HomeMy WebLinkAbout5 Shielding Martis Valley Substation Agenda Item #
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To: Board of Directors
From: Peter Holzmeister
Date: August 14, 2003
Subject: Shielding for Martis Valley substation
Why this matter is before the board:
I am getting requests from residents near the Martis Valley substation that we shield it
from view in some manner. We have never done this in the past, and before I head into
new territory I would like the board's guidance.
History:
We constructed the Martis Valley substation in the early 1980's. Since that time,
residential development has occurred near it, and more people can see it from their
homes. Some people are asking that the District install some sort of landscaping to
soften the appearance of the substation.
It is a big substation. I do not know how to hide it. There are overhead power lines
going in and out of the substation. We could plant low maintenance shrubbery around
the outside of the fence, but the substation will still be visible. It would not be a good
idea to plant tall trees near the substation because some day one of them will be blown
into it causing damage and an outage. I am reluctant to install slats in the fence
because that will not hide the substation and we will then not be able to see into the
substation for security purposes. This could get expensive and whatever we do could be
considered inadequate by the neighbors. And yet perhaps, we should do something.
New information:
I have no good new information. I am looking for a discussion to generate ideas or an
approach.