Chapter 17.98 — PUBLIC UTILITIES AND USES

The purpose of this chapter is to establish site planning, development, and/or operating standards for public utilities and uses, including utility facilities and infrastructure. It is the city's intent in establishing these standards to mitigate the potential adverse impacts of these uses and activities on adjacent and surrounding land uses by regulating the size, scale, and location of these uses, as well as requiring additional setbacks, land-scaping, and other buffering between the subject use and surrounding property.

(Ord. No. 1000 § 4, 2022)

• A. General location. Generally, transmission lines and pipelines shall be located within public rights-of-way (with approval of the public works director) or within dedicated easements for transmission lines (e.g., public utility easement).

• B. Electrical transmission lines. Electrical transmission lines of 100,000 volts or greater capacity may be located in any zone and shall be located in easements or rights-of-way which permit access for maintenance with minimal disruption to surrounding properties. Preference shall be given to the location of transmission lines in the rank order specified below; every reasonable effort shall be exerted to avoid established residential areas. In the event Southern California Edison determines that it has no alternative but to route a 100,000 volt or greater capacity transmission line through an established residential area, such lines shall be installed underground except when the utility can demonstrate that it is not feasible to do so. The term "feasible" shall be as defined in Government Code § 53096(c) .

  1. Within existing electrical transmission rights-of-way or those anticipated for other projects proposed subject to this title.

  2. Adjacent to railroads or adopted freeway routes.

  3. Along or adjacent to major arterial streets where existing or planned uses are commercial or industrial. 4. Adjacent to or through existing or planned commercial, industrial, or agricultural uses.

  4. Along arterial streets where residential uses designated in an adopted plan are at least 24 units per acre.

  5. Through areas where land uses in an adopted plan are predominantly commercial but include residential uses.

7. Through residential areas, including side and rear yards, irrespective of density.

(Ord. No. 1000 § 4, 2022)

In siting fixed-base structures and facilities, the city shall place preference on the locations listed below in the order listed. In any case, siting fixed-base facilities within residential zones, particularly those intended for multi-family housing, shall be a last resort. All new subdivisions and land planning (e.g., specific plans) shall include provisions for siting fixed-base facilities in dedicated, reserved locations that are identified with assistance from the utility service provider.

• A. Industrial Zones.

• B. Areas within specific plans or master plans specifically identified for utility facility and infrastructure uses.

• C. Sites zoned with a form-based zone, provided the facility is not located at the intersection of two major streets.

• D. Within a residential area. (Ord. No. 1000 § 4, 2022)

• A. Communication substations. Communication substations shall be entirely located within an enclosed building, the design of which shall be consistent with the standards of the underlying zone, the intent being to integrate the design of the facility into the area in which it is located.

• B. Electrical substations.

  1. Overhead electrical transmission lines of 100,000 volts or greater capacity shall be installed in such a manner as to minimize adverse visual impacts. When feasible, the utility shall relocate and combine existing overhead transmission poles and lines with new installations.

  2. Substations shall be designed and constructed in such a manner as to minimize off-site visual and noise impacts. Planted or landscaped setbacks of at least 25 feet shall be provided on all property lines.

• C. Potable water storage facility. Potable water storage facilities shall observe all development standards of the underlying zone. Additionally, such facilities shall be screened consistent with the provisions of section 17.48 (Fences, Walls, and Screening).

• D. Treatment plant. Treatment plants shall observe all development standards of the underlying zone, except that any treatment ponds or other structures that may emit an odor shall be located a minimum of 200 feet from a residential zone or residential use. The use shall also provide landscaping along the perimeter of the use, including a minimum 25-foot-wide landscape area and trees planted 30 feet on center. Landscaping for treatment plants located in wildlandurban interface fire areas shall comply with the vegetation management requirements of the Rancho Cucamonga Fire District.

• (Ord. No. 1000 § 4, 2022)