9 19 24 West Orange BOA ZB 24 06 PSEG Condensed

cbd6abed-8cda-4dba-9ebd-560688bcfcb2 23 (Pages 89 to 92) Page 89 1 to the agenda as Exhibits for Identification. Please 2 continue. 3 THE WITNESS: Thank you. There are reasons 4 that this Board can approve this application, and there 5 are three specific reasons. The first, this is an 6 inherently beneficial use. The second, there are 7 special planning reasons that are advanced by this 8 application. And the third reason is that we are 9 providing upgraded reliability and aesthetic 10 improvements. 11 So I'll just go back a little bit. 12 Inherently beneficial use. This is an inherently 13 beneficial use that promotes the general welfare. 14 Reliable electricity is essential and critical to our 15 modern way of living. I'd also like to say that proper 16 cable connections are too but I'll stick with 17 electricity. 18 This station supplies service to thousands 19 of customers in West Orange and in surrounding areas, 20 and we've been providing that service since 1928. As 21 customers, the Board expects PSE&G to provide safe and 22 reliable equipment -- excuse me, reliable service with 23 modern equipment. You do not expect us to be using 24 equipment from the 1920s. 25 This Board previously determined that the Page 91 1 objectives, interest, and welfare of the public. This 2 is specifically provision of reliable service. We've 3 been doing this since 1928 and I intend that we will 4 continue another hundred years, even though many of us 5 may not be there to see it. 6 The second purpose in the West Orange 7 Zoning Ordinance that is advanced is promoting in the 8 public interest the utilization of land for its most 9 appropriate purpose. Again, the station has been used 10 since 1928. That is 96 years of service at this 11 location. 12 And finally, the purpose of the Municipal 13 Ordinance that we advance is encouraging coordination 14 of the various public and private procedures and 15 activities shaping land development with a view of 16 lessening the cost of such development into the more 17 efficient use of land. It makes sense to utilize the 18 land at the substation to its most practical extent. 19 We put the station there for the long-term and we plan 20 for the long term and we are using the station to its 21 maximum extent practical. 22 The third reason that the Board can approve 23 these variances is because the upgrades provide 24 electric

plan 20 for the long term and we are using the station to its 21 maximum extent practical. 22 The third reason that the Board can approve 23 these variances is because the upgrades provide 24 electric reliability and aesthetic benefits explained 25 by Miguel, our project manager, Mike Blake, and John Page 90 1 station is an inherently beneficial use and the station 2 is particularly well-suited for public utilities. I 3 included a Resolution from 2007 in your application 4 packages. I also included a Resolution from 2017. And 5 I explained previously that I was able to find partial 6 or full records that PSE&G as been requesting relief 7 for expansion of a nonconforming use and height 8 variances for at least 35 years. 9 The second reason the Board can approve 10 this application is because special planning reasons 11 are advanced by the project. The special reasons are 12 the purposes in the Municipal Land Use Law and the 13 Township Zoning Ordinance. The special reasons are 14 first, the specific purposes of the municipal Land Use 15 Law that are promoted are promoting the public health, 16 safety, and general welfare of the community and 17 benefiting the public. 18 Also, we are offering a reduction in 19 potential outages which obviously advances safety from 20 and during natural disasters. And finally we are 21 promoting energy resources in the state. Purposes in 22 the West Orange Ordinance that are advanced are first, 23 helping to guide and regulate the orderly growth, 24 development, and redevelopment of the Township in 25 accordance with a comprehensive plan and with long-term Page 92 1 Futey. 2 The improvements in my opinion will not 3 adversely affect the health, safety, or welfare of 4 existing residents, the surrounding area, or alter the 5 character of the neighborhood. We understand that 6 trees will be removed. That is why we have proposed a 7 planting plan that is found by the Township Forester to 8 be in compliance. We are not changing the character of 9 the neighborhood by introducing a new type of use. We 10 were probably the first use in the neighborhood and we 11 are continuing that use. The requested zoning 12 deviations are related to beneficial improvements; 13 namely, the provision of safe and reliable electricity. 14 The improvements will have a de minimus 15 impact on things like site grading, drainage, and 16 lighting. Again, we

neficial improvements; 13 namely, the provision of safe and reliable electricity. 14 The improvements will have a de minimus 15 impact on things like site grading, drainage, and 16 lighting. Again, we recognize the trees that must be 17 taken down for this application, but we'll continue to 18 be an unmanned facility that generates minimal traffic. 19 I believe it was stated before but I will say it again, 20 typically during operation the station has minimal 21 traffic consisting of one or two technicians coming by 22 once a week or every two weeks. They come by in a 23 light duty truck or a minivan. They pull into the 24 station using a card reader and they park in the 25 station. When they are finished they leave the