Underground Waiver - Denied - 2012CITY of CAMPBELL
Community Development Department
August 22, 2012
Steve Riley
Riley's Construction
3078 Arbuckle Dr.
San Jose, CA 95124
Re: File No: PLN2012-96
Address: 261 Harrison Ave.
Application: Underground Utility Waiver
Decision: Denied
Dear Mr. Riley,
Please be advised that the Community Development Director has reviewed your application for
an Underground Utility Waiver (PLN2012-96) to allow overhead utility services, in lieu of the
required underground services, in conjunction with an addition and remodel to an existing single-
family residence on the above-referenced property. The requirement to underground utilities was
imposed due to the substantial nature of building additions approved in 2009 (BLD2009-651)
and 2011 (BLD2011-745) that together enlarged the size of the subject residence from 1,229
square-feet to 2,062 square-feet, representing a 67% increase in building area. This work
constihlted a "substantial remodel" pursuant to Campbell Municipal Code (CMC) § 21.18.140.
To sununarize, your request is based on the cost associated with (1) installation of a junction
box, necessary to provide underground service to the residence and (2) relocation of water
utilities pursuant to a PG&E requirement for separation of "wet utilities" from PG&E facilities.
Your request was predicated on a June 4, 2012 letter from PG&E Project Manager Catherine
Only, electronic correspondence from San Jose Water Company engineer Jay Coito, and
construction estimates prepared by yourself.
The Community Development Director reviewed the submitted correspondence and supporting
documentation. Subsequent discussions and an on-site meeting with PG&E's Service Planning
Supervisor Danny Miller revealed that although underground utility service to the property
would :require installation of a junction box (to service more than one property), relocation of
water utilities would not be required. Therefore, pursuant to CMC § 21.18.140, your request has
been denied, as there are no topographical, soil, or other conditions that would render
underground installation unreasonable or impractical.
PLN2012-96 ~ 261 Harrisc .ve.
Underground Utility Waiver
Page 2 of 2
However, in light of the potentially misleading nature of the June 4, 2012 PG&E letter, the
Director has authorized a partial refund of your application fees totaling $393. Although not in
the authority of the City to control, the Director felt that the PG&E letter could be found
misleadling in that it incorrectly implies that undergrounding is not technically feasible due to a
limitation on the number of conduits on the utility pole and proximity to "wet utilities". The
letter did not identity viable alternatives that would allow the utilities to be placed underground.
You will receive the refund in approximately three weeks under separate cover. If you should
have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact me at (408) 866-2193 or by email at
danielf@cityofcampbell.com.
Sincerely
Daniel Fama
Associate Planner
cc: Paul Kermoyan, Interim Community Development Director
Bill Bruckart, Building Official
Ryan and Cherly Luders, 261 Harrison Ave., Campbell, CA 95008