Montgomery Planning Board Approves PSE&G Substation on Trent Place

Nicholas Mistretta

MONTGOMERY, NJ — The Montgomery Township Planning Board approved plans Monday night for a new PSE&G electrical substation on Trent Place, a project the utility says is needed to relieve pressure on existing substations and provide additional electrical capacity for thousands of Montgomery customers.

The application, heard during the board’s Aug. 10 meeting, calls for construction of the new substation at 151 Trent Place, Block 4001, Lot 26.01. PSE&G sought preliminary and final major site plan approval along with several variances and design waivers. The board approved the application following testimony from utility representatives and several engineering and planning professionals.

The approximately 7.1-acre property is located in Montgomery’s Limited Manufacturing zone, where a public utility use is conditionally permitted. The parcel was previously created through a minor subdivision, after which PSE&G purchased the property. Representatives said the project has been developed over several years in coordination with township officials and has gone through two meetings with the township’s Development Review Committee.

Utility Says New Facility Will Relieve Existing System
PSE&G Project Manager Neil Pieszchala told the board the proposed Trent Place substation is intended to reduce the load on the existing Sunnymead and Mount Rose substations while adding capacity to meet both current and future electrical demand.

Pieszchala said the new facility would directly serve approximately 6,000 customers in Montgomery, including East Mountain Hospital and Carrier Clinic. He said the project is also intended to accommodate anticipated increases in electrical demand, including growth associated with electric vehicles and additional solar generation.

Board members questioned whether expanding existing substations had been considered instead of constructing a new facility. Pieszchala said PSE&G’s planning process evaluates those options but determined that a new substation at this location would provide greater benefits for system reliability and future demand.

He also said construction of the new facility would not interrupt electrical service to existing customers. Electrical lines would enter the property underground before connecting to existing overhead infrastructure outside the site.

Unmanned Facility to Be Remotely Monitored
The substation would operate as an unmanned facility, with its systems monitored remotely around the clock from PSE&G’s division headquarters.

Typically, two employees would visit the site approximately once a week for routine inspections lasting between 20 and 45 minutes, according to testimony. Maintenance workers would generally arrive in utility vans or small pickup trucks.

The facility would be enclosed by a 10-foot anti-climb, anti-cut security fence and would include security cameras at its access points. Equipment would include two transformers, switching equipment, a control house and a designated area where a temporary mobile transformer could be placed in the event of an equipment failure.

PSE&G representatives said the site would also include lightning-protection masts designed to protect electrical equipment and maintain service reliability during lightning strikes.

The permanent downward-facing security lighting would operate from dusk to dawn. Separate upward-facing lights used to illuminate overhead equipment would normally remain off and could be manually activated by workers during nighttime emergency maintenance. Those lights would operate on timers so they would automatically shut off.

Emergency Response Discussed
Several board members questioned how emergency personnel would respond if an incident occurred at the substation.

PSE&G officials said the automated system would typically alert the company to equipment problems first. If township emergency personnel were needed, they would be escorted onto the property by qualified utility personnel because of the electrical hazards within the substation.

Mayor Neena Singh asked that PSE&G maintain coordination with Montgomery’s Office of Emergency Management and participate as appropriate in the township’s emergency planning efforts. PSE&G representatives said the utility maintains contact with local emergency management officials through a designated liaison.

Landscaping Designed to Screen Facility
Considerable attention was also given to screening the substation from neighboring properties and Trent Place.

Landscape architect William Reimer testified that 264 trees are proposed throughout the property, including 25 shade trees and more than 230 evergreen trees of varying sizes. Some of the evergreens are expected to reach heights of 40 to 60 feet at maturity.

Landscaping would be installed on all sides of the facility, including between the substation and residential properties across Trent Place. Native vegetation would also be used to enhance portions of the property near existing wetlands.

Reimer said the selected evergreen species were chosen in part because they retain their lower branches as they mature, helping maintain screening closer to ground level as the trees grow.

Renderings presented to the board illustrated how the vegetation is expected to soften views of the facility from several locations along Trent Place.

Stormwater and Wetlands Addressed
The property contains several wetland areas, which played a role in determining the placement and design of the substation.

Civil engineer Jason Ringer testified that the facility was positioned to minimize disturbance to wetlands and their buffers. Two bioretention basins are proposed to manage stormwater runoff, including water quantity, water quality and groundwater recharge.
During questioning about increased rainfall associated with future climate conditions, the board’s engineer said current New Jersey stormwater regulations require applicants to demonstrate that their systems can accommodate not only present-day runoff but projected conditions through the year 2100.

A new sidewalk is also proposed along the property’s entire Trent Place frontage. A portion would extend through a wetland buffer and will require outside agency approval. The sidewalk itself had been requested by the township during the earlier subdivision process.

Variances Include Retaining Wall and Setbacks
Professional planner James Higgins testified that the utility use meets all six conditions required by Montgomery’s zoning ordinance for a public utility facility in the Limited Manufacturing zone.

Several bulk variances and design waivers were nevertheless required because of the specialized nature of the facility.

Among them is permission for a retaining wall reaching approximately seven feet at its highest point, exceeding the township’s four-foot limit. The applicant said the taller section is necessary because of the property’s topography and the need to avoid disturbing nearby wetlands.

Other relief involves setback requirements for the temporary transformer pad, crushed-stone areas, utility trenches and security cameras. Higgins testified that many of those features are either at ground level or heavily screened and would not create a substantial impact on surrounding properties.

The applicant also agreed to work with township professionals on the appearance of retaining walls facing the roadway, including consideration of a darker, earth-toned stone veneer intended to better complement the surrounding area.

Resident Raises Water and Fire Protection Question
During the public portion of the hearing, a resident who said he is building a home in the area questioned where water service for fire protection would originate and whether extending a water line could potentially benefit nearby homes that currently rely on wells.

The discussion centered on recommendations from the Montgomery Township Fire Prevention Bureau concerning water service and fire hydrant protection for the facility. PSE&G representatives agreed to continue working with township fire officials and planning professionals to determine the appropriate connection and hydrant arrangement.

Construction Could Begin in 2027
PSE&G told the board that, if remaining approvals proceed as anticipated, construction is currently expected to begin around June 2027.

The project is expected to take approximately two and a half years, with completion anticipated by the end of 2029.

Following the public hearing, board members praised the applicant for working closely with township professionals and providing detailed responses to questions raised during the review process.

The Planning Board then approved the application, subject to PSE&G complying with the outstanding requirements and recommendations contained in the township professionals’ review memorandums.

Photo Credit: Nicholas Mistretta/headlinenewsmontgomery.com