Residents press commission to press Eversource on historic streetlight replacements

At a public-comment period late in the meeting, a representative of the Forest Park Civic Association’s historic committee urged the commission to seek a seat at the table with Eversource and the public works department as the utility plans infrastructure upgrades that may replace historic streetlights.

The commenter said Eversource has proposed replacing older fixture types with modern “cobra” streetlights and that the civic group is concerned both about the visual impact in historic districts and potential safety effects of non-historic fixtures. The commenter said, “It seems as though Eversource would really like to take down all of the historical light and put in, what they call cobra lighting.”

Commissioners and staff discussed the administrative pathway for addressing utility work in historic districts. Staff said they would attempt to arrange a meeting with Eversource and the Department of Public Works and consult the city attorney about whether the commission can adopt a guideline package or an administrative protocol to evaluate multiple properties at once, rather than require Eversource to file dozens of separate certificates. Commissioners expressed support for pursuing design guidelines or a negotiated set of standards to limit unnecessary visual harm to historic streetscapes.

A number of commissioners and members of the public reported existing examples where historic-style fixtures have been installed or maintained elsewhere in the city and asked staff to pursue an interagency meeting to explore feasible options for LED conversions that preserve historic character. Staff said they would contact Attorney Shusak and the utility to request a joint meeting and report back to the commission.