Utility Waiver - 2003 CITY oF CAMPBELL
Community Development Department
F' ~L-c:-'
CAMPBELL
January 21, 2003
Gary and Sandi Orlando
245 Ken Circle
Campbell, CA 95008
Re: Underground Utility Waiver - 245 Ken Circle - File No.: PLN2003-00004
Dear Mr. and Mrs. Orlando:
Please be advised that the Community Development Director, with the concurrence of the
City Engineer, has reviewed your request to permit overhead services in conjunction with the
remodel of your residence on the above-referenced property in lieu of the requirement to
underground the utilities.
Pursuant to Campbell Municipal Code s~tion 20.36.150, this request has been granted as a
waiver of the requirement to underground utilities due to the limited likelihood that other
utility lines will be placed underground in your neighborhood and the additional cost of
having to underground the utility lines.
If you should have any questions reghrding this determination, please do not hesitate to
contact the undersigned at (408) 866-2143 or via email at geoffb@cityofcampbell.com.
Senior Planner
cc: Lynn Penoyer, Land Development Manager
Frank Mills, Senior Building Inspector
70 North First Street - Campbell, California 95008-1436 · TEL 408.866.2140 - Fax 408.871 .5140 - TDD 408.866.2790
To:
From:
Sharon Fierro,
Community Development Director
Gary and Sandi Orlando
Campbell Homeowners, 245 Ken Circle
(408) 378-9633
Re: Underground Utilities Waiver request
Dear Sharon,
We have been Campbell residents at the above address for eighteen years. We
live in a great neighborhood near the Campbell Community Center, and we are especially
excited about the soon-to-be-built tennis courts and Heritage Theater. With the need to
add some changes and additional space to our house, we decided to remodel/rebuild.
Our architect submitted our project for a "plan check" to the city in February of
last year. After making several minor alterations at the planning and building
department's request, he sent them back to the city in April, and we were instructed to
begin the process for demolition permits. In late May, my wife and our contractor's
office manager paid the fees and obtained the permits. At that time, the clerk asked if we
were going to stay with overhead power lines or bury the utilities - my wife replied that
she wasn't sure and that we would leave that up to the contractor.
Demolition began in mid-June. In mid-July, an inspection took place after the
foundation forms had been laid. We were shocked when our contractor told us that the
inspector stated that utilities would have to go underground. At no time prior to this
point had we been told that this was required! We were even more shocked when we
were told that this would require a substantial fee - of course we had not budgeted an
extra $20,000 for this unexpected work.
Since the nearest utility pole is located at the far front comer of our neighbor's
yard, installing underground power lines to our property will require tearing up their yard
and digging a trench in the street in front of their house. We are very worded about this
inconvenient and disruptive process - they have already been subjected since June to
increased noise, dust, extra tracks, etc. Ours would also be the only house on the street
that would have a buried line.
Therefore, we are requesting that the City of Campbell grant us a waiver because
a) we were not told up front that this was a requirement, b) consequently, we did not
budget for this in our loan from the bank and c) we are concerned about the disruption
this process would cause for our neighbors.
Sincerely,
Gary Orlando
CITY OF CAMPBELL
Community Development Department
CAMPBELL
January 21, 2003
Gary and Sandi Orlando
245 Ken Circle
Campbell, CA 95008
Re: Underground Utility Waiver - 245 Ken Circle - File No.: PLN2003-00004
Dear Mr. and Mrs. Orlando:
Please be advised that the Community Development Director, with the concurrence of the
City Engineer, has reviewed your request to permit overhead services in conjunction with the
remodel of your residence on the above-referenced property in lieu of the requirement to
underground the utilities.
Pursuant to Campbell Municipal Code section 20.36.150, this request has been granted as a
waiver of the requirement to underground utilities due to the limited likelihood that other
utility lines will be placed underground in your neighborhood and the additional cost of
having to underground the utility lines.
If you should have any questions reghrding this determination, please do not hesitate to
contact the undersigned at (408) 866-2143 or via email at geoffb@cityofcampbell.com.
Senior Planner
cc: Lynn Penoyer, Land Development Manager
Frank Mills, Senior Building Inspector
70 North First Street . Campbell, California 95008-1436 · TEL 408.866.2140 . VAX 408.871.5140 · TDD 408.866.2790
To:
Sharon Fierro,
Community Development Director
From: Gary and Sandi Orlando ~::~' ~"~"~ `'~ ~;" '~'' ¢\
Campbell Homeowners, 245 Ken Circle
(408) 378-9633
Re: Underground Utilities Waiver request
Dear Sharon,
We have been Campbell residents at the above address for eighteen years. We
live in a great neighborhood near the Campbell Community Center, and we are especially
excited about the soon-to-be-built tennis courts and Heritage Theater. With the need to
add some changes and additional space to our house, we decided to remodel/rebuild.
Our architect submitted our project for a "plan check" to the city in February of
last year. After making several minor alterations at the planning and building
department's request, he sent them back to the city in April, and we were instructed to
begin the process for demolition permits. In late May, my wife and our contractor's
office manager paid the fees and obtained the permits. At that time, the clerk asked if we
were going to stay with overhead power lines or bury the utilities - my wife replied that
she wasn't sure and that we would leave that up to the contractor.
Demolition began in mid-June. In mid-July, an inspection took place after the
foundation forms had been laid. We were shocked when our contractor told us that the
inspector stated that utilities would have to go underground. At no time prior to this
point had we been told that this was required! We were even more shocked when we
were told that this would require a substantial fee - of course we had not budgeted an
extra $20,000 for this unexpected work.
Since the nearest utility pole is located at the far front comer of our neighbor's
yard, installing underground power lines to our property will require tearing up their yard
and digging a trench in the street in front of their house. We are very worried about this
inconvenient and disruptive process - they have already been subjected since June to
increased noise, dust, extra trucks, etc. Ours would also be the only house on the street
that would have a buried line.
Therefore, we are requesting that the City of Campbell grant us a waiver because
a) we were not told up front that this was a requirement, b) consequently, we did not
budget for this in our loan from the bank and c) we are concerned about the disruption
this process would cause for our neighbors.
Sincerely,
Gary Orlando