Howell Master Plan Report Hearing Thursday

HOWELL, NJ — This week in Howell, there is hearing at the Planning Board on the Master Plan Reexamination Report, and it includes a recommendation to consider removing the SED Zone (Special Economic Development) at the Victory Road/Oak Glen Road/Route 547.

There is a proposal currently before the board on a warehouse project on Victory Road, under zoning now in effect.

Also, the Howell Township Council Meeting scheduled for Tuesday, Oct. 17, has been rescheduled for Tuesday, Oct. 24. The executive session is at 6 p.m., regular session is at 7 p.m., the township said in a notice.

An agenda for the meeting is not posted as yet on the township website.

Master Plan hearing

The Howell Township Master Plan Reexamination Report will be presented this week to the board.

The report is available for public viewing at this link: * Master Plan Reexamination Report.

The Planning Board meeting is Thursday, Oct. 19, and you can see the agenda here.

"The Master Plan is a 'living and breathing' document," said Director of Community Development Matt Howard, "so the township is constantly looking at market trends, development patterns and more so that we can update our zoning and planning as necessary. This report is addressing some of the changes we are seeing and is complementing a lot of the Master Plan work that was done last year."

The Master Plan discussion includes a public hearing, according to the agenda. The plan was prepared by Jennifer Beahm, PP, AICP of Leon S. Avakian, Inc., September 2023.

Beahm said Monday that, once the Planning Board adopts the report, it is up to the governing body - the Township Council - to take action on any recommendations.

Part D of the report contains the recommendations. Here is a sampling of some recommendations in the report, under "Specific Changes Recommended for the Master Plan and/or Development Regulations":

• The Township should evaluate the establishment of conditional use standards for Flex Space Use in the SED (Special Economic Development) Zones; and the HD-1 Zone (Highway Development) South of Lanes Mill Road. The Township should also evaluate eliminating warehouse/distribution uses from these areas.
• The Township should consider revising the flex definition to include trade contractors businesses and research and development uses in any zone in which flex use is permitted as a conditional use if it is part of an overall flex use development.
• The Township should consider adding the following uses in the HD-1 Zone south of Lanes Mill Road: Banquet Facilities (excluding concert halls and night clubs); Business Expo Centers; Four-Story Office Buildings as a conditional use with an enhanced setback and a maximum height of 60 feet
• The Township should consider removing the SED Zone at the Victory Road/Oak Glen Road/Route 547.
• The Township should consider additional opportunities for Redevelopment Area along the Route 9 area as well as Harms Pit.
• The Township should consider allowing banquet facilities on farm properties as a conditional use.
• The Township should consider undertaking a Utility Plan Element of the Master Plan which should investigate appropriate locations for solar facilities; battery storage facilities for public utilities as well as evaluate the utility service throughout the Township.
• The Township shall encourage the utilization of green infrastructure with incentives.
• The Township should consider allowing greenhouses on roof tops of warehouses, while still maintaining maximum building height.