Plan seeks wire burial when doing remodeling

Under a proposal, anyone doing more than $20,000 in remodeling work in Dunedin would be required to bury utility lines.

By LEON M. TUCKER

© St. Petersburg Times, published February 21, 2001

DUNEDIN -- Residents and business owners planning to spend at least $20,000 to renovate their property may be required to move overhead utilities underground if city officials approve a plan that's in the works.

Burying utilities should cost a person no more than $1,200, the city says. If it does, the city would cap the expense at 15 percent of a renovation's overall cost.

"This is an attempt to ultimately "underground' utilities throughout the city," said John Hubbard, Dunedin city attorney. "It will take a very long time to do but we think the aesthetics and the safety factors involved would warrant this change."

The idea was scheduled for a vote last week, but the mayor and city commissioners postponed it until their April 5 meeting, citing concerns about how residents and business owners will react.

"I'm concerned about the $20,000 improvement figure," said Mayor Tom Anderson. "I'm thinking it may be a bit too low. We have asked the Dunedin Chamber of Commerce and I am anxious to see what they think."

"So far we have not taken a position yet," said Jeffrey Zoellner, chairman of the Greater Dunedin Chamber of commerce. "Our board is aware of the ordinance request, but when we get input from our members, we'll come out with a position at that time."

At least one person says the move could hurt the city.

"Undergrounding may be a good idea but I'm concerned it's going to discourage renovations and have a negative impact on property values and the tax base," said Mike Mayo, director of government affairs for the Greater Clearwater Association of Realtors. "I would ask the commission to make sure they are fully cognizant of the impact they would have on property owners before they enacted this ordinance."

Dunedin began burying wires on city land in 1995 to eliminate poles and prevent falling power lines during heavy storms. That year, the city spent $15,000 to bury utilities along Main Street, between Milwaukee Avenue and Highland Street.

Two years later, the city spent about $25,000 to bury poles on the south side of Grant Street, from Douglas to Highland streets.

Since then, the city has spent an additional $125,000 burying poles, with the most recent effort being along Alt. U.S. 19, from Main to Monroe streets. That project should be finished in a couple of weeks.

"We've been trying to do key areas in conjunction with our redevelopment projects," said Bob Ironsmith, economic development director. "When you get the opportunity to do some enhancement during redevelopment projects, you have to do it because when the building is up, you've lost the opportunity."

"But it's not cheap," Ironsmith added.

Dunedin already has an ordinance that requires utilities to be buried underground in new developments.

In Pinellas County, North Redington Beach passed an ordinance in 1985 that requires residents and business owners to move utilities underground when construction or renovations reach $15,000. Harold Radcliffe, the town's mayor, called the law a success.

"When you're talking about $200 or $300 added to a $15,000 job, it's not that much," Radcliffe said. "We've had very little complaints because I think people like what we're trying to do and its long-range results."

Indian Rock Beach and Treasure Island both have similar ordinances.

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