Four-Story Office Building OK'd By Howell Zoners

HOWELL, NJ — After a lengthy final meeting with scrutiny of environmental impact, traffic and design, construction of a four-story office building on Route 9 South was approved unanimously by the Zoning Board of Adjustment Monday night.

The 3.5-acre site met rigorous state and local environmental constraints, being bordered on the south by the North Branch of the Metedeconk River, according to testimony recorded on video by the township. It is located between Ford Road and West Kennedy Boulevard, according to testimony. It is just over the Lakewood border in Howell.

Howell Township Development LLC was the applicant.

Board Chairman Paul S. Sayah said, before he voted in favor of the project, that it would accomplish several goals for the town: It would remove a septic system and the "blight" of an abandoned restaurant, as well as remove trailers and an attraction for those who are vagrant. He said the new plans would also improve ingress and egress, as well as provide environmental improvements.

"We have a lot to be thankful for here," Sayah said at the meeting.

The height of the building required the variance, but the height was reduced somewhat from 65 feet to 52 feet, according to Kenneth Pape, the attorney representing Howell Township Development LLC. The building is partially three stories, with the four-story area more recessed, renderings show.

Pape also said that he came before the board for an applicant who already had state environmental permits in hand.

The company went before the board for a for a use variance and preliminary and final major site plan approval with bulk variances.

The company, owner of 6950 Route 9 South, will demolish the existing two-story building there, a former restaurant, and construct a 27,700-square-foot, four-story office building with associated site improvements, according to the agenda from the township zoning board.

The improvements include a 90-space parking lot, one full movement driveway, site lighting, landscaping, building signage, trash refuse enclosure, retaining wall and underground storm water management basin.

The applicant also appeared before the Environmental Commission and agreed to planting of native tress that would encourage wildlife in the area, said Glenn Cantor, board member, who was encouraged by that interest on the part of the developer, he said.

Pape thanked the board for the company and its principal, whom he said was Shlomo Rosenbaum.