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REQUEST FOR <br />COUNCIL ACTION <br />CITY COUNCIL MEETING DATE: <br />DECEMBER 6, 2016 <br />TITLE: <br />PUBLIC HEARING — ZONING ORDINANCE <br />AMENDMENT NO. 2016 -04 TO AMEND <br />PROVISIONS OF CHAPTER 41 OF THE SANTA <br />ANA MUNICIPAL CODE RELATING TO <br />UNDERGROUND UTILITY INSTALLATIONS — <br />CITY OF SANTA ANA, APPLICANT <br />(STRATEGIC PLAN NOS. 3,2; 5, 3) <br />% r <br />J � <br />CITY MANAGE <br />RECOMMENDED ACTION <br />CLERK OF COUNCIL USE ONLY: <br />p'•:• N" <br />❑ As Recommended <br />❑ <br />As Amended <br />❑ <br />Ordinance on 16' Reading <br />❑ <br />Ordinance on 2ntl Reading <br />❑ <br />Implementing Resolution <br />Ci <br />Set Public Hearing For_ <br />CONTINUED TO <br />FILE NUMBER <br />Adopt an ordinance approving Zoning Ordinance Amendment No. 2016 -04. <br />PLANNING COMMISSION ACTION <br />At its regular meeting on November 14, 2016, by a vote of 7:0, the Planning Commission <br />recommended that the City Council adopt an ordinance approving Zoning Ordinance Amendment <br />No. 2016 -04 to amend Section 41 -626 of Chapter 41 of the Santa Ana Municipal Code (SAMC) <br />pertaining to underground utility installations to help streamline the requirements for new and <br />replacement utility services. The Planning Commission made no changes to the recommended <br />draft ordinance in the attached staff report (Exhibit A). <br />DESCRIPTION <br />The City of Santa Ana is requesting amendments to Chapter 41 of the SAMC, which will include <br />Section 41 -626 (Underground Utility Installations). Section 41 -626 requires that all utility cables, <br />wires, or feeds be placed underground for certain projects, including new or relocated buildings, <br />additions to existing structures, conversions of buildings to other uses, and changes or increases to <br />services. The proposed revisions to code section pertaining to underground utility installations will <br />help streamline the requirements for new and replacement utility services. Staff analyzed several <br />projects including small residential additions, major residential additions, and the construction of <br />second /accessory dwelling units. Several projects had been affected with the high cost of providing <br />underground utilities or having to apply for a waiver, which meant that continuing construction, was <br />determined by the amount of time it took to have the waiver reviewed and by the final decision to <br />approve or the deny the application. For many of the projects that are approved over - the - counter, <br />the 25% threshold is often exceeded by a small addition such as a master bathroom, a family room, <br />or even one bedroom. The proposed code amendment would increase the threshold to 50 percent <br />75A -1 <br />