Casa Grande studies right-of-way ordinance to tighten permitting, fees and restoration standards

City of Casa Grande Public Works presenter Mac Harmon told the mayor and council on the study-session floor that staff is drafting a right-of-way ordinance to treat the public right of way “as an asset for the city” and to set clearer, enforceable rules for users. “The purpose of this presentation today is, kind of, to go over our right of way management and, kind of, how we treat the right of way as an asset for the city,” Harmon said. The ordinance under development would require a right-of-way occupancy permit for all work within the public right of way, create an open occupancy permit for franchise utilities, add separate permits for small temporary uses and special events, and set restoration, bonding and penalty provisions. The draft also proposes a pavement-cut fee schedule, standardized traffic-control and notification requirements, a holiday blackout schedule, and a requirement that as-built plans be submitted and recorded in the city’s GIS. Why it matters: Harmon said increasing utility and construction activity has raised the number of defective restorations, unpermitted work and safety issues the city must correct. He presented the pavement condition index concept (a 0–100 scale used to measure surface condition), and engineering consultant recommendations that informed proposed fee categories and a small probability factor…