§ 3.04.00. Utilities.

3.04.01 Requirements for All Developments Utility easements shall not be less than 15 feet wide or 7.5 feet on each side of a lot. The following basic utilities are required for all developments subject to the criteria listed herein:

(A)

Water and Sewer. Every principal use and every lot within a newly platted subdivision shall have central potable water and wastewater hookup whenever required by the Comprehensive Plan and where the topography permits the connection to a public water or sewer line by running a connecting line no more than 200 feet from the lot to such line.

(1)

The developer shall pay for all water and sewer "taps" provided by the City at the City's regular "tapping" fees and shall pay for any additional costs incurred by the City to extend, enlarge, add lift stations, or otherwise modify the City's potable water or wastewater system(s) required to provide adequate service to the development.

(2)

Upon contractual agreement with the City, the developer shall install all potable water and wastewater facilities within the development, including labor and materials. Said contract shall require that all materials to be installed be approved by the City, and, further, that upon proper installation said facilities shall become the property of the City and thereafter the City will maintain said facilities.

(3)

Each single-family residence, each unit of a duplex, or other multi-unit structure, each commercial unit, each industrial unit, or other individual unit will be considered a single point of service for billing purposes; and the developer shall provide separate metering of water flow for each unit.

(4)

The developer shall pay whatever potable water and wastewater impact fees in force at the time of final approval of the developer's facilities together with all other financial obligations of the developer to the City before the City will accept said facilities and render service.

(5)

Private potable water wells shall be permitted within the City only upon a finding by the Development Director that City potable water service is not available. Any such wells so permitted shall be constructed pursuant to the requirements of the Florida Statutes and the Florida Administrative Code and City Regulations.

(6)

Any private potable water systems servicing the public shall be permitted and constructed in accordance with the requirements of Florida Statutes, Florida Administrative Code and City regulations.

(7)

Septic tanks or other onsite wastewater disposal systems shall be permitted within the City only upon a finding by the Development Director that City wastewater service is not available. Any such septic tanks or other wastewater disposal systems so permitted by the City shall be constructed pursuant to the requirements of Florida Statutes, Florida Administrative Code, and the City's regulations.

(8)

Any wastewater collection systems shall be constructed by the developer pursuant to the requirements of Florida Statutes, Florida Administrative Code and the City's regulations.

(B)

Stormwater and Drainage. Where a lot is traversed by a watercourse, drainageway, channel, or stream, there shall be provided a stormwater easement or drainage right-of-way conforming substantially with the lines of such watercourse and width adequate for its purpose, access, and maintenance. Parallel streets or parkways may be required in connection therein.

(C)

Fire Hydrants. All developments served by a central water system shall include a system of fire hydrants consistent with design standards adopted by the City of Wauchula.

(D)

Electricity, Communication, and Cable Television. Every principal use and every lot within a subdivision shall have available to it a source of electric power, telephone, and cable television adequate to accommodate the reasonable needs of such use and every lot within such subdivision, and shall be placed underground, except as follows:

(1)

Equipment appurtenant to underground facilities, such as surface mounted transformers, pedestal mounted terminal boxes, and meter cabinets; and

(2)

Poles supporting only street lights.

(3)

Upon written application of the owner or subdivider, the City Commission may, by resolution, waive or modify any provisions for underground requirements.

(E)

Illumination. All streets, driveways, sidewalks, bikeways, parking lots, and other common areas and facilities in developments shall provide illumination meeting design standards adopted by the City of Wauchula.

3.04.02 Design Standards

(A)

Compliance with Technical Construction Standards. All utilities required by this Chapter shall meet or exceed minimum design standards adopted by the City of Wauchula.

(B)

Placement of Utilities Underground

(1)

All electric, telephone, cable television, and other communication lines (exclusive of transformers or enclosures containing electrical equipment, including but not limited to switches, meters, or capacitors that may be pad mounted), and gas distribution lines shall be placed underground within easements or dedicated public rights-of-way, installed in accordance with the City's adopted design standards.

(2)

At the discretion of the Development Director, lots abutting existing easements or public rights-of-way where overhead electric, telephone, or cable television distribution supply lines and service connections have previously been installed, may be supplied with such services from the utility's overhead facilities, provided the service connection to the site or lot is placed underground.

(3)

Screening of any utility apparatus placed above ground shall be required.

3.04.03 Utility Easements When a developer installs or causes the installation of water, sewer, electrical power, telephone, or cable television facilities and intends that such facilities shall be owned, operated, or maintained by a public utility or any entity other than the developer, the developer shall transfer to such utility or entity the necessary ownership or easement rights to enable the utility or entity to operate and maintain such facilities.