Township Council — August 6, 2026

What was decided

Present: Bucko, Kirsh, Ring and Council President Geiger, with Mayor Moench. Councilwoman Isla was absent. Votes were 4-0 (ayes Bucko, Kirsh, Ring, Geiger; Isla absent) unless noted.

• Ordinance #26-13, amending Chapter 182 to require snow clearance around fire hydrants — adopted. Hearing speakers Robert Albano and Cathy Franco supported it; Franco suggested fire departments keep a list to help seniors and disabled residents clear hydrants. See snow removal.
• Omnibus Master Plan ordinance introduced (became #26-14; hearing August 20): amending Chapter 94-2 (fees) and sections of Chapter 126 (land use) and adding Chapter 152 on lighting in residential areas, with Section 10 and all data center language removed. The Mayor said data center provisions would return after review with staff, the Council and the Environmental Commission; members were to meet individually with Planner Sarmad on revisions.
• KM Construction change order tabled. The final change order for the 2024-1 Roadway Improvement Project (Acorn Drive, Lilac Court, Jamestown Road, Yorktown Road), raising the contract from $465,184.05 to $476,452.42, was tabled after Bucko reported sinkholes near new drainage on Lilac Court.
• Consent agenda #26-08-06-183 to -188: AAA Facility Solutions janitorial renewal, up to $129,600; Witmer Public Safety Group police firearms equipment, up to $96,724.46; Nature’s Choice NJ yard waste site operation renewal at no cost; a $10,000 Affordable Housing Trust Fund emergency roof repair; shared purchasing agent services with Readington Township, $5,000; and cancelling outstanding current-fund checks totaling $168,762.63.
• #26-08-06-189, a closed session on litigation and personnel. The July 23 minutes were deferred.

The agenda change on 1200 Route 22

Bucko said the posted agenda had listed four ordinances: detention-center and data-center ordinances were mostly folded into the omnibus, and a repeal of Ordinance 25-05 (the 2025 redevelopment plan for 1200 Route 22) was removed. He said he reviewed the 2025 record, noted that the plan had been described as part of a tentative settlement of the warehouse lawsuit, and said that if so, it should have been made clear to the public. Geiger said the repeal was moved to closed session on the advice of counsel. Ring said detention centers are already prohibited under Code 126-324A, since uses not listed are prohibited. See data centers.

Reports

• Pappas reported two water main breaks on North Bridge Street (June 11, July 27), a county road with NJ American Water lines; the company plans to replace the line in 2027. Deputy Administrator Rob Fields presented possible bamboo rules; Ring suggested requiring containment, and the Council was open to an ordinance.
• Bogart Drive: Chief Mitzak said a 13-day speed study recorded about 18,000 vehicles, an average of 32 mph and about 31% at enforceable speeds; a speed trailer was placed and enforcement will follow. He proposed “No Parking This Side” snow signs on Loft Drive and aligning the towing fee ordinance with the State Police schedule.
• Kirsh said the Council decided the current streaming system, upgraded for about $125,000, serves well, with no remote public comment for now; a pet-store sales resolution was referred to the Animal Shelter Board. Geiger toured the quarry with the Environmental Commission and said part could serve as a storm basin.
• Bridge House: David Walker of Visions and Pathways presented 10 supported affordable units for youth aging out of foster care, which he said would bring the township 20 Mount Laurel credits; about $3.8 million raised; groundbreaking September 9 and completion within 24 months.

Public comment

• Howard Teichman of Fairmount Drive supported bringing back the repeal of the 1200 Route 22 redevelopment plan and asked that the omnibus name data centers as a prohibited use in all zones.
• Ed Caldwell of Mayflower Court discussed proposed data center requirements (closed-loop cooling, renewable energy, heat recovery, sound studies) and low-frequency sound near homes by the Greymark site, suggested life sciences, R&D or offices for the 28-acre site, and asked the Council to reject the data center proposal. Ring said natural-gas generators would be accessory and stored-fuel generators not permitted, and asked that the draft go to the Environmental Commission.
• Dave Kleszyk of Woodside Lane opposed a data center at the site and asked that the wooded area be protected.
• Curtis Kraut of Adamsville Road presented illustrations of a data center at 1200 Route 22 and nearby homes. The Mayor said the data center ordinance is separate from the property in litigation and that a possible post-litigation framework included a data center as one use, not finalized.
• Debbie Farber of Highland Avenue raised data center water use, including for well-water households, and urged a moratorium or ban. Martha Harland of Woodside Lane suggested minimum distances from homes, energy rules, groundwater and wastewater protections and size limits. Carolyn Gioia of Palley Court asked that the ordinance cover “data factories” and smaller interconnected facilities.
• Orest Beloma of Adamsville Road asked for speed bumps for speeding and overweight trucks on Adamsville Road.
• Anda Cytroen of Stangle Road urged a look at Somerset County’s remote participation and raised data center definitions, monitoring, electricity and water; Ring said Warren’s ban still allows variance applications.
• Shaurya Jain of Bogart Drive distributed a draft township-wide light pollution ordinance and was invited to meet the planner.
• Cathy Franco of Weemac Road asked for a way to notify residents of agenda changes and about Camp Cromwell bond funding (Pappas: a bid document in about 30 days). Robert Albano supported the hydrant ordinance.

Records

• Minutes (township document page)
• Agenda (posted on the township site; LocalWhy has not yet reviewed it)
• Video on the township’s YouTube channel (3:34:21). This page follows the Clerk’s minutes.