A ‘cacophony of loose cables’
Falmouth residents launch petition for underground electric wires
“The aesthetic of these suspended cables is miserably inadequate. It does not compare with the remainder of the Meadows Development (Clover Lane and Shetland Road).”
Petition
Residents of a relatively new street in Falmouth are hoping to see overhead electrical wires moved underground for a more seamless look. However, the developer of The Meadows says that was never in the plans.
Andre Ducharme, who is coming up on two years of home ownership
on Thistle Street, launched a petition in January to see if fellow residents shared his concerns.
“Poles have been placed on the north side of the street. The south side homes are fed by three or four loose cables reaching across the street from the poles on the north side. The entire system appears very untidy, fragile and gives the impression of an unfinished job,” the petition reads.
In an interview, Ducharme said he went door to door, polling his neighbours, on Jan. 6 and 7, and of the 46 people he connected with, he received unanimous support.
HAVE OTHER CONCERNS
“Some of them were less angered by the … ugliness of those cables. Some of them were more worried about the fact that the cables could break at some point when the wind is strong and when ice has been deposited on the cables and they become three times, four times heavier,” Ducharme said, noting during storms, he often looks out the large picture window in his living room and watches as the wires swing vigorously in the wind. “Others were frustrated by the fact that they had been told (when looking
to purchase the property) that it would be underground but it did not happen that way,” he continued, noting “not everybody was told that it would be underground.”.
The petition states the residents have three major concerns. The first is the safety aspect, noting the cables appear vulnerable to ice storms and high winds. The second concern is over how they look.
“The aesthetic of these suspended cables is miserably inadequate. It does not compare with the remainder of the Meadows Development (Clover Lane and Shetland Road),” the petition states.
Thirdly, the residents indicate they felt they have been “served improperly,” as the lines were not placed underground.
MISUNDERSTANDING
Mitch Brison, the owner of Brison Developments that is responsible for The Meadows, said there was never any plans to have the electric wires on Thistle Street completely underground and those purchasing homes would have been aware of that.
“I never intended to do it from the start and it was definitely that way when they saw (the development),” Brison said in a phone interview.
“It’s not new. It’s not like they moved in and all of a sudden I came in and put wires overhead,” he said.
“The wires were always there; the poles were always there.”
He said running everything underground like he did with Clover Lane is expensive and a hybrid electrical model for the remaining streets was what was planned.
Further, he said the existing set up is not a safety hazard.
“It’s totally 100 per cent approved by Nova Scotia Power and installed by Nova Scotia Power,” said Brison. “The lots on the right-hand side when you go in are underground from the pole in. Those are R1 residential lots. The lots on the left side are the R2 (lots and) are serviced by overhead electrical. It’s called a hybrid system.”
Brison, a longtime developer in West Hants who is responsible for creating The Crossing – one of Atlantic Canada’s largest retirement communities, said if Thistle Street residents want to pay to have the wires run underground, he will help make that a reality.
“I haven’t seen the petition but when I do see the petition I will speak with the people and tell them, ‘you guys were never promised this. If you want to pay to have all the wires put underground now, show me the money and I’ll help you do it,’” Brison said.
‘A QUIET COMMUNITY’
The website for The Meadows describes it as “a quiet community, nestled in Falmouth, Nova Scotia – a hidden gem. With a backdrop of rolling hills and fields, The Meadows creates a serene home environment – perfect for unwinding and enjoying nature, yet just moments from a major highway.”
The Meadows consists of Clover Lane, which features no poles and underground electrical, and Thistle Street, which offers hybrid electrical. There is also a connector road called Short Drive that links to Shetland Road. There are still some lots for sale in the development. On the website, it notes The Meadows features municipal sewer and water services, underground electrical and is pet-friendly.
At a West Hants public information meeting on Jan. 19, 2021, concerning the development agreement for The Meadows, a question was asked if the wires would be above ground or underground.
The response provided was that “the municipality does not regulate cable and electrical services.”
WRONG JURISDICTION
West Hants Mayor Abraham Zebian said council received the petition as correspondence but said it’s “outside of the jurisdictional capabilities of the municipality.”
As Zebian resides within The Meadows on Clover Lane, he said he’s spoken to the residents and made them aware that the municipality can’t help them.
“I’ve looked at it myself. I’ve spoken to Nova Scotia Power representatives; I’ve spoken to the developer. There’s no concern with the lines. They are adequate. They meet all specs,” said Zebian. “They meet all safety standards. They’re the same as pretty much any line you’ll see anywhere else.”
He said the issue boils down to aesthetics and what people thought they were getting versus what they received.
“I think that’s where the frustration lies with some residents. They were expecting one thing and the final product was a little bit different,” Zebian said.
As for Ducharme, he said he doesn’t believe the overhead cables will be moved underground but he does hope for a compromise.
“I’m not a fool. I don’t think that I will achieve what was supposed to be done initially,” said Ducharme.
“But something could happen that would make a difference and that would be another row of these big poles (installed), but across the street. And now that the poles are across the street, the cable could more easily and less expensively go underground to the various houses, so that the cacophony of loose cables would be reduced greatly,” he said.
“There would still be poles to look at. Clover Lane doesn’t even have that to look at. But Shetland has it, at least on one side.”
Ducharme, who moved from Windsor Forks with his wife, Moira, said he has no complaints about the house they purchased. His concern lies solely with what they believed would occur with the wires.
“We’re comfortable here; we like it. It’s much smaller but it’s very pleasant. My complaints don’t address the house in any way, shape or form.”
“It’s not new. It’s not like they moved in and all of a sudden I came in and put wires overhead. The wires were always there; the poles were always there.”
Mitch Brison Owner of Brison Developements