By Jennifer Ortiz
Staff Writer
HOWELL — An applicant who wants to construct an office building on Ford Road presented revised plans to the Howell Zoning Board of Adjustment during a recent meeting.
Representatives of Ford Road Equities returned before the board on March 14 seeking a use variance that would permit the development of a two-story, 15,800-square-foot office building on Ford Road near Irene Boulevard. The property is west of Route 9.
The project requires a use variance from the zoning board because an office building is not a permitted use in the Agricultural Rural Estate zone in which it is being proposed.
Attorney Kenneth Pape, who represents the applicant, reviewed the changes that have been made since the application’s initial hearing in August 2015.
“In August, there were a lot of comments that board members and the board’s professionals made to the applicant, a lot of direction about the physical design of the project. The revised plan (shows) substantial changes,” Pape said.
Pape said landscaping for the parcel has been substantially enhanced along Ford Road and the septic system was redesigned and relocated closer to the proposed building. Retaining walls were lowered and the parking lot lighting was redesigned to the board’s suggestions. In addition, the storm water system was enhanced and the building’s façade was altered to reflect a residential design.
“All of (the changes) were in direct response to comments you offered the applicant. … your applicant is listening to you and to the professionals and incorporating those comments into his plan,” Pape said. “We redesigned the on-site circulation and (will) bring a firefighting waterline from Route 9 to this property.”
Pape said the applicant has secured Department of Environmental Protection permits relating to wetlands approvals for the 7-acre site.
Medical services have been removed from the building and 1,800 square feet on the second floor were removed to reduce the appearance of the building, making the total size 15,800 square feet. Eleven parking stalls have been added to the site, according to Pape.
Traffic engineer Scott Kennel, representing the applicant, said the office building would generate 24 to 25 peak hour trips on Ford Road. He said the data takes into account an expansion that has been approved at the nearby Grebow shopping center on Route 9.
Kennel said Route 9 was not studied because it did not qualify as a study location, but board Chairman Wendell Nanson took issue with that information.
“You are putting traffic out of this site on a non-collector road, it is a residential street … plus there is a store going in that is going to be generating traffic. I would definitely beg to differ that it wouldn’t be important to know what Route 9 traffic was,” Nanson said.
The board’s planner, Jennifer Beahm, agreed with Nanson, saying, “… You are here for a use variance; you need to demonstrate (there will be) no negative impact and given the feedback the applicant has been given throughout the course of this application, I think the board is going to need to know … not only Route 9, but the intersection with Kent Road as well, because this is a low-density residential area that has not anticipated office development as part of its development.”
Residents expressed concern about a possible increase in vehicular traffic in their neighborhood as a result of the proposed Ford Road office building, more stores in the Grebow shopping center and drivers using Ford Road as a cut-through route.
Pape agreed to provide relevant traffic information when the hearing on the Ford Road office building resumes before the board at 7:30 p.m. April 11.
