Decision On 319-Unit Howell Project Carried Over To December

HOWELL, NJ — The 319-unit Views at Monmouth Manor project had another hearing before the Howell Planning Board last week.

Planners decided to push their decision to December so that board professionals could have enough time to go over the finalized plans that the developer has yet to submit. The next hearing is scheduled for Dec. 16.

The affordable housing project has been before the board multiple times since last year.

Engineer Stuart Challoner said during the meeting that their more recent plans had "redesigned the entire lighting system" to address concerns brought up before. There might still be some areas that require tweaking, he added.

Board member Brian Tannenhaus said it was hard to talk in hypotheticals.

"And it's such an important neighborhood in a part of Howell that has a more farm-like character," he added.

Challoner also talked about buffer areas along property lines. Some of them already have a dense buffer and the development would add vegetation wherever a reinforcement is needed. Evergreens will be added along the southern portion of the property and closer to the wetlands on the back portion of the property, for example.

READ MORE: Howell's 319-Unit Affordable Housing Project Carried Over To Oct.

Jennifer Beahm, Planning Board's Professional Planner was frustrated that the finalized plans had not yet been submitted to the board.

"I just have to say, this application was heard in August. It's October. I just don't understand — I'm disappointed that we have yet to see this," Beahm said. "This is what we're seeing at the 11th hour."

The developer has a settlement agreement with the township governing body in which it agreed to buy land for road improvement at Sunny Side Road and Fort Planes Road and to make a $580k contribution to improve traffic at the intersection.

In exchange, the developer would not be responsible for any other off-site improvements.

Board Attorney Ron Cucchiaro pointed out, however, that the developer's agreement should not supersede the ordinance in regards to the board's consideration of the application.

According to civil engineer Nicholas Verderese, who specializes in traffic, the proposed development meets all the necessary parking requirements, even before taking into consideration garage parking spaces.

The development is set to be divided into 72 market-rate single-family lots, 155 market-rate townhome residential units and 92 condominiums residential units.

The project comes as part of an ongoing settlement with the Fair Share Housing Center, which sued several New Jersey municipalities in the 2010s for lack of affordable housing. In 2018, a judge determined that Howell must build 895 "credits" worth of affordable housing by 2025, according to Asbury Park Press.

There has been some controversy surrounding the Views at Monmouth Manor. Over the past few months, many voices have expressed concerns about overdevelopment in town and the protection of wildlife species, including Mayor Theresa Berger.