Methuen City Council members heard a petition July 7 from National Grid to place a new utility pole on Pleasant Valley Street and run underground conduit into the Target parking lot to serve a proposed electric vehicle charging station.

Dave Boucher, senior designer for National Grid, told the council the petition seeks an overhead pole and underground conduit “to go into the parking lot of private property to service a new EV station, to the parking lot of Target.” He said the pole would be placed near the right entrance to the Target lot on Pleasant Valley Road and that the conduit would run from that pole into private property if the city approves the petition.

Council members briefly discussed the location during the public hearing. One speaker noted the petition would move the pole about 75 feet from its current location; Boucher and councilors acknowledged some audio issues during the remote presentation. No members of the public spoke in favor of or against the petition during the hearing.

Councilor Ferretra moved to close the public hearing; Councilor Campagnone seconded. The motion to close the hearing is recorded in the meeting transcript, but the transcript does not include a roll-call vote or a recorded tally on that motion. Earlier in the meeting, the council unanimously approved the agenda by voice vote.

The council indicated it will consider the petition later in the meeting. The petition, as described in the hearing, would allow National Grid and Verizon to place one new pole and install underground conduits to reach a transformer and the proposed EV charging equipment on private property. The council did not take a final vote on the pole placement or conduit installation during the portion of the transcript provided.