REQUEST FOR DECISION
DATE: April 19, 2017 Report No. EPW-17-010
TO: Laurie Hurst, Chief Administrative Officer
FROM: Jeff Miller, Director of Engineering and Public Works
SUBJECT:
Title
Statutory Right of Way for BC Hydro Conduit on Esquimalt Town Square Site
End
RECOMMENDATION:
Recommendation
That Council approve the Township of Esquimalt entering into a statutory right of way agreement with BC Hydro/Telus for the existing electrical service line to the Municipal Hall.
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RELEVANT POLICY:
Not applicable
STRATEGIC RELEVANCE:
Resilient and Diverse Economy - Implementation of remediation plan
BACKGROUND:
The Municipal Hall has an electrical service that provides power to the building. This high voltage service line leaves the BC Hydro vault located in the south sidewalk along Esquimalt Road (by bus stop) and runs along a corridor between the Garry Oaks and the west side of the building. It is directed into a transformer where it is stepped down and then is rerouted into the Hall at the entrance to the first floor. The service then terminates in the electrical room.
When the Hall and the service were constructed, a statutory right of way along the service corridor was not created. With the relocation of the transformer due to the development of the Esquimalt Town Square, BC Hydro is requesting that a Statutory Right of Way be put into place to ensure that they will have the ability to service the line. The high voltage service line is located on land that will form part of the land transfer package with the Developer.
ISSUES:
1. Rationale for Selected Option
The vault, high voltage service line and transformer are pieces of infrastructure that belong to BC Hydro. As such, they will need the ability to provide maintenance to them in the future. The Statutory Right of Way will provide BC Hydro with a legal agreement to do such work. As this property is proposed to be transferred to another owner and continue to provide service to only the Municipal Hall, the Township will need to ensure that BC Hydro has access to this infrastructure. It is staff’s recommendation that the Township enter into a Statutory Right of Way agreement with BC Hydro/Telus for this service line.
2. Organizational Implications
The creation of the Statutory Right of Way does not impose any organizational implications to the Township. This activity will form part of the project management of the Relocation of Services Project currently underway.
3. Financial Implications
The cost of registering the Statutory Right of Way will be a cost the Township has to undertake. This cost will form part of the project costs and can be accommodated into the construction budget. The cost will be in the range of $5,000 to $7,000.
4. Sustainability & Environmental Implications
There is no sustainability or environmental implications to the Statutory Right of Way.
5. Communication & Engagement
The Township will be in communication with BC Hydro and the Developer to discuss and confirm the Statutory Right of Way as it is registered against the property.
ALTERNATIVES:
1. That Council approve the Township of Esquimalt entering into a statutory right of way agreement with BC Hydro/Telus for the existing electrical service line to the Municipal Hall.
2. That Council does not approve the Township of Esquimalt entering into a statutory right of way agreement with BC Hydro/Telus for the existing electrical service line to the Municipal Hall.