Lynn board to hold power lines meeting

LYNN – The Power Lines subcommittee will meet Tuesday to look at proposed locations to relocate the electrical wires near the General Edwards Bridge.The group was formed in January to specifically address the longstanding issue and to ensure that the waterfront master plan becomes a reality.City Council president Timothy Phelan said National Grid and several engineers would also attend the 6:30 p.m. meeting in room 402 at City Hall.”We want to show people that the plan is moving along and that the city is in active communication with General Electric for the potential use of their land,” he said. “Everything is very positive and we’re moving forward.”Phelan said the logistics of where the power lines could be placed would also be discussed at the meeting.”This is really more of a bring-everyone-together-type meeting to have everyone up to speed as to where we are,” he said. “We’re also beginning to put legal documents together.”A plan was recently prepared for National Grid based upon a ground survey conducted by BSC Group Inc. in 2007 that shows existing conditions and proposed areas where the power lines could be redirected.In 2007, Lynn received $2.5 million in state funds directed at helping to pay to move the electrical wires from an area near the General Edwards Bridge where they currently impede waterfront development to the other side of the Lynnway.Previously, Mayor Edward J. Clancy Jr. said the funds could be used to relocate the power lines from where they stand on the South Harbor site to the other side of the Lynnway behind businesses and a right of way road behind General Electric.By moving the power lines, the city would be able to act on the City Council-approved Waterfront Master Plan, which would develop more than 250 acres of prime real estate and spur a multitude of activity in the city.Amendments to the zoning ordinance that set the height restrictions for the master plan were approved in March.The amendment details the minimum and maximum for the four designated waterfront districts, off street parking, and several other guidelines for the overall plan.Changes have been discussed in regard to the lot size of the Washington Street Gateway and Lower Sagamore Hill area.Originally proposed to be 10,000 square feet, the zoning amendment labeled the area 40,000 square feet instead.The issue will be addressed at the next City Council meeting on April 29.