Russ Zimmer

@RussZimmer

UPDATE: The pipeline through the Pinelands was approved in a 9-5 vote with one abstention. This story will be updated, and check our Twitter feed below for live coverage of the meeting.

After years of wrangling — by environmentalists, by energy lobbyists and even Gov. Chris Christie — the Pinelands Commission is set to vote again on a proposal to build a 22-mile natural gas pipeline through the Pinelands.

Conservationists, union pipefitters and business executives will be among those waiting for the vote count during Friday's 9:30 a.m. meeting of the Pinelands Commission at the Crowne Plaza Philadelphia-Cherry Hill, 2349 West Marlton Pike in Cherry Hill.

Anything less than a capacity crowd would be a surprise for what has remained a red hot topic for nearly five years.

SOUTH JERSEY GAS PIPELINE: What you need to know

South Jersey Gas says the new pipeline would be minimally invasive to the Pinelands, bring a cleaner burning fuel to the B.L. England coal power plant and reinforce the gas grid for 142,000 customers in the region.

Pinelands advocates, however, say that the proposal was defeated three years ago because it fails to satisfy the basic requirement of any approved development in the Pines: to be first and foremost for the benefit of the Pinelands and its people. They also worry that this project, if approved, will set a precedent that allows pipelines to criss-cross through New Jersey's crown jewel of open space.

It's likely that matter will end up in court, especially if the commissioners follow the recommendation of their executive director to approve the project.

EARLIER: Director backs approval of Pinelands pipeline

Pinelands Commissioner Bob Barr already told the Ocean City Gazette last week that he intends to vote for the proposal. That's significant — though expected — as Barr replaced a commissioner who voted against the project the only other time it came to a vote, when the pipeline "lost" with an 7-7 tie.

Barr took the seat of Bob Jackson, who believes he was booted from the board after voting "no" in January 2014. The switch was made by Christie, although Barr is a Democrat and his nomination was supported by other Democrats.

(Don't see the poll? Try refreshing your page)

Christie's attempt to remove a second commissioner was unsuccessful, but the governor was also able to elevate Sean Earlen to chairman of the commission, thereby demoting Mark Lohbauer — who voted against the pipeline.

PINELANDS PIPELINE: Barely any room for debate at packed meeting

LETTER: Pinelands pipeline essential for southeast Jersey

EDITORIAL: Say no — again — to Pinelands pipeline

How did we get here?

July 2012: South Jersey Gas submits a development application with the Pinelands Commission to build a pipeline

January 2014: The Pinelands Commission votes 7-7 on the pipeline plan, which needed eight votes to pass.

May 2014: Christie moves to replace two members of the commission. As governor, Christie appoints seven members of the Pinelands board, the seven counties each name one member and the U.S. Secretary of the Interior picks who fills the final seat. Christie's two nominations were delayed, although eventually one was selected and the governor later reshuffled the board to elevate a pro-pipeline member to chairman. It should be noted that several powerful Democrats also support the project.

August 2015: Administrative staff at the Pinelands Commission unilaterally rules that the pipeline project actually doesn't need a majority vote from the commissioners after all.

December 2015: The Board of Public Utilities approves the plan, paving the way for South Jersey Gas to begin construction. However, the Pinelands Preservation Alliance immediately sues to halt progress so the state appeals court to review the matter.

November 2016: The Appellate Division of the Superior Court sides with the PPA, ordering that the project return to the Pinelands Commission for a full vote before it can proceed.

Jan. 24: The commission takes public comment all day on the pipeline proposal. Though the pipefitters union, which supports the project, has a significant presence, the overflow crowd is predominantly anti-pipeline. More than 100 people are shut out of the meeting because of space constraints, calling into question the commission's choice of location — a Pemberton church with space for 260.

Feb. 17: Pinelands Commission executive director Nancy Wittenberg recommends that the pipeline be given the go-ahead. She writes that the proposal fits "the original vision" of the commission's governing document, the Pinelands Comprehensive Management Plan.

Feb. 24: The commission is set to vote on the pipeline plan at its regularly scheduled meeting — 9:30 a.m. at the Crowne Plaza Philadelphia-Cherry Hill in Cherry Hill.

MANCHESTER: New city in the Pinelands?

Russ Zimmer: 732-557-5748, razimmer@app.com