HomeMy WebLinkAboutR02 - 7th St. Short Plat - Justification for the Modification Request
429 29th Street NE – Suite D
Puyallup, WA 98372
253.848.4282
January 20, 2021
City of Renton
Planning Division
1055 South Grady Way
Renton, WA 98057
Project: 7th Street Short Plat (CES #17234) PR19-000461, LUA19-000185, C20003070
Subject: Modification Request to RMC 4-6-090 (Overhead to Underground Conversion
Requirement of Existing Utilities)
Dear Administrator:
This letter serves as a request for a Modification related to the requirement of converting the
existing overhead (OH) utilities to underground (UG) associated with the proposed 3 lot short
plat of the property located at 3605 NE 7th Street, in Renton, WA. The existing site consists of 1
parcel (K.C. Parcel 8011100135) totaling approximately 0.64-acres that is zoned R-8 by the City
of Renton. We are requesting a Modification to RMC 4-6-090;
1. All new electrical or communication facilities shall be required to be installed
underground, pursuant to the standards of this Section.
2. Existing overhead power and utility facilities abutting a development or redevelopment
site triggering street frontage improvements under RMC 4-6-060 shall be required to be
relocated underground, pursuant to the standards of this Section.
Project Narrative
As stated above, the project is a proposed 3 lot short plat on 1 existing parcel of land. The north
boundary of the site fronts NE 7th St. The site is accessed from NE 7th St. by a proposed 20-ft.
wide asphalt pavement private access constructed along the eastern boundary of the site. The
proposed 3 lots will be accessed directly from the proposed private access which will be
complete with a branch turnaround for emergency vehicle access. The project is required to
construct frontage improvements to the south side of NE 7th St. that consist of a 16-ft. wide half-
street, new cement concrete curb and gutter, 8-ft. landscape planter strip, and 5-ft. wide cement
concrete sidewalk. The proposed private access will connect to NE 7th St. by a new 20-ft. wide
Type R1B cement concrete driveway entrance. The NE 7th St. project frontage totals
approximately 96-ft. See plan sheets C1-C2 which provide overall site and frontage
improvement information.
As indicated above the project is required to convert one existing span of overhead utilities to
underground along the south side of the NE 7th St. right of way. The existing span totals
approximately 193-ft. and consists of a Puget Sound Energy (PSE) single phase primary power
CES NW
INCORPORATED
CIVIL ENGINEERING & SURVEYING
429 29th Street NE – Suite D
Puyallup, WA 98372
253.848.4282
wire and neutral wire. The existing span also consists of two existing communication cables that
are anticipated to be owned by Comcast and Lumen (formerly CenturyLink). As shown on sheet
C2, the existing span falls between existing PSE power poles identified as P01 and P02. Pole
P01 is located approximately 94-ft. to the west of the northwest corner of the site and pole P02 is
located approximately 3-ft. to the east of the northeast corner.
To complete the conversion from OH to UG poles P01 and P02 will need to become terminal
poles. Terminal poles allow OH facilities to be converted to UG using conduits attached to the
side of the pole which are then connected to conduits that are installed underground. This
combination of underground conduit and conduits attached to the side of the poles allow wires to
be extended from OH to UG and back up to OH again. When a span of overhead utilities is
converted to underground the weight of the remaining overhead utilities starts to pull the
terminal poles over in the direction of the remaining overhead utilities. As a result, a down guy
anchor and down guy cables are installed on the opposite side of the terminal pole from the
remaining overhead utilities to counteract the weight of the overhead wires and cables pulling in
the opposite direction. For this project, a down guy anchor will need to be installed on the east
side of pole P01 approximately 10-ft. to 15-ft. east of the pole base. The primary power wire,
neutral wire, and communication cables are attached to the existing pole at 3 separate locations.
As a result, 3 separate down guys will be attached to the existing pole at the 3 separate
attachment locations and extended to the ground where it is connected to the down guy anchor
buried in the ground. See Exhibit A which provides a Google street view of how a terminal pole
with down guy anchor and 3 separate down guys typically looks. Due to the existing OH utilities
it is anticipated that at a minimum, existing pole P01 will require 1 – 4-in. power conduit, 1 – 4-
in. future power conduit, 1 – 2-in. to 4-in. communication conduit (Comcast) and 1 – 2-in. to 4-
in. communication conduit (Lumen) attached to the side of the pole. See Exhibit A which also
shows the extend of conduits attached to the side of a terminal pole to facilitate the conversion.
See sheet C2 which provides call outs related to the down guy anchor, down guys, and conduits
associated with existing pole P01.
Due to its location to the proposed frontage improvements and driveway entrance existing pole
P02 will require removal and relocation per sheet C2. A new pole (P02A) will need to be
installed further to the east to provide enough space to install the required down guy anchor and
down guys. Per sheet C2, pole P02A will be installed just west of the existing driveway to 3613
NE 7th St. The new pole location is located far enough to the east to allow for a down guy
anchor to be installed 10-ft. to 15-ft. west of the proposed pole base while not conflicting with
the required 5-ft. wide temporary asphalt pavement ADA ramp. The new terminal pole P02A
will require the same number of down guy attachments and the same number of conduits
attached to the side of the pole as existing pole P01. Unfortunately, due to the down guy anchor
and down guy requirements the proposed location of terminal pole P02A will need to be located
approximately 1-ft. from the west edge of the existing driveway at the address noted above.
There is approximately 975-ft. from the east edge of the Monroe Ave. NE right of way to existing
pole P01. Through a combination of existing and recently completed frontage improvements
along the south side of NE 7th St. and existing parcels which have no opportunity for further
development there is approximately 780-ft. of existing overhead utilities that will never be
converted to underground as a result of private development. See Exhibit B which identifies
429 29th Street NE – Suite D
Puyallup, WA 98372
253.848.4282
existing parcels along the south side of NE 7th St. that are either developed, have the potential for
development, or are too small to develop. The developed parcels have either been developed
with existing frontage improvements or were developed prior to frontage improvements being
required. There are 2 parcels similar in size to the proposed short plat that have the potential for
similar development and frontage improvements requirements. There is 1 other larger parcel
(14,314 sq. ft.) that does not have the potential for development because it does not have enough
area to meet minimum lot size requirements while providing for a required private access tract.
This leaves approximately 195-ft. of existing overhead utilities that may have an opportunity for
conversion if the existing parcels adjacent to those spans develop in the future. If those existing
parcels are developed in the future and are required to convert existing overhead utilities to
underground, then you would be left with a patchwork of existing spans of overhead utilities that
will remain mixed with spans converted to underground. The more likely scenario is none of the
other remaining overhead utilities between Monroe Ave. NE and existing pole P01 will ever be
required to convert to underground.
In addition, power providers whether it is PSE, Tacoma Power, Peninsula Light Company, etc.
are opposed to undergrounding short sections of overhead power due to additional maintenance,
power coordination issues, and system reliability concerns if the balance of the power distribution
system is to remain overhead. When a single span is converted a switch is required at each terminal
pole. The switch is an electrical component consisting of a cut out and fused link. Power providers
try to avoid these situations because the increase in electrical components reduces system reliability
since the chance of component failure increases.
As an alternative to the requirement of RMC 4-6-090 the developer is willing to coordinate with
PSE and the communication providers to determine the number of conduits that would be
required to complete the conversion. Once this information has been determined the developer is
willing to install the necessary conduit package underground from existing power poles P01 to
P02 to allow for future use if a more substantial amount of the existing overhead power
distribution system within NE 7th St. were to be converted in the future.
Justification for Modification Statement
A. Substantially implements the policy direction of the policies and objectives of the
Comprehensive Plan Land Use Element and the Community Design Element and the
proposed modification is the minimum adjustment necessary to implement these policies
and objectives.
The alternative solution of installing a conduit package underground from existing power
poles P01 to P02 for future use would meet the intent of RMC 4-6-090 while still
allowing PSE to maintain a higher level of system reliability to its rate payers.
B. Will meet the objectives and safety, function, appearance, environmental protection
and maintainability intended by the Code requirements, based upon sound
engineering judgment.
It is our opinion the amount of required down guys (3) at each terminal pole
increases the chance of accidental contact with pedestrian and vehicular
429 29th Street NE – Suite D
Puyallup, WA 98372
253.848.4282
movement. In addition, the down guy anchor, 3 down guys, and conduit
package installed along the side of each terminal pole creates an appearance
that is not aesthetically pleasing for the surrounding property owners. We
believe the alternative solution allows PSE to maintain their high level of
system reliability while still meeting the intent of RMC 4-6-090.
C. Will not be injurious to other property(ies) in the vicinity.
As previously mentioned, it is our opinion the amount of required down guys
(3) at each terminal pole increases the chance of accidental contact with
pedestrian and vehicular movement. In addition, the property at 3613 NE 7th
St. will be directly impacted by the relocation of a new terminal power pole
(P02A). Pole P02A will now be more centrally located along this property’s
north property line but more importantly just west of their existing driveway.
As stated in the project narrative, the new location for pole P02A is necessary
in order to install a down guy anchor and down guys on the west side of the
new terminal pole that won’t be in conflict with the required frontage
improvements.
D. Conforms to the intent and purpose of the Code.
A previously mentioned, the alternative solution of installing a conduit package
underground from existing power poles P01 to P02 for future use would meet the intent
of RMC 4-6-090 while still allowing PSE to maintain a higher level of system reliability
to its rate payers.
E. Can be shown to be justified and required for the use and situation intended.
Again, the alternative solution of installing a conduit package underground from existing
power poles P01 to P02 for future use would meet the intent of RMC 4-6-090 while still
allowing PSE to maintain a higher level of system reliability to its rate payers. We feel
this solution is justified as we do not see a high probability of any further spans of the
existing overhead power system being converted to underground in the future due to the
limited options for future development of surrounding properties between the site and
Monroe Ave. NE.
F. Will not create adverse impacts to other property(ies) in the vicinity.
It is our opinion, that the installation of a down guy anchor, down guys, and conduit
package installed on the side of each terminal power pole will have an adverse impact to
the surrounding properties. Both from a safety standpoint related to potential accidental
contact by pedestrians or vehicular movement or that it creates a visual appearance that
is not aesthetically pleasing. More importantly however, is the negative impact that
could occur to PSE’s rate payers related to reduced system reliability of the power
distribution system because of the required conversion. For these reasons, we feel the
alternative solution of installing a conduit package underground from existing power
poles P01 to P02 for future use would meet the intent of RMC 4-6-090 while not creating
adverse impacts to surrounding properties.
429 29th Street NE – Suite D
Puyallup, WA 98372
253.848.4282
Please review our Modification request and consider our proposed solution for complying with
the intent of RMC 4-6-090 at your earliest convenience. Please let us know if you have any
questions or need additional information as you review our submittal package and request.
Regards,
Eric Oehler
Eric Oehler
Project Manager
Prepared by DM
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