Office of Borough President James P. Molinaro
Staten Island, New York
B.P. Molinaro to Growth Management Task Force: “New developments should have underground utility wires”
Utility Wires Safer Underground During Storms, More Aesthetically Pleasing
STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. – Borough President James P. Molinaro today made a formal request to the Staten Island Growth Management Task Force to mandate that utility wires be installed underground for all future developments.
In a letter to Task Force members City Planning Director Amanda Burden and Buildings Commissioner Patricia Lancaster, Molinaro wrote, “The recent blackouts underscore the need to protect Staten Island’s utility wires, which would be safer underground during storms, and would pose less obstruction to existing trees. Furthermore, overhead wires detract from the charm of our neighborhoods, creating an unsightly, clothesline-like mess of dangling sneakers.
“I propose that the Task Force formulate new regulations to ensure that all future developments – including teardowns – are provided with underground utility wires,” Molinaro wrote.
Mayor Bloomberg formed the Growth Management Task Force in 2003 to address overbuilding and development issues on Staten Island. The Task Force consists of elected officials, City agency commissioners, and representatives of civic and other groups, with a direct stake in the future of the Borough. In 2004, the Task Force adopted rules to curb out-of-character development in residential districts, the most beneficial accomplishments for Staten Island since the closing of the Fresh Kills landfill.
August 8, 2006