Citizens group asks park district not to resist

Thursday, April 24, 2008

By Ann Wishart

The attorney representing a citizens' group opposed to the construction of a controversial transmission line through Thompson, Montville and Huntsburg townships wants Geauga Park District officials to consider allowing the power lines to be built along the Maple Highlands Bike Trail and through Chardon rather than having a new transmission line corridor cut through historic farms and century-old forests.

Attorney Thomas Lee, who represents the Citizens Advocating Responsible Energy (CARE), appeared before the park district's Board of Park Commissioners at a special meeting held last Saturday morning to discuss proposed transmission lines through Geauga County.

The meeting, held at the park district's Orchard Hills Park in Chester Township, was called after American Transmission Systems, Inc., and The Illuminating Company, subsidiaries of FirstEnergy Corp., moved to continue the public and adjudicatory hearings scheduled for May 12, 13 and 21 on the proposed power lines until sometime in June.

In a motion filed April 15 with the Ohio Power Siting Board, ASTI and CEI said additional time was needed to evaluate a proposed alternate route that involved utilizing an existing corridor through the City of Chardon. The suggested route, referred to as the Rachel Route, would utilize the entire length of the Maple Highlands Bike Trail from U.S. 322 to the City of Chardon. From there, it would follow an abandoned Baltimore & Ohio Railroad right-of-way to FirstEnergy's Pinegrove Substation on Fifth Avenue.

The power companies said they needed time to collect supplemental data on the environmental and social impacts, and engineering feasibility of routing the proposed transmission line along the suggested route. The companies also raised concerns whether the park district officials would consent to the use of the publicly-dedicated bike trail for the purpose of constructing an electric transmission line.

The siting board, which is responsible for reviewing and approving plans for the construction of new energy facilities in Ohio, made the request that FirstEnergy investigate the bike trail and abandoned railroad right-of-way on behalf of CARE, a group of more than 100 township residents opposed to the eastern Geauga County route.

"There is no urgent, pressing need to make a decision today," Lee told park board members. "One hundred years ago, B&O Railroad scarred this county with the tracks. Today, it might have healed somewhat, but the scar's still there."

More than 100 letters from Geauga County residents asking the park board not to act hastily on the matter were hand-delivered during Saturday's meeting, and Lee asked the three-member park board to consider options that were presented to the OPSB in March.

"FirstEnergy wants to investigate. We don't know what their investigation will yield," Lee said. "This power line's going to be built. The question is when and where."

He proposed the power line corridor be located along 5.9 miles of the bike trail.

"I'm sure the park board doesn't want the power lines on its property," Lee said. "But, it is a 100-year-old corridor that already exists. We want the opportunity to be explored. We ask you to give (the proposal) your full and fair consideration."

Lee suggested that if park officials resist use of the bike trail, FirstEnergy will argue it is not a viable route and refocus its efforts on cutting a new corridor through rural farmland along Route 528.

He also pointed out the park district's stated mission is to preserve, conserve and protect the natural features of the county.

"This applies to all features of the county, not just those owned by the park board," Lee said.

The length of the corridor along the Rachel Route, which the OPSB approved for the purpose about 10 years ago, would be about half the length of the alternative cross-country route along Route 528. The agreement, called the Rachel Certificate of Environmental Compatibility and Public Need, would require FirstEnergy to build an access road along the corridor that could be used as a bridle path.

Substantial savings due to the shorter route -- 7.1 miles -- could allow part of the new line to be put underground, Lee said. He also suggested money FirstEnergy would pay to the district for easements along the trail could go toward other park projects.

Park Commissioners John Leech and Mark Rzeszotarski made clear they are opposed to the transmission lines crossing park land. Besides objections to the route based on the appearance of 80-foot-high wooden poles, they said the existing corridor is too narrow and utility-company vehicles would not be able to cross the trail's covered bridges.

"Some parcels have deed restrictions," Leech added.

The restrictions require the board to do everything in its power to resist overhead power lines crossing those parcels, said Tom Curtin, park district executive director.

Curtin said FirstEnergy officials told him they are not interested in running power lines along the Maple Highlands Bike Trail. Due diligence, however, requires the energy company to compare and rate possible alternative routes.

A three-mile trail walk has been tentatively set for April 30. It will include legal counsel, OPSB officials and environmentalists.

"They want to walk the route and see it on the ground," Curtin said.

Because the park board's next meeting is not scheduled until May 13, board members agreed to hold off making any decisions until after the walk.

Chardon City Manager David Lelko also was in attendance at Saturday's meeting. He said he knew nothing about the proposal until he was shown OPSB documents filed with the Public Utilities Commission of Ohio. Lelko said either the OPSB or FirstEnergy should have notified the city of the Rachel Route proposal.

Copies of documents outlining the suggested route change will be passed on to city council members and are likely to be discussed at a May 8 council meeting, he added.

Councilwoman Leslie Bednar was especially critical of the idea because of council's efforts to make Chardon a more "walkable and bikable" community.

"High power lines transecting our city and possibly following the Maple Highlands Trail is a direct contradiction to what we are trying to do," Bednar said. "We want Chardon to be a beautiful place to live. High tension lines are not beautiful and this would corrupt several areas of our city, and impact many property owners negatively."