Howell Residents Oppose 8-Home Development On Michele Boulevard

HOWELL, NJ — The development project for eight new single-family homes on a lot bordering Michele Boulevard and Ramtown-Greenville Road was heard by the Howell Township Planning Board last week.

With many questions up in the air, planners decided that the project wasn't ready to be voted on and it was carried over to a meeting on Dec. 16.

One of the main issues raised during the meeting was the question of whether or not the developer (Wadsworth Development) has the legal right to place the frontages on Michele Boulevard.

A few residents who live in front of the proposed development spoke during the meeting.

"It sounds like, first of all, you need to figure out your legality," board member Brian Tannenhaus said. "All of the neighbors here I believe have presented well."

The attorney representing the developer, Michael Herbert, said that they may reconsider the layout of the homes.

"Maybe having six homes on Michele and moving two out to Ramtown-Greenville. That's something we can talk about," he said.

Michele Boulevard residents David Esquenazi and Joe Mauer said that the Homeowner's Association owned a strip of land between the developer's lot and Michele Boulevard, where the driveways would be positioned, according to Asbury Park Press.

Esquenazi said he bought the land in part because he thought that would prevent anyone from building across the street from him.

Along with another Michele Boulevard resident, Esquenazi filed a lawsuit against a decision by the Howell Zoning Board of Adjustment to allow the development of a 20,088 square feet warehouse complex on Ramtown Greenville Road, not far from the Wadsworth site, the publication wrote.

There were also concerns raised during the meeting about how the new developments would increase runoff water on Michele Boulevard.

Herbert said that the development would possibly seek a variance for both a 50 and a 100-feet buffer.

"The only reason that we are asking for the buffer is that we are creating what we believe to be a better application than the one that would normally be allowed for this property," he said. "It is a treed lot and it is our belief that if the houses are moved forward of the lot towards the street that will eliminate the need for longer driveways, it will eliminate the need to remove a lot of the trees and will leave a more pristine environment."

He added that the intention was to preserve the trees in the back so that homeowners would not be able to clear-cut them.

"Ultimately ou goal here is a waiver-free, variance-free application," Tannenhaus also said.