Council continues Eversource petition for Tesla charger conduit at Woburn Mall to March 4 after zoning and building questions

WOBURN, Mass. — The Woburn City Council continued a public hearing on a petition by Eversource Energy to install conduit for Tesla vehicle charging at the Woburn Mall, after the council and public raised zoning and permitting questions and the city building inspector said the application had been denied pending additional documentation.

Donna McLaughlin, representing Eversource Energy, told the council the company sought to install approximately 5 feet of conduit from a utility pole to private property at 300 Mishawam Road to serve Tesla charging stations. McLaughlin and a company representative, Kelly Correa, said the work would use the existing pole and would restore the sidewalk to substantially the same condition after work. "We'll replace whatever we disturb," Correa said, and confirmed the work would preserve the sidewalk alignment to retain ADA space at the location.

Council members raised procedural and zoning concerns. Councilor Boer read a January memo from the city building inspector advising the applicant that the project, as filed, had been denied because it lacked zoning relief and an approved site plan for the proposed use. Boer asked that the petition be continued so the applicant could supply the missing documents.

McLaughlin and other Eversource representatives said Tesla is scheduled to appear at the March 4 council meeting and that continuing the petition to that date would allow both Tesla and city departments to supply the additional materials without requiring a new filing. Councilor Biola asked whether Eversource would agree to a condition keeping any new pole in the same location in perpetuity; the petitioner said no new pole was planned and the company had confirmed it would use the current pole.

With no members of the public rising to speak, Councilor DeMearns moved to continue the public hearing to March 4; the council approved the continuation by voice vote.

Why it matters: The installation would support electric-vehicle charging infrastructure at a major commercial site, but the building department flagged missing zoning and site-plan approvals. Councilors wanted the applicant and Tesla to provide the outstanding materials and for DPW and building staff to confirm conditions before a permit is granted.

What’s next: The council continued the petition to its March 4 meeting to allow Tesla and Eversource to provide required zoning/site-plan documentation and for DPW and the building official to resolve conditions.