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Home My WebLink About02/01/1994, 7 - REQUEST BY SUBDIVIDER TO WAIVE UNDERGROUNDING OF HIGH VOLTAGE WIRES ALONG TANK FARM ROAD FOR MINOR SUBDIVISION NO. 91-152 (STRASBAUGH, SUBD.) IIIry�IpIII�IIIII�uI��UIN "J MEETING DATE: Cio1San Lolls OBISpO Feb. 1 1994 COUNCIL AGENDA REPORT ITEM NUMBER: FROM: Michael D. McCluskey, Public Works Director U`_ N 1 PREPARED BY: Gerald W. Kenny, Supervising Civil Engineer SUBJECT: Request by Subdivider to waive undergrounding of high voltage wires along Tank Farm Road for Minor Subdivision No. 91-152 (Strasbaugh, Subd.) CAO RECOMMENDATION: By motion, deny request to waive the undergrounding of high voltage wires along the Tank Farm Rd. frontage of Minor Subdivision No. 91-152. DISCUSSION: City policy per the attached Resolution No. 3752 (1979 Series) requires undergrounding of existing overhead utilities that are located within street widening areas, when the frontage is over 500 ft long or one (1) City block long. This resolution provides for the City Council to waive the requirement when technical or engineering problems exist that make this requirement unfeasible. In this case, there are overhead high voltage wires (12,000 volts) in the widening area and the frontage along Tank Farm Rd. is approximately 1300 ft. long. The subdivider's representative (Central Coast Engineering, or "CCE") has asked for the undergrounding condition to be deleted for reasons of cost. The total cost to underground these wires was estimated at $ 250,000 by the project engineer. PG&E estimated the cost to be about $ 100 per linear ft. plus trenching costs. This would require a crossing of Higuera St., as well as the improved portion of Long St. The overhead "telephone" wires were undergrounded in the first phase of the project, to accommodate the new Telegram-Tribune facility. (Lot Line Adjustment No. 91-157) The subject power poles were only "relocated" in conjunction with the "interim widening" that was done to accommodate that project, since the ultimate "parcel map" improvements weren't "required" at the time. According to PG&E, they weren't told by the engineer of the future undergrounding require- ment. Although there was no "specific" condition regarding the undergrounding of these wires in the resolution approving the tentative map, it is a "code" requirement, based on Resolution No. 3752. Staff did recommend that this undergrounding work be done at that time. Although the attached CCE letter states that they"weren't told about the ultimate condition", City plan check memos verify that it was noted. The Council previously waived the undergrounding of high voltage wires for Tract Nos. 603 and 608 in 1979 along Los Osos Valley Rd., but required conduit to be installed for future undergrounding purposes. The relatively high cost of undergrounding that reach and the low probability of completing the undergrounding of the rest of Los Osos Valley Rd.which was already developed was a factor in that decision. Resolution No. 3752 was adopted as a result of those projects. More —/ ��n�►��Illll��p ��lll city of San Luis OBISPO Nia; COUNCIL AGENDA REPORT Undergrounding PG&E Wires (MS 91-152) Meeting of February 1, 1994 Page Two recently, the Council required a condition for "conduit only" to be installed along the Laurel Ln. frontage of Tract No. 2132. (Laurelwood Homes) Staff supports the undergrounding in this case, based on the policy resolution. CONCURRENCES: The Community Development Director and City Attorney concur with the recommended action. FISCAL IMPACT: If this street were included in a future "Undergrounding District" per PUC Rule 20A funding, the City would have to pay for undergrounding the street lights, which would be minor. Tank Farm Road is not currently on the list for consideration as a future district. ALTERNATIVES: Option 1. By motion, waive the undergrounding requirement,. but require that conduit and vaults be installed for future undergrounding purposes. This may be seen as "precedent setting", particularly since the prescribed waiver conditions in Resolution No. 3752 (1979 Series) have not been met. Option 2. By motion, waive the requirement completely. If Council wishes to waive the requirement, it may want staff to bring back Resolution No. 3752 for reconsideration. Attachments: 1 - Map 2 - Resolution No. 3752 (1979 Series) 3 - Letter from CCE (12-8-93) G:\...\Misc\MS91152.UG RESOLUTION NO. 3752 (1979 Series) A RESOLUTION OF THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF SAN LUIS OBISPO REGARDING UNDERGROUNDING dF OVERHEAD UTILITY LINES WHEN STREET WIDENING IS REQUIRED AS A CONDITION OF APPROVAL OF A PRIVATE LAND PROJECT. WHEREAS, the City of San Luis Obispo has for some time determined that the elimination of overhead utility lines is desirable; and WHEREAS, the. appropriate time for such elimination and placing under- ground of such wires is at the time the street is widened; and WHEREAS, past City policy required undergrounding only for City- initiated projects; and WHEREAS, certain widenings are done as a condition of approval of cer- tain private land development projects abutting such streets; and WHEREAS, the City has a limited budget for such work; NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the Council of the City of San Luis Obispo as follows: SECTION 1. The City will require the developer of any Private land project which includes widening of abutting streets to underground all existing utilities which are located above ground in the area of the widening. SECTION 2. This requirement may be waived for those projects which do not exceed 500 feet in length or one city block, whichever is shorter. SECTION 3. The Council of the City of San Luis Obispo may waive or modify this requirement if it can be shown that there is a definite technical or engineering problem making the performance of this requirement unfeasible. R 3752 / �� - \/ - 11'4-« .�:'�' �• at • u•. 4 ....•....... 'rs+ •CHUMASH:: DI \ .....�.... Oo -CACHUM ........... / CUYAM.. .F. u i � F J / Y J / w i • C pR400 VIA S / m m 1 RD�p V1p�,A • / PRADO ,a N M a y w Q y• BONETTI I /q v tvI'i': 2Ac� /v AV AZ y yY ''••:;•';,1� :'� GRANADA 'DF +.f•A/ 't':r Ivy i :: 'i,y `:40q M--- LN — __ tio), '• '':;+ +'•. •OA " v HIND RD. A 1-7 PO �`A7�, '::p '�—.:::..ff/�LO '' .tip� J/�� ._'•:"�� • •�\,ot.o.,�\ :[ t.w +..r`'•'•,•. :.;�1'��' dqN OR :tit Jr'i•.. t Y' W •~••''• 's�0f DRI�!:-'+:' •��PEZ :r: '.�": TANK FARM ,ROAD -� va� ° •,' PR ••tib./f. �� /��/ dvl, RESOLUTION NO. 375" (1979 Series) On motion of Councilman Settle , seconded by Mayor Schwartz and on the following roll call vote: AYES: Councilmen Dunin, Jorgensen, Petterson, Settle and Mayor Schwartz NOES: None ABSENT: None The foregoing resolution was passed and adopted this 16th day of January 1979. L ayor Kenneth E. Schwartz ATTEST: erk, J. H. Fitzpatrick Approved as to form: Approved as to content: i nistrative Officer City Attorney, George Thac er ommunity D ve opmen Director. .-,,r-- Ftj eer Public Services 'Director HE/WAP/md CENTRAL COAST ENGINEERING G F 1 d F, ® y 396 Buckley Road DEC - 8 1993 December 8, 1993 San Luis Obispo E1039 Califomia 93401 ENGINEERING Ulv-- (805)544-3278 CITY OF SAN LUIS OB&O FAX(805)541-3137 City of San Luis Obispo e Engineering Dept. P.O.Bax 8100 San Luis Obispo, CA 93401 DEC - 81993 Attn: Jerry Kenny EN911.EER;11, DViS'01 CITY Of SAN LUIS Aii�SrO Dear Jerry, This letter is in response to item 12 of the second check of Public Works Improvement Plans dated November 10, 1993. Our office has been of the understanding that the P.G.& E.poles along Tank Farm Road being moved to their present location at an expense of $47,395.80 would meet the final requirement of the City and P.G.& E. In talks with J.T. Haas of P.G.& E., it has been their design policy to have this line remain above ground from Broad Street on the east and through to the City limits on the west. Mr. Haas is reluctant to give us anything in writing on this subject but will be glad to discuss this with you over the phone. Ho can be reached at 546-5234. They have relocated our subdivision, the area to the west, and the intersection of Tank Farm Road and South Higuera with new poles and wires. To redesign and underground at this time would be outrageously expensive according to J.T. Haas. We estimate the cost to be over$250.000.00. In a joint Trecting witli P.G.& E., Pacific Bell and ourselves on June 199 1992 all options were discussed from just relocating the two poles to construct the Tank Farm Road taper at Long Street to the full undergrounding of all utilities. The Poles.wps December 8, 1993 2 ' selected P.G.& E. option was the relocation as constructed and the placement of Pacific Bell lines underground. - In working with P.G.& E. and Pacific Bell we feel that we have met the requirements of the City and of the Utility Companies. Similar lines along Los Osos Valley Road were left on poles for new subdivisions. Also, all recent work at the Tank Farm Road - Higuera Street intersection was left above ground. This is a main feeder as compared to the normal feeders. P.G.& E. recently moved the poles on Tank Farm Road along 2,000 feet of frontage. Item 20 of the plan check was completed when we negotiated with P.G.& E. to move poles. Had we been aware of the need to underground, our client would have moved only two poles and not all poles. Had it been required, it would have been noted as "Future Construction" on the plans as was the case for the sewer main. All of. our discussions with all concerned parties at no time indicated a final requirement of undergrounding of this line. The client had the option of not - -- — spending- the- $47,000 to move poles, but did so after carefully studying all the-- - - options and d=ding to. lease the overhead in place. Had we believed that the undergrounding was required,"we would have completed the work at that time and not waste the $47,000 payment Sincerely, - John R1- archetti Poles.wps JAN-26—'00 THU 01:12 ID:_ TEL N0: 9023 P01 :TING 1-q AGENDA DATE ITEM # CENTRAL COAST ENGINEERING 396 Bueklcy Road January 24 1994 E1039 San Luis Obispo California 93401 (ECS)54e-3278 FAX(SOS)541-3137 Chy of San Luis Obispo City Clerk P.O. Box 8100 �NCIL 13 CDD DIR San Luis Obispo, CA 93403 ° FIN DIR POELER ❑ 21 C.! F EY PLY DIR Atte: Diane Gladwell wow 1 ❑ POUCE CHF Subject: 2 Week Postponement of Item 7 ❑ MW TEAM ❑ REC DIR on I February Agenda ❑ IE-ADFILL ❑ UTIL DIR L IF ❑ PERS DIR Dear Diane. At the request of our client, Larry and Alan Strasbaugh, ive wish a minimum two week continuance of Item 7 presently scheduled on February 1, 1994 City Council Agenda. Their manufacturing business prevents their participation at this time Sincerely, John Marchetti CEIVED cc: Jerry Kenny J A N � 1994 CITY COUNCIL' kw;s OBISPQ,la