HOWELL — The Township Council has adopted a new ordinance pertaining to farmland buffer zones.
The ordinance addresses the 50-foot wide setback required by Howell’s Right to Farm ordinance on all residentially developed lots that back up to working farms.
The amendment adopted by the council will prohibit developers from including the required 50-foot buffer in the rear lot of prospective home buyers.
According to the ordinance, "The requirement of a 50-foot wide perimeter buffer to be provided by the applicant (developer) around all major subdivisions, and adjacent to active farmland, shall be in addition to any land area that is required under ordinance for use as a rear yard setback area for proposed residential lots."
Mayor Timothy J. Konopka said the ordinance amendment will protect prospective homeowners from a problem faced in the past by some people who came to find out they only had about 10 feet of usable rear yard space because the remainder of their yard fell within the farmland buffer zone.
"Unfortunately, in the past some homeowners fell victim to unscrupulous individuals who didn’t fully disclose to them the restrictions of the property. This ordinance will protect unsuspecting home buyers and prevent this from happening again," Konopka said.
Introduced July 22, the ordinance was adopted following a public hearing on Aug. 19.