Council members pressed township officials on Thursday to press Comcast for changes after residents reported green utility boxes installed roughly every two to three houses along some streets.

Why it matters: The installations have drawn complaints about aesthetics, property access and lawn restoration. Council members said they expected overhead installs on poles and were surprised by the underground boxes.

Councilman Schmuel introduced the issue, saying Comcast crews “started, last Monday. They did 2 streets and in front of you, I took some photos of these, boxes boxes that are being installed every 2 to 3 houses.”

Council members said Comcast previously required council approval to enter the municipality and then sought statewide approval from the Board of Public Utilities; the township’s attorney explained that the BPU now issues a statewide franchise and local oversight of infrastructure siting is limited. The attorney said any infrastructure should be in the public right-of-way and “shouldn’t be on private property.”

Several councilors requested follow-up with Comcast representatives to press for better restoration, possible relocation to property lines and aesthetic treatments such as landscape screening or painted enclosures. One councilor suggested Comcast consider a color-treatment similar to a “doorway green” to make boxes less visually intrusive; another proposed allowing local artists to paint boxes if they cannot be moved.

Council members asked the administration and engineering to coordinate directly with Comcast representatives, including Fred De Andrea, and to seek specific commitments on roadway restoration (curb-to-curb patching where required by ordinance) and placement. The business administrator and engineering staff said they would confirm expectations and follow up.

No stop-work order or formal municipal prohibition was issued at the meeting; councilors said the township’s options are constrained by BPU jurisdiction but that they would continue to press Comcast for voluntary remediation and proper restoration.

Closing note: Administration and engineering will coordinate with Comcast and report back on placement, restoration and possible aesthetic mitigations.