Lynn power line project awaits final state permit

LYNN – The $6.5 million project designed to move electrical transmission lines away from the city’s harborfront to make way for development is slated to get under way in less than 45 days, presuming National Grid can obtain a final state permit.Andrew Schneller, project manager for National Grid, said the outstanding permit from the state Department of Conservation and Recreation is necessary before wires can be crossed over the Lynnway. “We submitted the permit application to DCR in July,” he said, explaining the relocation project will require the closing down of motor vehicle traffic on the Lynnway on at least four occasions.According to Schneller, the utility company needs about 15 minutes to string the wires across the busy, six-lane roadway. The work would be done on weekends when traffic is lighter and during cool weather when electrical air-conditioning demands are lower. September is the target month.”We’re on the very cusp of moving these lines,” said James Cowdell, executive director of the Lynn Economic Development and Industrial Corp., a lead agency for the project.All construction materials have been purchased and stored, awaiting the go-ahead, said Schneller, adding that companies have submitted bids to lay foundations for the 14 new electrical towers on the southbound side of the Lynnway and for other supports. “We requested a March 22 start date and hope to have the foundations in by June 1.”Responding to questions from city councilors, Cowdell said burying the electrical lines would cost $15 million to $30 million, compared to $6.5 million. “We don’t have that kind of money,” he said, emphasizing that any delay at this critical juncture could set back the relocation project another two decades. “If you stop this project now, those towers will still be there in 20 years.”Cowdell said a waterfront master plan has been adopted by the City Council, with the power line relocation a key component. The plan was designed to link the harborfront to the downtown business district, lower Washington Street and Sagamore Hill.Ward 1 Councilor Wayne Lozzi has proposed that a one-time betterment charge be imposed on property owners along the Lynnway who are benefiting from the relocation project at taxpayer expense.Properties no longer burdened or constrained by overhead power lines will be reassessed by the city and new values determined. Doing so will result in higher property taxes for those owners. The betterment charge would be in addition to the reassessment.The state Legislature must pass a homerule petition before a betterment charge can be imposed. Lozzi proposed it last April, stipulating that the city would levy and collect the betterment charge within six months of the relocation project’s completion.”This applies only to the land that is now under the wires,” he said. “Once the wires are removed, those lands see an overnight increase in value. This is a short-term way to recoup some of the money the city had to invest.”Lynn taxpayers voted to take out a $4 million bond to make the waterfront redevelopment project a reality. The other $2.5 million was derived from state grants.Lozzi said Chelmsford imposed a betterment charge following improvements to its sewer lines. He requested Cowdell as representative of the EDIC write a letter in support of the betterment charge.