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Select Board approves most National Grid L1 utility petitions; one Still Dock petition continued for abutter follow-up
Summary
The Select Board held public hearings on five related National Grid utility petitions for the L1 project downtown; the board approved most sections after staff conditions and departmental comments, but continued the petition affecting Still Dock/20 Straight Wharf to Feb. 10 to allow National Grid to meet with property representatives.
The Select Board of Nantucket County held public hearings and acted on five utility petitions filed by Nantucket Electric Company/National Grid as part of its L1 project in the downtown area. The petitions covered conduit and cable work at multiple downtown locations; board members closed public hearings and approved four items with staff conditions and one petition was continued so an abutter could receive more information.
The board opened and closed hearings on petitions affecting Broad Street, Easy Street, North Union/India Street, and India Street/Coleman Court (Independence Lane). Planning and public-works staff told the board the work is a narrowed version of the original L1 plans and that the project team aims to start in March and finish before summer. Drew Patnaud, the town’s director of public works, and representatives from National Grid participated in the discussion.
On Broad Street (plan referenced in packet as part of National Grid’s L1 package), the board approved installation of a new switchgear module near 16 Broad Street and directed staff to follow departmental comments; the motion included a request to consider routing conduit through sidewalks where feasible to minimize damage to paved roadway. John Castro, identified as an engineer for National Grid, said staff could “take a look at that” regarding using sidewalk trenches where possible.
On a small section of Easy Street (~41 feet of conduit) the board received no public comment and voted to approve the petition. National Grid described the Easy Street work as a short section of conduit adjacent to existing manholes.
The petition connecting a transformer pad at 3 Old North Wharf to 20 Straight Wharf raised questions from an abutter. John Castro described the work as replacing a direct‑buried cable with conduit and a concrete duct bank: “We're just looking to install some conduit and put that cable in in the concrete in case duct bank and not have it direct buried in in the earth.” An abutter representative, Arfy Thompson, asked whether Still Dock would remain accessible for deliveries during the work and whether the transformer sits on private property; staff and National Grid agreed to coordinate and offered to meet on-site. Because of outstanding questions about access and exact transformer placement, the board voted to continue that petition to the Feb. 10 Licensing & Petitions meeting to allow National Grid, the contractor and the property owner to confer.
A petition for North Union/India Street would use a duct bank and an easement across a church property to install an above‑ground switching module; staff reported coordination with the contractor currently working at 1 Cambridge Street and recommended approval. A petition for India Street and Coleman Court (Independence Lane) to connect to an existing transformer pad at 19 Center Street was also approved, with staff conditions.
Votes at a glance: the four petitions for Broad Street, Easy Street, North Union/India Street, and India Street/Coleman Court were approved by roll call with unanimous “aye” votes by board members present; the petition affecting Still Dock and 20 Straight Wharf was continued to Feb. 10 to allow follow‑up with the property representative.
Quotations: National Grid engineer John Castro summarized the work at one site: “We're just looking to install some conduit and put that cable in in the concrete in case duct bank and not have it direct buried in in the earth.” Arfy Thompson, speaking for the owner of 20 Straight Wharf, asked: “I was wondering if still dock will still be accessible during this or if it will be completely unaccessible during this work.”
Ending: Staff will connect National Grid representatives and the property owner for an on-site meeting; the board will revisit the Still Dock petition at its Feb. 10 Licensing & Petitions meeting. Other petitions were approved subject to departmental comments and standard restoration and conditions.
