Underground Utility Waiver- 2005August 30, 2005
Mr. Scott Logsdon
1424 Bent Drive
Campbell, CA 95008
Re: Underground Utility Waiver
File No: PLN2005-124
1424 Bent Drive
Dear Mr. Logsdon:
Please be advised that the Community Development Director, with the concurrence of the City
Engineer, has reviewed your request to permit overhead utility services in conjunction with the
addition to your residence on the above-referenced property in lieu of the requirement to underground
the utilities.
Pursuant to Campbell Municipal Code Section 21.18.140, the request to underground utilities has
been granted due to the limited likelihood that other utility lines in the surrounding neighborhood will
be placed underground, the proximity of the utility pole to the proposed connection point, and the high
cost of undergrounding the utilities as compared to overhead installation.
If you should have any questions regarding this determination, please do not hesitate to contact me at
(408) 866-2140.
Sincerely,
Mickela Gonzales
Planning Intern
cc: Ed Arango, Public Works Department
Frank Mills, Building Division
70 North First Street. Campbell, California 95008-1436 . TEL 408.866.2140 . FAX 408.866.8381 . TDD 408.866.2790
Underground Utility Waiver request justification
for remodel construction at 1424 Bent Drive
August 29, 2005
Original location of utility panel was 75 feet from existing power pole and was five feet
further into the yard than is currently planned. Thus, the electrical wire run from the pole
to the roof of the house had a significant droop in it and crossed the back yard for over 25
feet after it crossed the neighboring fence back to where the power pole is located.
Two key factors contributed to this: one, was the span of the run and the second was the
height of the contact point on the house, which was approximately two feet shorter than
what the expected connection point will be with the new section of the house.
The current location of a new connection point on the house will now only be about 37
feet away from the power pole and the top of the connection point will be close to 12 feet
high. The result of this move will reduce the span of the wire and will allow it maintain a
greater height throughout the distance (average height expected to be over 15 feet). Plus,
with the move of the panel to the side of the house which is now 5 feet closer to the
adjacent fence, the amount of wire actually hanging into the yard will only be about 10 to
15 feet.
Another concern with the trenching proposal is the need to access the power pole from
the neighbor's yard. Currently, the pole is 6 feet inside of the fence line on the
neighbor's side and would thus create a need to excavate into the neighbor's back yard to
get underground access to the pole. Doing this could prove to be extremely difficult and
as there is a 50+ year old Walnut tree with a substantial root system directly adjacent to
the pole and only 7 feet from the fence. Likewise, there are the remains of a 50 year old
40-foot avocado tree in line with the proposed trench adjacent to the new build which
would prove very costly as it would require trenching under a fence and removing
significant portions of both root systems.
Regarding the aesthetics of the neighborhood, with the utility poles running parallel to the
backyard fences, there will be no visual change from the street that would alter the
consistency of the surrounding homes. In fact, as noted above, with the reduced run of
the wire to the power pole, it will actually improve the site lines for the only affected
home, the adjacent neighbor.
It is for these above reasons and concerns that a request to waive the underground utility
requirement is being submitted with hopes of a quick response to avoid holding up any
ongoing construction progress.
In appreciation of your consideration,
Scott Logsdon
Homeowner