§ 21.90.060. Nonconforming overhead lines—Designation of target areas.

A.

An electric utility that owns poles that support nonconforming utility distribution lines shall prepare or otherwise include as part of its annual capital improvement plan, a five-year undergrounding program consistent with Section 21.90.070. This five-year program shall be updated on an annual basis. Priorities shall be based on undergrounding in conjunction with the electric utility's essential system improvements and then by target area as set forth below in no particular order. The director of the planning department shall provide review and comment for consideration by the electric utilities on these five-year programs. When reviewing and commenting on these programs the director shall consider the following factors in no particular order:

1.

Whether undergrounding will avoid or eliminate an unusually heavy concentration of overhead electric distribution or other attached utility facilities.

2.

Whether the street or general area is extensively used by the general public and carries a heavy volume of pedestrian or vehicular traffic.

3.

Whether the appearance of grounds and structures adjacent to the roadway is such that the removal of the overhead facilities will substantially improve the general appearance of the area.

4.

Whether the street or area affects a public recreation area or an area of scenic interest.

5.

Whether there is a significant opportunity to achieve economies due to the anticipated relocation or replacement of overhead lines or the widening or realignment of streets within a given area.

6.

Whether the five-year program sufficiently addresses the objectives of Section 21.90.070.

7.

Whether the area under consideration is within a zone where new and relocated distribution lines are required to be placed underground.

8.

Whether the installation of underground distribution lines is economically, technically and environmentally feasible including the effect on an attached utility.

9.

Whether undergrounding will avoid or eliminate overhead electric distribution or other attached utility facilities in a residential area with significant risk exposure to wildfire, high winds, or other natural disaster.

B.

The director of the planning department shall confirm annually that the electric utilities have developed project undergrounding implementation plans. The director shall consult with the utilities and public agencies affected by any implementation plan. In reviewing implementation plans, the director shall consider the factors stated in subsection A of this section.

C.

The following shall be the target areas:

1.

Central Business District: between and including Third Avenue and Tenth Avenue and L Street and Ingra Street.

2.

Mid-town area: between and including New Seward Highway and Minnesota Drive and International Airport Road and Fireweed Lane.

3.

All municipal and state street improvement projects except for those which do not require relocation of utility distribution facilities.

4.

The following major traffic corridors:

a.

Old Seward Highway.

b.

Ingra and Gambell Streets between and including Ninth Avenue and Fireweed Lane.

c.

Northern Lights Boulevard and Benson Boulevard between and including Glenwood Street and Arlington Drive.

d.

Muldoon Road between and including New Glenn Highway and Patterson Street.

e.

Tudor Road between and including Patterson Street and Arctic Boulevard.

f.

Boniface Parkway between and including 30th Avenue and New Glenn Highway.

g.

Spenard Road between and including Hillcrest Drive and International Airport Road.

h.

Arctic Boulevard between 17th Avenue and Tudor Road.

i.

Lake Otis Parkway between Tudor Road and Abbott Loop

5.

All park, recreational use and scenic interest areas.

6.

Eagle River Central Business District between and including the New Glenn Highway, North Eagle River Access Road, Aurora Street as extended to the Old Glenn Highway and the Old Glenn Highway.

7.

Any area where utility distribution facilities are provided by more than one utility as a result of mergers and boundary changes approved by the state public utilities commission.

8.

School and university areas.

9.

Any residential area with significant risk exposure to wildlife, high winds, or other natural disaster.

(AO No. 155-76; AO No. 156-76; AO No. 82-49; AO No. 84-62; AO No. 86-17; AO No. 2005-2, § 2, 5-30-05; AO No. 2009-28, § 1, 7-7-09)