Underground Utility Waiver - 2006Community Development Department
April 17, 2006
Mr. Jeff Baicher
1285 Burrows Road
Campbell, CA 95008
Re: Underground Utility Waiver
File No: PLN2006-31
1285 Burrows Rd.
Dear Mr. Baicher:
Please be advised that the Community Development Director has reviewed your request to
permit overhead utility services in conjunction with the construction of your new 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 and the high cost of under
grounding the utilities as compared to overhead installation.
If you should have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact me at (408) 866-2142 or
by email at melindad@cityofcampbell.com.
Sincerely,
Melinda M. Denis
Planner I
cc: Edward Arango, Public Works Department
Jackie C. Young Lind, AICP, Planning Division
Community Development Department
Memorandum
Date: March 31, 2006
To: Ed Arango
Associate Engineer
From: Melinda M. Denis
Planner I
Re: PLN2006-00031 ~ 1285 Burrows Road
Attached is a site plan requesting a waiver to allow overhead utility services to a residence
located at 1285 Burrows Road. The local ordinance indicates that the Planning Director with the
concurrence of the City Engineer may grant such a waiver. The Land Development Manager has
previously been delegated the responsibility of the City Engineer's review.
Your review and recommendation regarding this request would be appreciated by Monday, April
10, 2006. Please let me know if you would like to discuss this request or if you need any
additional information.
Thanks in advance for your review.
City of Campbell
March, 27, 2006
I applied for permanent power from PG&E on March 12, 2006. On March 16, 2006 a PG&E engineer went
out to inspect our property for consideration of overhead or underground service. His recommendation was
overhead service because of the location of the power source from the pole and were the box is located..
He also noted our situation is the exact same scenario as a house three down that received a waiver from
the city regarding the exact same set up. His suggestion was to ask the city'of Campbell for a waiver.
Here are several reasons for granting a waiver:
The city of Campbell spent an enormous amount of time and energy to redo streets, sidewalks and
gutters. Digging underground wiring would retrace all the costs originally associated with that
development. To do just one house in the surrounding area when the power source is so close to
the panel may not be the best choice.
2. The power source from PG&E is located only a short distance (15ft-20ft). To dig underground you
would be requiring a lot longer distance + trenching.
3. PG&E engineer noted overhead is the best choice for power connection is this situation.
Mark Holderman (PG&E) 408-725-3325
The cost associated for overhead installation may be as simple as a reconnect (Cost range from
Free-$1500). To do the simplest trenching underground starts at 4X the cost of overhead ($6000 +
$15,000).
PG&E did not remove the wiring from the property when they disconnected power. So all
existing wiring is still in place and immediately ready for re-connection. This situation could fall
under reconnection status which then would be a free service.
6. The city of Campbell just gave a waiver to a home three down with a very similar situation as
-i~83'Burrows Road.
i36r
The cost associated with this decision is huge for ow family. The city required us to bring in over 70 truck
loads of dirt to raise the level of our lot so water would drain to the street. Our neighbors are constantly
complaining that our floor is equal height to the top of their fence. That requirement cost us over $16,000.
We are asking that you make it easy for PG & E to connect the service and save our family a huge amount
of money.
for your cons' eration in advance:
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X285 Burrows Road
408-679-0664 MAR 2 '~ `1t106
C CANNING ~~~