Electric-car charging stations discussed

Methuen Mayor William Manzi has been working with the city’s planning authority to prepare for the likelihood that electric cars will become commonplace in the years ahead.

While vehicles such as the Chevy Volt and Nissan Leaf can be charged in the owner’s garage by drawing on the household current, public charging stations are becoming more common. San Diego-based 350Green recently announced plans to build more than 280 charging stations in the Chicago area, as well as 66 in Pennsylvania. In Boston, a developer last August proposed building what would be Boston’s first “park and charge” facility at a former Mobile Station near North Station.

In early February, Manzi began working with Methuen’s Community Development Board and City Council to develop zoning and design criteria related to electric-car charging stations. He said that his aim was to encourage the Community Development Board and the City Council to set limits on where stations could be located as well as establishing inspectional guidelines.

He said that he hopes to receive full approval from the City Council early this month.

“We feel this issue is coming down the pike, and we want to be ahead of the curve on this, rather than responding to questions as they arise,” Manzi said.