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Edison council adopts change to Technical Review Committee process after residents raise transparency concerns
Summary
Council adopted an ordinance changing how the Technical Review Committee (TRC) handles applications; residents warned the shift could limit timely public notice under the Municipal Land Use Law, while officials said TRC is administrative and materials will be publicly available when forwarded to the Planning Board.
Council members voted to adopt an ordinance amending chapter 39 (land use) to change the township’s Technical Review Committee process after a public hearing on Jan. 28.
Residents at the hearing raised objections to removing TRC meetings from public view. “That means that residents will only be aware of any new construction when the statutory 10‑day window of public notice under MLUL is given to the residents,” said Dr. Nasser, who said the change would limit the time neighbors have to coordinate reviews or secure representation. He pressed whether minutes would be available within the 10‑day window and whether the change complied with the Municipal Land Use Law.
Administration officials and council members responded that the TRC step is procedural and not a final public hearing. A council vice president said information collected by the TRC “will move over to the planning board and we’ll have it publicly available at that point,” and the business administrator added that the TRC’s role is to streamline completeness checks so applications sent to the Planning Board are complete. “All this is…from a procedural standpoint the administrative officer gives advisement to the board…to make sure all of the documents are submitted,” the administrator said.
After closing the public portion, the council took roll call and recorded unanimous votes to adopt the ordinance. The adoption will change the township code language governing the TRC; council members said materials will still be available to the public through Planning Board filings, but residents at the meeting said they worry that the change will shorten the practical window for meaningful public review.
The council’s action was procedural: the TRC step remains an administrative completeness review, and final decisions will continue to be taken by the Planning Board where public hearings will be held. Officials said they will work to make application materials available and to respond to concerns raised during the hearing.
