Agenda - 10-18-2005-9c - Laserfiche WebLink

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The Middle School and the OCSC then will install underground lines to their respective facilities in accordance with EDD guidelines. The County Manager, on behalf of Orange County, has requested that the site plan be approved with the installation of aboveground sub feeder distribution lines on the OCSC property and to include a provision that the lines are to be precisely located at the time that the easement to Duke Power is granted. The Board will recall that there are vernal pools at the northwestern quadrant of the OCSC property and that there is a tree line between the OCSC property and the school property that was saved in negotiations with NCDOT when NCDOT required the Old Highway #10 intersection with the access road to be relocated. There are also landscaping issues that may be affected by this power easement and the power poles, lines and other facilities. As prescribed by the EDD manual, the Board of Commissioners must approve the site plan with regard to the overhead power lines. The EDD Manual does not give this authority to the Planning Director. The justification for the request is that the new distribution line would create an electric loop in the service area promoting a better and safer service system. Another justification for the revision is to avoid environmentally sensitive areas (vernal pools) at the northern end of the OCSC site, which could be adversely impacted by the construction of underground utilities at that location, The County can, with the Board's approval, work with Duke Power at a later date to determine if some or all of the overhead facilities can be moved underground in the future. REQUEST: 1) The Board is requested to make a decision with regard to allowing the sub feeder distribution lines to be installed aboveground in the EDD, with the understanding that all other lines will be underground. 2) If the Board votes to allow the sub feeder distributions lines to be installed aboveground, then the Board will need to approve the easements; to give direction to the County Manager and the County Attorney with respect to the location of the easements on the OCSC property; and, to authorize the County Manager and the County Attorney to finalize the precise location of the easements and to authorize the recordation of the easement document. It should be noted that based on a request, the Environment & Resource Conservation Department has reviewed the proposed power line easement and has provided a memorandum which is attached. RECOMMENDATION: The Administration recommends APPROVAL of the attached Resolution.