Mayor of Holmdel Township Continues the Fight vs New Jersey Natural Gas
Holmdel Township Mayor DJ Luccarelli and the Township Committee have provided an update to the public regarding the township’s litigation with New Jersey Natural Gas and the installation of an unwanted gas regulator within the Township. As previously reported, and according to their recent press release, the Holmdel Zoning Board denied an application by New Jersey Natural Gas (NJNG) to install gas regulator equipment on Holmdel Road, a decision which the New Jersey Board of Public Utilities (BPU) overrode.
“Our community has done everything in its power to fight this,” commented Mayor Luccarelli, adding, “Unfortunately the BPU has overridden everything that we were fighting for.”
The Township Committee appealed BPU’s decision to the Appellate Court and filed a Request for Leave to File an Emergent Appeal, asking the Appellate Court to put the installation on hold pending the outcome of the appeal. The Appellate Court recently denied the requested stay and NJNG has moved forward with the installation of the gas regulator equipment.
As a public utility, NJNG was not required to obtain construction permits from the Township. Should the Township ultimately win its appeal, it is Holmdel’s expectation that NJNG would be ordered to remove the regulator station.
The mayor said that the Township is awaiting the result of one final appeal and that Holmdel continues to litigate this matter on behalf of its residents. “No options were left on the table, and there is no more that we could have done for our residents that we haven’t done,” said Mayor Luccarelli, “there will be a decision from the Appellate Court at some point in the future, and we look forward to that result.”
However, the work continues as Holmdel Road is closed throughout the week as NJ Natural Gas continues the installation. According to the township, the road is closed from Route 520 to Roberts Road through today.