TRAVERSE CITY -- An electrical transmission upgrade project faces obstacles, but Traverse City Light & Power board members aren't willing to change their plans just yet.
The board's decision in October to run the new line down M-72 and along Bay Street toward Traverse City could be complicated by zoning concerns in neighboring Elmwood Township.
"It would probably delay the project two years by the time we go through the special-use permit and all the zoning and public hearings," said Ed Rice, Light & Power executive director.
Rice said he'd rather avoid postponement and construct the line on its existing route down Wayne Street in Traverse City's Slabtown neighborhood, but board members on Tuesday showed little interest in revisiting the highly contentious Wayne Street route.
"We have heard extensively from the public they don't want it coming through our parks and our neighborhoods," said Jim Carruthers, a city commissioner who this week joined the Light & Power board.
New poles would be about 85 to 90 feet tall, twice the height of current poles on M-72. The utility needs approval from Elmwood Township to build in that corridor, since it's part of the township.
A recent zoning ordinance amendment requires the Elmwood Township planning commission hold a public hearing before granting permission. That decision can be appealed in court, and Rice fears that even with township approval, possible litigation from residents could postpone the project.
Rice hoped to begin construction next spring to avoid further risk of power outages with the aging line.
The new transmission line will connect to Wolverine Power Cooperative's proposed substation at the corner of M-72 and Bugai Road in Elmwood Township.
Area residents have strongly opposed the Wolverine substation, and some have challenged the project in court.
"From what Wolverine has been through with getting the substation sited out there, it's kind of up in the air to exactly how they'd react," Rice said of Light & Power's plans for a transmission line down M-72. "I'd guess they'd be pretty restrictive."
For before and after conceptual renderings of the power line upgrades, don't miss our photo gallery.
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