Edison Planning Board Meeting – October 6, 2025

The Edison Planning Board met on October 6, 2025 (supplied timestamp 2025-10-06 04:00:00 UTC). Chairman Sandelski opened the meeting, noting adequate notice was provided under the Open Public Meetings Act by annual notice published in the Home News and Tribune on December 13, 2024 and posted in the municipal complex on December 18, 2024. No agenda or minutes were available; this summary is based on the raw transcript.

Consent Calendar

• Approved the September 15, 2025 meeting minutes by unanimous roll call.
• Approved P04-2025, Garden State Capital Assets, preliminary and final site plan approval, unanimously.
• Approved P07-2025, 1810 Route 27 LLC, preliminary and final site plan approval, unanimously.
• Approved P14-2023 (Kid Patel), relief from a condition of minor subdivision approval, unanimously.
• Approved P11-2022, 75 Carter Drive LLC, relief from a condition of site plan approval, unanimously.

Public Comments & Testimony

• No members of the public came forward to speak on the Iron Mountain application; the board voted to close the public portion.

Discussion Items

• Case P05-2025, Iron Mountain Data Centers LLC – 3003 Wheelbridge Avenue, Block 795.04, Lot 22.12: The applicant, represented by attorney Lisa John Basta, sought preliminary and final site plan approval to add an accessory battery storage structure to the existing data center, with no changes to the existing building. The proposal removes 16 parking spaces from existing parking fields.
• Civil engineer Vladimir Wojnoransky of VHP, qualified as an expert, testified that the property is a 40-acre tract with an existing warehouse building described as approximately 1,776 square feet. The battery storage area would be on the eastern side of the parking lot, more than 1,000 feet from residences. Proposed work includes converting some pavement to grass and some grass to asphalt, three concrete battery pads, service equipment, an eight-foot fence, and bollards. There would be no net increase in impervious cover; drainage would continue to flow north to two inlets. The existing light pole would remain, six trees would be removed and replaced, and the applicant would comply with the engineering review report referred to in the transcript as the DNR engineering report.
• During questioning, board engineer Henry Bignell noted dead plantings from prior approvals and made replacement of dead trees and shrubs a condition. The applicant agreed to coordinate tree replacement locations with the board planner and town engineer.
• Traffic engineer and professional planner Matthew Seckler of Stonefield Engineering, qualified as an expert, testified about a parking assessment. A survey on Thursday, July 24, 2025 found only 19 cars parked in the lot, approximately 5% occupied and 95% empty. He characterized the removal of 16 spaces as de minimis and said the application supports the master plan’s industrial uses, renewable energy, and grid support, with no substantial negative impacts. He also said the applicant must certify pipeline buffer letters, not merely state compliance.

Key Outcomes

• Vice Chair Singh moved to approve the Iron Mountain application; the motion was seconded and passed by roll call.
• Conditions of approval included: Charlie Carly or his designee will review plans, submittals, bond calculations, and perform inspections; Henry Bignell/Bignell Associates will sign off on landscaping and lighting; all dead trees and shrubs must be replaced, with new trees installed per ordinance; any changes to approved plans, even de minimis, must return to the board; all improvements must be maintained in perpetuity; and the applicant must provide pipeline buffer letters/certifications.
• The board then voted to adjourn.