By MARK SARDELLA
WAKEFIELD — If the Zoning Board of Appeals approves the necessary permitting, an electric vehicle charging station capable of handling 16 EVs at eight separate chargers will be coming to Salem Street in Montrose.
At last week’s ZBA meeting, attorney Brian McGrail represented iONNA, a high-power charging network with charging facilities that resemble self-service gas stations.
iONNA was formed in July 2023 as a joint venture between automakers BMW, Mercedes-Benz, General Motors, Stellantis, Hyundai, Honda, Kia and Toyota. The automakers have set a goal of electrifying 30,000 new charge points in North America by 2030 and have chosen 525 Salem Street in Wakefield as one of those locations.
The proposed location is a vacant property on Salem Street between two office buildings just east of Pleasure Island Road. Route 128 is directly behind the property.
McGrail reminded the ZBA that about four years ago the property was permitted for a 24-unit multifamily residential project. However, the owner of the property abandoned that project for economic reasons.
McGrail explained that he filed his client’s application as a “gas station,” because Building Inspector Benjamin DeChristoforo and Town Counsel Thomas Mullen advised that that is where it best fit under Wakefield’s Zoning Bylaws. However, no gas will be sold at the iONNA station.
If approved, the iONNA station will include a building with a lounge, restrooms, and refreshments for drivers to use while their vehicles recharge. Eight chargers, each capable of charging two vehicles, will be arrayed under canopies similar to most self-service gas station designs. David Lane, a design manager for iONNA, was also present at last week’s hearing.
McGrail and Lane displayed preliminary plans and renderings showing the proposed layout of the site, including the location of the building. Four electrical transformers located on the site would be screened by plantings.
The curb cut for the facility will be located as far as possible away from the intersection of Salem Street and Pleasure Island Road, McGrail said. He plans to meet with the Fire Department and the DPW to go over any questions or concerns that they have.
“It’s unique, it’s new, but it’s not too complicated,” McGrail said of his client’s proposal.
Board members agreed with that assessment but had some suggestions of their own.
Chip Tarbell said that he would prefer to see the transformers located further back on the site, away from Salem Street. He also wanted to see more details on the landscaping and suggested hiring a landscape architect to design a plan.
Board members Joe Pride and Tom Lucey had concerns about lighting on the site, insisting on minimal light spillage onto neighboring properties.
Linda Le, an engineer for the project, agreed to look at the lighting plan and said that she would look into whether the transformers could be relocated.
ZBA member David Hatfield asked for a storm water management plan and more details on signage. He also suggested asking that the Traffic Advisory Committee weigh in on the project.
The ZBA continued the hearing to its Nov. 12 meeting.