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Minor Exception No. 2024-04 (1014 S. Cypress Avenue, Units 100 and 101) January 22, 2025 Page 4 4 7 8 7 traverse any adjacent properties or public rights-of-way, necessitating easements or encroachment permits, as the power pole is located on a shared property line and accessible by the property owner. Lastly, the property owner has stated that denial of the minor exception would lead to delays to the project construction timeline, trenching challenges due to the location of existing utility lines, and additional project costs due to required four-panel upgrades. However, none of these identified concerns meets the definition of special circumstances due to the property’s physical characteristics, or create physical hardship that warrant a recommendation of approval. Therefore, the granting of the minor exception would instead constitute a grant of special privilege, contrary to the intention of the minor exception application and contrary to the SAMC. The granting of the minor exception would also adversely affect the City’s General Plan in that a waiver from undergrounding requirements would be in direct conflict, and create inconsistency, with the Urban Design Element, Goal UD-1 (Physical Character), which requires improvement of the physical character and livability of the City to promote a sense of place, positive community image, and quality environment. A second electrical drop of the property would be contributing to “visual clutter” because an overhead connection already exists for the primary duplex residence, contrary to Policies UD-1.1 (Design Quality) and UD-1.7 (Visual Clutter). Moreover, the property is located within the Pacific Park neighborhood, a neighborhood that has been previously identified as a historically sensitive area (HSA) by the City Council. Therefore, the applicant’s request for the minor exception would be in conflict with the Historic Preservation Element Goal HP-1 (Historic Areas and Resources), requiring preservation and enhancement of the City’s historic areas and resources to maintain a unique sense of place. The addition of a second electrical drop would add to the proliferation of public utility lines, damaging the integrity of the historically sensitive area and potentially affecting future eligibility for the creation of historic districts, contrary to Policy HP-1.3 (Historic Districts and Design Standards). This policy requires the City to explore opportunities to preserve neighborhoods with largely intact historic buildings and character through the creation of historic districts. Public Notification and Community Outreach Project notifications were posted, published, and mailed in accordance with City and State regulations. Copies of the public notice, including a 1,000-foot notification radius map, and the site posting are provided in Exhibit 6. At the time this report was printed, no areas of concern were raised, nor had any correspondence, either written or electronic, been received from any members of the public. The Pacific Park Neighborhood Association representatives were contacted to identify any areas of concern due to the proposed project. At the time this report was printed, no issues of concern were raised.