AGENDA ITEM REPORT
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A RESOLUTION GRANTING A WAIVER FROM THE REQUIREMENTS FOR THE UNDERGROUND PLACEMENT OF UTILITIES FOR THE PROJECT KNOWN AS RESIDENCE INN LOCATED NORTH OF THE SAWGRASS EXPRESSWAY ON THE EAST SIDE OF NORTH STATE ROAD 7.
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BACKGROUND:
In 2005, the City Commission adopted Ordinance No. 2005-032, requiring the underground placement of all utilities for any new commercial, industrial, or retail development seeking site plan approval or for new residential development of five acres or more seeking site plan approval. All utilities, including existing overhead utilities, located within or in public right-of-ways adjacent to the site must be installed underground, unless an underground utility waiver is granted by the City Commission.
DISCUSSION:
The Grove Parc PCD site is approximately 9.86 +/- gross acres, of which only 1.76 +/- gross acres is the hotel site. The hotel site has approximately 207 linear feet of existing overhead utility lines running along the western boundary of the site, within the State Road 7 right-of-way. The subject property is in close proximity to the existing FPL substation. Existing overhead FPL facilities from the substation and along State Road 7 include high voltage transmission lines, which are currently mounted on tall poles along the right-of-way. In addition, lower voltage FPL lines, AT&T, and cable TV also exist overhead. Pursuant to the ordinance, electrical lines with a rate load of 23k or higher shall be exempt from the undergrounding requirement. As such, removal of the lower voltage facilities would still leave high voltage lines and utility poles intact. Due to these conditions and the rationale provided as part of this application, the applicant is seeking relief from this requirement in the form of a waiver consistent with the adopted ordinance.
RECOMMENDATION:
The Planning and Zoning Board, at its June 8, 2016, meeting, recommended approval of a payment of $74,747 in lieu of placing adjacent utilities underground.
FISCAL IMPACT:
REVENUES: $ 74,747
EXPENDITURES: $ 0
BUDGETED? N
NOTES: Any revenue received from this will be creditied to the Utility Underground Fund, Account 35-V36620.