City Council Minutes 2000 09 19 - Laserfiche WebLink

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Louisville City Council Meeting September 19, 2000 Page 10. intersects the city limits at the Louisville Reservoir, travels south to the Coal Creek Golf Course, running parallel with US 36, on to Avista Hospital and Storage Tek. The corridor as described is 4.4 miles in length. Wood reviewed the land use along the corridor is comprised of single-family residences, two elementary schools, public facilities including the Recreation Center, dedicated open space and wildlife corridors, and an interconnected trail and bike path system. Wood stated that the infrastructure of the power lines consists of wooden H-frame structures that vary between 52' to 71' high. Wood reviewed the applicant's request to replace the wood H-frame structures with alternate pole systems in order to increase the capacity of the infrastructure. The existing structures would be replaced with a single steel pole. The cross section of the pole reflects a height of 86'. As an alternate to the single pole system, an H-frame steel pole was presented, which has a cross section pole height of 61 '. Wood noted a number of alternatives have been discussed by Staff and the applicant. He noted the tradeoff of H- frame poles for single poles is that H-frame poles are shorter therefore, an additional 22 poles would be needed through the corridor to maintain acceptable ground clearances. The steel H-frame adds additional height. Wood stated that Section 17.12.030 of the Louisville Municipal Code requires that public utilities uses be reviewed and approved as a Special Review use prior to construction, alteration or expansion in all zoned districts within the City. Wood reviewed the possible options for Council: 1) Pass Resolution No. 42, Series 2000 disapproving the Special Review Use. 2) Pass a Resolution approving the Special Review use for one of the above ground alternatives, with or without conditions. 3) Remand the application to the Planning Commission. 4) Continue the public hearing. COUNCIL QUESTIONS AND COMMENTS Davidson commented that Public Service has the ability to appeal a denial to the PUC or through the District Court. He expressed a desire to evaluate the possibility of rerouting the location of the line, however, if that is not possible, it might be a matter of choosing the type of poles. Mayer recommended that Council remand the SRU back to the Planning Commission with certain requests for examination. He asked that all the alternatives be completely explored. Mayer also asked that a suitable noise standard be reviewed. Howard agreed that the PSCo SRU application should be remanded back to the Planning Commission. He noted that across the United States there is an increase in electrical power demand and that a large amount of communities are experiencing blackouts. He 10