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Chelsea council schedules June public hearing on eminent-domain takings for flood barrier
Summary
The council accepted a city-manager communication and referred an order to schedule an eminent-domain public hearing on June 8 for permanent and temporary easements needed to build an island and river flood barrier; an independent appraisal values the easements at $287,643.
The Chelsea City Council voted May 4 to accept and file a communication from the city manager and to refer an order to public hearing on an eminent-domain taking needed for an island and river flood barrier project.
The manager’s communication said the project—meant to protect residents and critical infrastructure from severe coastal flooding—lost a $50,000,000 grant last year but remains a priority and is being advanced with secured state funding for design, engineering, and land acquisition. The city seeks a permanent easement of 3,728 square feet and two temporary construction easements totaling 14,088 square feet on property described in the communication; an independent appraisal dated March 21 places the fair-market value of the easements at $287,643 (permanent easement $130,873; temporary easements $145,954 and $10,816). The communication said the takings are to be financed with state municipal-vulnerability-preparedness grant funds and city matching funds already appropriated in the capital improvement program.
Council President and the clerk moved to schedule a public hearing; the clerk set that hearing for the council’s first June meeting (June 8). Councilor Zanigake said she and U.S. Sen. Ed Markey had visited the project area after the grant cancellation and emphasized the urgency: “it could be catastrophic if there’s a major flood event in terms of the food chain for 9,000,000 people,” she said, advocating for moving forward while property owners and the city work collaboratively.
The communication also included a proposed implementation schedule: initial review on April 27, first reading on May 4, and a public hearing and second reading on May 18 (with June 18 listed as an alternative date). The council’s procedural vote to refer the order to public hearing does not authorize immediate acquisition; it schedules required public process so the property takings can proceed only after the hearing and any subsequent formal votes.
The council did not take final acquisition votes on May 4; the public hearing on June 8 will be the next formal opportunity for residents and property owners to comment and for the council to consider taking action.
