HOWELL – The Howell Zoning Board of Adjustment has approved an applicant’s plan to construct two office-warehouse buildings on Okerson Road.
The applicant, Associate Business Park, sought a use variance and preliminary and final major site plan approval to construct two office-warehouse buildings. Each building will be smaller than the required 40,000 square feet in the zone.
Attorney Todd Cohen, engineer John Ploskonka, planner Allison Coffin, architect David Collins, traffic consultant Scott Kennel and Harold Lebwohl, a partner in the applicant’s group, represented the applicant at the zoning board’s July 23 meeting.
“My client purchased the site in 2009 and he is now seeking a use variance and preliminary and final major site plan approval to construct two multi-tenant buildings, about 20,000 square feet each, with multi-tenant spaces at about 2,500 square feet,” Cohen said.
Testimony indicated one building will be about 17,920 square feet and the second building will be about 21,600 square feet.
“Multi-tenant structures are permitted in the special economic development zone, but they require minimum square footage of 40,000 square feet per building and 5,000 square feet for tenants,” Cohen said.
The applicant currently owns and operates four buildings similar to what was proposed on Okerson Road.
“Three of those four buildings are in Freehold and one is in Old Bridge. They have a strong working knowledge of multi-tenant facilities of this nature,” Cohen said.
Ploskonka, Coffin, Collins and Kennel each testified to their own specific area of expertise and described various aspects of the application.
Board members had no significant concerns regarding their testimony, but expressed the view that they want the applicant and his representatives to continue to work with the township’s professionals upon approval of the application.
When a motion was made to approve the application, board member Richard Mertens said he believes there is a need for smaller industrial parks and said this is a site that is already prepared for development.
Chairman Wendell Nanson said his approval came with the the stipulation that the applicant continues to work closely with the board’s professionals as the project advances.
