Street Lights

Questions have been directed to the Board about the lack of streetlights in much of East Passage Estates. The reason goes back to Commerce Oil. Originally there were to be streetlights throughout the neighborhood, which was built in two phases (see Original Commerce Oil plan in the attachments). The first phase was to the east and streetlights were installed in that portion. Commerce Oil next laid out West Reach. However, by that time the real estate market was depressed and lots in both areas were not selling as quickly as hoped. Commerce Oil came up with a new plan, they wanted to construct a large two-story contemporary condominium building along the bay side of West Reach Drive. The Town balked at this proposal and insisted the company proceed with single-family homes. 

Short of cash and under time deadlines, Commerce Oil took shortcuts. They did not construct the traffic island at America Way and North Road that was in the approved plan. They did not build rock and plant features on the four corners of each intersection, mirroring the East Shore traffic island. Rather than purchase additional streetlights, they simply used what they had already purchased for the western portion of East Passage Estates in West Reach. 

In the past National Grid owned the lights and the Town paid for electricity. Now the Town owns the streetlights, so any decision to add lights would be made by the Town. In November 2017, the Association offered to purchase five additional matching streetlights (American Electric Lighting, LED version, series 247, American Revolution Colonial Post-Top Lantern and pole) and to pay for concrete to build five light pole pads if the Town of Jamestown would build the pads, install the poles, and pay to operate them under the Town’s street light budget (subject to a maximum of $12,000 and a final vote by the Board). The offer was turned down because the Town did not want to increase the amount they were paying to power streetlights.