Explanation
1. 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 made significant investments for the relocation and burial of previously existing overhead utilities lines in the Downtown 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 create the “Downtown Underground Utility District" in order to protect the City's investment and perpetually maintain the resulting aesthetic improvement of these roadways. The Downtown Utility District excludes the previously designated Arena and Pen West Underground Utility Districts and is bounded and described as follows:
Beginning at the intersection of Interstate 70 and the western bank of the Scioto River;
Thence northeasterly along the Scioto River to the first railroad Right-of-Way;
Thence northerly along said railroad Right-of-Way to the first intersecting railroad Right-of-Way;
Thence westerly along said railroad Right-of-Way to the intersection of State Route 315;
Thence northerly along State Route 315 to the intersection of Interstate 670;
Thence easterly along Interstate 670 to the intersection of Interstate 71;
Thence southerly along Interstate 71 to the intersection of Interstate 70;
Thence westerly along Interstate 70 to the place of beginning.
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 City rights-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 Co...
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