§ 5.14. Utilities (other than water and sewer).

5.14.1.

Costs. .....The applicant shall be responsible for the installation of all improvements listed below, all of which shall be installed at no cost to the County of Isle of Wight unless otherwise provided in this ordinance.

5.14.2.

Underground installation. .....All new transmission, distribution and customer service utility facilities, carrying or used in connection with electric power, telephone, telegraph, internet, cable television, petroleum, gas or steam, installed within the boundaries of any subdivision shall be placed below the surface of the ground; provided that:

A.

All required improvements shall be in accordance with accepted standards of utility practice for underground construction.

B.

Temporary overhead facilities required for construction purposes will be permitted;

C.

Equipment such as electric distribution transformers, transmission thirty-three (33) KV and above, switchgear, meter pedestals and telephone pedestals, which are normally installed aboveground in accordance with accepted utility practices for underground distribution systems may be so installed;

D.

Meters, service connections and similar equipment normally attached to the outside wall of the premises it serves may continue to be so installed;

E.

Whenever relocation of utility facilities is compelled by any construction undertaken by any unit of government, the provisions of this section may be waived by the board of supervisors or the subdivision agent;

F.

Overhead farm and industrial customer utility services and wiring which is on property owned and/or occupied by the property owner or user is allowed;

G.

With the exception of cluster/sliding scale "by-right" development, underground utilities will not be required in those areas of the county zoned rural agricultural conservation (RAC);

H.

Overhead utilities services existing as of October 29, 1974, may be repaired, replaced or increased in capacity, and relocated parallel and adjacent to pre-existing state roads;

I.

Overhead utilities services may be extended within a subdivision where the average lot size (excluding the original parcel) is at least five (5) acres and may further be extended in any case where such extension would be parallel and adjacent to public roads existing as of services along roads not existing as of October 29, 1974, and internal to a subdivision where the average lot size (excluding the original parcel) is five (5) acres or less must be underground. Overhead utilities services may be extended along or across other public roads as authorized by the subdivision agent.