Explanation
Background: The City has determined that the design and implementation of public improvements directly affect the public health, safety and welfare of citizens who are utilizing the streets, roadways and other public properties and impact the aesthetic character of the City. The City of Columbus has also made a significant investment for the relocation and burial of previously existing overhead utilities lines in the Arena District as a part of various roadway improvement projects completed within the area. As a result, the Public Service Department is recommending that City Council establish the "Arena Underground Utility District" in order to protect the City's investment and perpetually maintain the resulting aesthetic improvement of these roadways. The District is bounded and described as follows:
Bounded on the north by CSX Railroad, bounded on the east by Front Street, bounded on the south by the CSX railroad and Spring Street and bounded on the west by Neil Avenue.
The creation of this utility district will prohibit the future installation of overhead utility lines, wires, cables, transformers, or other appurtenances, including transverse crossings of the right-of-way, and other above ground utility features. This prohibition shall be extended to all parties intending to install utilities within this district, including those owned and operated by the City of Columbus, with the exception of traffic signals, streetlight poles, and luminaries. However, the short term temporary installation of overhead and/or above ground utility features will be allowed to provide emergency service, but shall be removed at the earliest moment possible.
Those limited number of existing overhead or above ground utilities that remain within this district shall be directed to place their facilities underground or be relocated overhead outside of the designated district at the utility owners expense during construction of various roadway improvement pr...
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