Monmouth Commerce Center Conflict Heats Up In Howell

HOWELL, NJ — As the hearing on proposal for a trucking and warehouse facility on Randolph Road nears a vote by the Howell Township Planning Board, the conflict surrounding the proposal is increasing.

Opponents of the proposed Monmouth Commerce Center are concerned about potential traffic created by the site, along with environmental impacts. But proponents of the center are citing the potential jobs it will bring.

The Planning Board is set to continue a hearing on the proposal Thursday at the Howell Township municipal building, 4567 Route 9. The planning board meeting begins with a reorganization at 7 p.m. The agenda can be found here.

Monmouth Commerce Center would include about 1.2 million square feet of warehouse space in nine buildings, plus 234 truck loading spaces, 142 trailer parking spaces and 700 spaces for passenger vehicles. About 100 acres will be cleared, with 30,000 trees removed.

A group of residents fighting the proposal for the site, off Randolph and Oak Glen roads, have formed a group named Howell for Open Land and Preservation of the Environment, or HOPE for short. To spread the word about their they've posted banners at spots around the area.

One of those banners, however, was vandalized in recent days.

"Those are my banners and they're on private property," said Dawn Van Brunt, who shared photos of the damaged banner. She has been among the vocal opponents of the project, which will bring signficant truck traffic into the area.

Residents have raised concerns about whether trucks will adhere to routes defined by the applicant in its description of the plans, or whether drivers will take Route 547 to avoid traffic, which would then bring heavy trucks to roads not designed for that traffic.

Traffic concerns and the ability of trucks to enter and exit the center have been a prime focus of questioning by both the planning board and opponents of the project.

The most recent hearing was Dec. 5, and then it was carried to Thursday.

Video of the previous Planning Board meetings is available on the Howell Township website. Testimony on the Monmouth Commerce Center project was heard on the following dates:

May 9; June 6; June 20; July 29; Sept. 9; Oct. 10; Nov. 7; Dec. 5.

Previous coverage:

• 1.2M-Square-Foot Warehouse, Truck Center Before Howell Planners
• Monmouth Commerce Center Hearing In Howell Continued To October
• Monmouth Commerce Center Proposal Goes Before Monmouth Board
• Monmouth Commerce Center Hearing Resumes Thursday In Howell
• Monmouth Commerce Center Hearing In Howell Continued To January

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