Ordinance Committee recommends easement for state-funded on-street EV chargers in Holyoke

The Ordinance Committee recommended that the city grant an easement allowing HG&E to install conduit for an on-street electric vehicle charging station adjacent to parcel 0306014 (the Cubitt Building/HRA property) and to connect three state-funded charging locations across the city.

A Mass Clean Energy Center grant entirely funds the project, the presenter said, and the state selected subcontractors and the charging vendor (Flow Charging Stations). The city will own and operate the on-street stations; HG&E will handle the primary utility connection. Locations selected include a Southeast Street site near the South Holyoke homes, Pine Street adjacent to the YMCA, and Ray Street by the Cubitt Building.

Councilors pressed for specifics on charger type, local demand and enforcement. The presenter said the selected units are level 2 chargers aimed primarily at on‑street residential users and environmental-justice areas, not fast commercial charging; the state surveyed neighborhoods before selection. He said the stations will work with app- or card-based activation and that signage and enforcement language would be added to the city ordinance so spaces can be enforced as EV-only.

Councilors asked whether the installations would remove residential parking spaces and whether time limits will be used to keep bays available. One councilor recommended a one-for-one replacement if general spaces are removed. After questions, the committee moved to recommend granting the easement to HG&E; a roll-call vote recorded unanimous support.

Next steps: staff will finalize the easement language and coordinate signage and enforcement provisions with the ordinance committee; contractor and utility coordination will proceed under the state grant.