Board continues Verizon pole-relocation request at 314 Hussey Street after public-safety and historic-district concerns

The Licensing Petitions meeting continued Verizon’s petition to relocate a utility pole at 314 Hussey Street to Sept. 15 after the fire department, planning staff and board members flagged potential public-safety and historic-character impacts.

Verizon representative Mike Wallanovich said the homeowner at number 14 requested the pole be moved 10 feet to widen a driveway. Planning staff noted the property is an historic home and warned that relocating the pole “could negatively impact the historic character of the structure,” and the fire department said moving the pole could impede passage of fire apparatus or ambulances if on-street parking remains across from the location.

Mike told the board he would investigate alternatives, including burying the line for the length of the sidewalk; he estimated the distance between poles in that area as about 120 feet and said a full underground conversion had not been presented by the property owner or Verizon but could be researched. Mike cautioned that undergrounding can be substantially more expensive and could require restoration of existing brick and paver sidewalks.

Board members expressed difficulty approving the relocation without the homeowner present and without HDC (Historic District Commission) review and said they were inclined to deny absent stronger justification. Brooke said she was “inclined to deny it” but proposed continuing the public hearing to allow the homeowner time to submit alternatives or secure HDC review; Tom and Malcolm agreed and the board voted to continue the item to Sept. 15.

The record includes requests the applicant explore smaller shifts, partial moves, or undergrounding and that staff confirm whether a proposed accessible parking space across the street could be affected by any new yellow-line curb markings.