Orleans Planning Board Approves Eversource Pruning Plan, Keeps Fees Unchanged

ORLEANS -- February 10, 2026, Orleans Planning Board unanimously approves Eversource pruning plan for scenic roads and defers fee review another year. The board voted 5-0 on February 10 to close a joint public shade tree hearing with the Tree Warden and separately 5-0 to approve Eversource Energy's 2026 vegetation management plan covering Circuits 4-83-83, 4-89B-89B, and 4-628-628, a large portion of Orleans including more than two dozen designated scenic roads such as Main Street, Rock Harbor Road, and Barley Neck Road. Jordan Young, an Eversource arborist, confirmed the work is limited to mechanical pruning at 10 feet to each side, 10 feet below, and 15 feet above primary wires, with no tree removals authorized under this application. The board also agreed by consensus to hold Planning Board fees at their 2022 levels for another year after Director of Planning and Community Development George Meservey described the aggregate fee revenue as too small and the staff effort to update the analysis as too costly relative to the benefit. Chairman John Ostman called a special meeting for February 17 at 9 a.m. to review the draft Comprehensive Plan ahead of a tentative joint presentation with the Select Board on February 24 and a formally advertised public hearing set for March 10.