The Board of Standards and Appeals may permit electric or gas utility substations listed under Use Group IV(B) pursuant to either paragraph (a) or (b) of this Section, as applicable.

1. In all Residence Districts, the Board may permit electric or gas utility substations, limited in each case to a site of between 4,500 square feet and not more than 10,000 square feet, provided that the Board finds that:
   1. such use will serve the residential area within which it is proposed to be located; and
   2. there are serious difficulties in locating it in a district wherein it is permitted as of right and from which it could serve the residential area, which make it necessary to locate such use within a Residence District.

The Board may prescribe appropriate conditions or safeguards to minimize adverse effects on the character of the surrounding area, including requirements that such substations shall be landscaped and surrounded with fences, barriers, or other safety devices; and that electric utility substations shall meet the performance standards for an M1 District.

1. In all Residence and Commercial Districts, and in M1 Districts in the Special Downtown Jamaica District, the Board may permit electric utility substations (including transformers, switches, or auxiliary apparatus), limited in each case to a site of between 10,000 square feet and not more than 40,000 square feet, provided that the Board finds that:
   1. such use will serve either the residential community within which it is proposed to be located or the residential community immediately adjacent, and that there are serious difficulties in locating such use in a nearby district where it is permitted as-of-right;
   2. the site for such use is so located in Residence Districts as to minimize the adverse effects on the integrity of existing and future development, or is so located in Commercial Districts as to minimize the interruption of the continuity of retail frontage;
   3. the architectural and landscaping treatment of such use will blend harmoniously with the rest of the area; and
   4. such use will conform to the performance standards applicable to M1 Districts.

The Board may prescribe appropriate conditions and safeguards to minimize adverse effects on the character of the surrounding area, including requirements for soundproofing, for the construction of fences, barriers, or other safety devices, for screening of apparatus, or for landscaping.