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LS 12.15.16 <br />ORDINANCE NO. NS -XXX <br />AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY <br />OF SANTA ANA APPROVING AN AMENDMENT TO <br />PROVISIONS OF CHAPTER 41 OF THE SANTA ANA <br />MUNICIPAL CODE RELATING TO THE REQUIREMENT <br />OF UNDERGROUND UTILITY INSTALLATIONS <br />THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF SANTA ANA DOES ORDAIN AS <br />FOLLOWS: <br />Section 1. The City Council of the City of Santa Ana hereby finds, determines <br />and declares as follows: <br />A. The Santa Ana Municipal Code (SAMC) requires updates periodically in <br />order to streamline requirements and procedures and/or gain compliance with new state <br />or federal legislation. <br />B. In a continuing effort to establish high-quality development standards and <br />to create a user friendly environment for residents and the business community within <br />the city, the Planning Division is proposing revisions to various sections of Chapter 41. <br />C. After a thorough analysis of the current code requirements in the city, staff <br />identified a code amendment and additions necessary to ensure clear, uniform, and <br />legally consistent regulations for various sections of the SAMC. The proposed changes <br />and additions will enable the City to implement a regulatory framework that both <br />protects the health, safety, and welfare of the city and limits undue strain on home <br />owners, business operators and developers. <br />D. Section 41-626 of the SAMC requires that all utility cables, wires, or feeds <br />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 <br />increases to services. Currently, this section of the SAMC requires undergrounding of <br />utility cables for any building addition in excess of 25 percent, including residential <br />additions above this threshold. The proposed code amendment would increase the <br />threshold to 50 percent for residential (one -family or two-family/duplex) structures, and <br />would keep the 25 percent threshold for multi -family and non-residential structures. <br />Moreover, the amendment will clarify that the provisions requiring undergrounding of <br />utility cables do not apply when a second/accessory dwelling unit is being constructed <br />E. The City Council has held a noticed public hearing on this Ordinance and <br />has considered all testimony presented thereto. <br />Ordinance No. NS -XXX <br />Page t of 4 <br />11 A-3 <br />