Walnut Creek Municipal Code Art. 8 Undergrounding, General

No new building shall be constructed, nor shall any electrical service entrance facility to a building be changed in any land use district unless all utility service laterals and equipment (including but not limited to electric, communication and cable television lines) installed in and for the purpose of supplying service to such building are installed underground to the point of connection with the utility distribution facilities in accordance with utility filed rules approved by the California Public Utilities Commission. The words "utility service laterals and equipment", as used in this section do not include equipment appurtenant to underground facilities such as surface-mounted transformers, pedestal-mounted terminal boxes and meter cabinets, and risers from concealed ducts.

(§ 1, Ord. 1045, eff. January 6, 1971)

Except in the case of a change of electrical service entrance facility of a single-family dwelling, any property owner aggrieved by the provisions of this article may appeal to the Zoning Administrator in writing, specifically setting forth the reasons why a waiver should be granted. The Zoning Administrator may require the applicant to provide supporting information including reports relating to technical and economic aspects of construction and development prepared by a qualified person. Such waiver may be granted by the Zoning Administrator upon the finding that topography, soil or other conditions made underground installations of utility service laterals and equipment unreasonable or impractical, or that such installation involves an unnecessary or unusual hardship pertaining to the specific parcel of land. In addition, a waiver may be granted by the Zoning Administrator upon the finding that the request for a waiver is an isolated occurrence of residential rewiring or supplements to existing wiring in an area that is serviced with existing overhead electrical services. In granting such a waiver the Zoning Administrator shall condition such waiver upon the property owner executing an agreement to participate in an underground district that includes his property when it is formed. Such an agreement shall be in a form approved by the City Attorney. In approving such a waiver, the Zoning Administrator shall have the authority to impose such conditions as he deems necessary to protect the best interests of the surrounding area or neighborhood.

In the case of a change of electrical service entrance facility for a single-family dwelling or duplex, the waiver shall be automatically granted without appeal to the Zoning Administrator, providing the property owner shall execute an agreement to participate in an underground district that includes his property when it is formed. Such an agreement shall be in a form approved by the City Attorney.

(§ 1, Ord. 1045, eff. January 6, 1971; § 1, Ord. 1145, eff. September 6, 1972; § 1, Ord. 1171, eff. May 23, 1973)

Overhead utility distribution facilities may be permitted along or in the vicinity of certain interior property lines in the Administrative, Professional, Research-200 Districts pursuant to the conditions imposed by the City in approving Land Division No. 50.

(§ 1, Ord. 1045, eff. January 6, 1971)

The provisions of this article shall not be interpreted to amend or supersede any of the provisions of Article 7 of Chapter 3, Title 9, or any of the provisions of §10-1.521 of Article 5, Chapter 1 of this Title.

(§ 1, Ord. 1045, eff. January 6, 1971)