LEMON GROVE TO ADD EV CHARGING STATIONS AT CITY PARK

SDG&E will put four spots in at Treganza Heritage Park

San Diego Gas & Electric Co. will be placing two new electric vehicle charging stations at Treganza Heritage Park, formerly known as Civic Center Park, in Lemon Grove.

The Lemon Grove City

Council voted 4-1 on Tuesday to dedicate four parking spots for electric car charging needs at no cost to the city. City Councilman Jerry Jones voted against the charging spots, saying the park is the wrong spot for them.

Proposed plans for the EV charging infrastructure show the EV chargers on the south side of the Treganza Heritage Park parking lot, east of the entrance to the Lemon Grove Community Garden. The chargers will service four parking stalls — one ADA accessible and three standard stalls. The narrow vertical structures are about 5 feet tall and will be serviced by underground infrastructure that is already there.

Lemon Grove Development Services Department Director Noah Alvey said the chargers could be in place as soon as this summer.

The stations are part of an effort by SDG&E called “Power Your Drive,” which aims to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and air pollution throughout the county.

SDG&E’s program is bringing 66 EV chargers to 10 city and county parks. The utility also is putting EV chargers at 50 other sites, such as schools, state parks and beaches.

While Treganza Heritage Park was subsequently identified as a “preferred location” because of its proximity to existing SDG&E underground infrastructure and downtown amenities,

Jones was joined in his opposition by Lemon Grove Historical Society member Helen Ofield, both of whom urged the city to look elsewhere for the stations.

Ofield said the city is ignoring the cultural and civic history of the park and noted that no study has been done on the impacts the chargers will have on the site.

“The park is a beautiful addition to midtown and serves as a framework for two of this county’s most notable historic sites, both saved, maintained and operated by LGHS at no cost to the city,” she wrote in an email. “The park is obviously the wrong place for an industrial installation that will invite more vandalism and litter... and kill off parking spaces in a small lot. Every space is needed when social rentals and events are in full swing in the park.”