Gas Regulator Station Denied in Holmdel: Letter

Holmdel, NJ - On December 6th, after ten months of testimony and public hearings, the Holmdel Zoning Board of Adjustment (ZBA) voted to deny New Jersey Natural Gas (NJNG) its application to put a major gas regulator station on Holmdel Road in front of the solar farm. The grassroots efforts by Citizens for Informed Land Use (CILU) and Save Holmdel Village, in conjunction with neighboring homeowners, was key to this positive outcome. The public was able to convince the ZBA of the detrimental consequences to nearby homeowners, including potential safety and health issues, reduced property values, environmental and financial impacts on a nearby farm, as well as quality of life issues related to noise pollution and loss of the character of this bucolic and historic area.

The Holmdel Zoning Board did an excellent job of allowing citizens to ask questions and voice their opinions. Thank you to Chairman Demetri Orfanitopoulos for his respectful treatment of the audience and to all ZBA members for the time and work expended. The bottom line is that democracy does work but it requires an informed and attentive electorate. CILU has been monitoring land-use related issues in Holmdel for more than 18 years. We encourage residents to read township meeting agendas and attend meetings, ask questions of our officials and speak out about things that are not beneficial to the town. For information about CILU and to learn about current land use issues in Holmdel, go to www.holmdel-cilu.org.

Karen Strickland

Vice President- CILU