Politics & Government

Planning Board To Hear Birdsall Road Plans

The second meeting for a proposal to bring 170,000 square feet of warehouse on Howell boundary

A huge construction project targeting a parcel in the extreme west of the township is slated for a second hearing before the Planning Board on Monday.

The applicant, ASP Wall LLC, wants to build an 80,000-square-foot warehouse building and six 15,000-square-foot buildings — a total of 170,000 square feet of buildings — along with associated parking, drainage and utility facilities on a tract at Belmar Boulevard and Birdsall Road. A portion of the property is located in Howell.

The project has gotten the attention of neighboring Howell Township officials, who have expressed concern that they would have no say over the approval process, but could potentially suffer ill effects from the development because of its location.

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All construction for the warehouse project would be within the boundaries of Wall, according to the plans, but Howell would provide water and sewer service.

The first hearing of the project was held Oct. 3 at the Planning Board’s regular meeting. The presentation exceeded the 50-minute time limit.

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The buildings would be used for warehouse and office space, divided approximately 75 percent warehouse and 25 percent office. The applicant is seeking a number of setback and other variances from the board in order to build the project.

But Howell’s deputy mayor, William Gotto, has said he’d like to have Howell’s Planning Board also hear the proposal, since its impact would largely be felt by Howell residents.

“I think anytime a project straddles two communities, both Planning Boards should have a chance to review it,’’ Gotto has said.

Gotto would like to see the Belmar Boulevard plan reviewed by the Howell Township engineering department, if not a preliminary review by that town’s Planning Board. He said he planned to bring up the topic to Howell’s governing body.

“I’d rather be proactive,’’ Gotto has said. “Rather than let it go and discover 10 years from now that there was a problem.’’

The public hearing is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. Monday at town hall, 2700 Allaire Rd.

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