § 32-27)

The provisions of section 27.50.015 shall not prohibit the maintenance and operation of existing overhead facilities, nor prohibit the connection of underground service lines to existing overhead utility distribution equipment. A utility may interset additional poles or other supporting structures or increase the height of existing poles or other supporting structures, or relocate poles generally along the existing line, if such work takes place within the existing easements and locational confines of existing overhead utility facilities; and may continue to maintain, repair, replace and reinforce any facility or structure in order to maintain the integrity of any facility or structure existing on or before the effective date of the ordinance from which this article is derived.

(Code 1968, § 32-28)