Council closes hearing on Comcast request for underground conduit to Woodland Drive; residents told DigSafe and inspections apply

The City Council heard a Comcast petition March 20 to install underground conduit and related cable service to 130–140 Woodland Drive and closed the public hearing after company representatives and one councilor discussed construction and sidewalk protections.

The lede: Comcast said the work would provide residential service to two requested locations and would be constructed using standard utility procedures, including locating with DigSafe and following town permitting; councilors confirmed tree‑protection and state inspection requirements that apply to public‑way trenching.

Michael Miller, representing the petitioner, told the council Comcast had two requests for residential service tied to the petition: one for a Habitat for Humanity lot on Brooklyn Drive and the conduit to service 131–140 Woodland Drive, and a second request for service at 589 Park Hill Road. Miller described construction plans that include boring under a driveway and a “bullet that shoots through” under sidewalks to push cable without disturbing sidewalk slabs. He said the utility is required to do 30‑day and one‑year inspections on trenching carried out in a public way.

Councilor Mary Anne LaBarge, who said she conducted two site visits, asked specifically about sidewalk and curb restoration and tree protection. Miller and Comcast staff said they would coordinate DigSafe markings, that they expected to avoid significant sidewalk disruption by boring, and that any required tree protection would be restored if disturbed. A company representative said they would follow the town’s guidelines for planting and protect existing tree guards or reinstall them if work required their removal.

The council closed the hearing; the transcript records the public‑hearing opening and the roll‑call vote to close, but no final grant or denial of the petition appears in the record for March 20.

Clarifying details provided during the hearing: Comcast said all work will comply with DigSafe requirements and town permits and that state‑mandated 30‑day and one‑year inspections for public‑way trenching will be logged with the state. The company said the work will include standard cable attachments and boring under driveways where needed to reach transformer/equipment locations.

Next steps: Comcast will proceed with DigSafe and permitting processes required by the town; if the council or staff require additional documentation or a formal vote on the petition, that would be reflected in a future council action.