Holmdel Zoning Board Rejects Gas Regulator Station

HOLMDEL, NJ — The Holmdel Zoning Board on Thursday night unanimously rejected an application from NJ Natural Gas to build a regulator station at 960 Holmdel Road. Residents of Holdmel packed the Zoning Board meeting Thursday night against the project, and in support of the Board's vote.

"We are evaluating next steps following the Board’s vote," said Kevin Roberts, a spokesman for NJ Natural Gas.

This property is not zoned for industrial use, so NJ Natural Gas needed multiple variances from the Holmdel Zoning Board.

NJ Natural Gas, like many gas providers, says that such regulator stations are common and required for the gas lines that already run underneath Monmouth County. The stations serve as release valves to relieve pressure that can build up in the gas lines. Therefor, every so often ventilated pipes would open up and release excess gas pressure into the air.

Regulator stations keep gas lines flowing smoothly and operating safely, the company said. Gas companies often propose to build them in rural areas.

The Holmdel Environmental Commission already came out against the project, saying they were concerned emissions from the station could affect the water in the nearby Swimming River reservoir. The company has said any such emissions would be inconsequential.

While NJ Natural Gas did not say so, a usual next step in a matter like this is for the gas company to appeal the Zoning Board's decision and the matter ultimately goes before the state Board of Public Utilities, the same entity that shot down JCP&L's proposal to build power lines in the area.

This is not the first time NJ Natural Gas has tried to build a regulator station along Holmdel Road. In 2016, a previous application was submitted and denied at the property next door. A solar farm is located there now. The Holmdel Zoning Board advised NJ Natural Gas to resubmit their application for the current site, 960 Holmdel Road

The NJ Sierra Club, which had taken an interest in the matter, said the Zoning Board's vote was a vote for the environment.

Related: NJ Natural Gas Wants To Build Regulator Station On Holmdel Road

Photo of Holmdel Road via Google Earth.