18.115.110 Utilities.
A. Underground Utilities. All utility lines including, but not limited to, those required for electric, communication, lighting and cable television services and related facilities shall be placed underground and shall provide for future expansion of services, except for surface mounted transformers, surface mounted connection boxes and meter cabinets which may be placed aboveground, temporary utility service facilities during construction, and high capacity electric lines operating at 50,000 volts or higher. The following additional standards apply to all new subdivisions, in order to facilitate underground placement of utilities:
1. The developer shall make all necessary arrangements with the serving utility to provide the underground services. All aboveground equipment shall not obstruct vision clearance areas for vehicular traffic per TMC 18.105.055;
2. The city reserves the right to approve the location of all surface mounted facilities;
3. All underground utilities, including sanitary sewers and storm drains installed in streets by the developer, shall be constructed prior to the surfacing of the streets;
4. Stubs for service connections shall be long enough to avoid disturbing the street improvements when service connections are made; and
5. Adequate capacity for communications services shall be provided. Underground conduit for communications lines, or oversized conduit for phone or other compatible utilities, shall be installed whether or not provision of such services is planned at the time of development.
B. Easements. Recorded easements shall be provided for all underground utility facilities.
C. Exception to Undergrounding Requirement. The standard applies only to proposed subdivisions. An exception to the undergrounding requirement may be granted due to physical constraints, such as steep topography, or existing development conditions, when demonstrated by the applicant. [Ord. 966 § 2 (Exh. B), 2021.]