TITLE
Recommendation to find that excavations are immediately required for the general health, safety, and welfare of the City and cannot be delayed; that alternatives to excavating, such as alternative routing, or construction methods, such as boring or excavation of the parkway, are not possible; approve a discretionary permit to excavate on Artesia Boulevard, between Atlantic Avenue and East Coolidge Street, a City street that has been reconstructed within the previous 60 months, in accordance with Section 14.08.060 of the Long Beach Municipal Code. (District 9)
DISCUSSION
The Long Beach Gas and Oil Department (LBGO) has filed for a discretionary permit to excavate on Artesia Boulevard, between Atlantic Avenue and East Coolidge Street, which was reconstructed on November 30, 2014, and is under an excavation moratorium for 60 months, until November 30, 2019 (map attached). LBGO is requesting the permit to excavate and replace a section of aging gas main pipeline as part of a larger project to replace similar aging gas main pipelines on Artesia Boulevard, between East Coolidge Street and Gardenia Avenue, that is currently prone to leak and fail in the event of an earthquake.
Long Beach Municipal Code (LBMC) Section 14.08.060, Public Works permit-issuance, requires that a permit for an excavation in a City street that has been reconstructed within the previous 60 months, and is not for an emergency repair or for a new utility service connection, be deemed discretionary and subject to the approval of the City Council. LBMC Section 14.08.060 further states that the City Council may authorize a discretionary permit if:
· The applicant can demonstrate that the permit for excavation is immediately required for the general health, safety, and welfare of the City and cannot be delayed until after the street’s moratorium has expired; and
· The applicant can demonstrate that alternatives to excavating, such as alternative routing, or construction methods such as bo...
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