development
seen as problem
Sewers near reservoir
a concern in Howell
Prospect of
development
seen as problem
BY KATHY BARATTA
Staff Writer
The seemingly imminent placement of the so-called 208 sewer lines along West Farms Road in Howell near the Manasquan Reservoir has some residents sounding the alarm.
As explained by K. Thomas Kellers, the Monmouth County Planning Board’s environmental planner, the 208 sewer lines are provided for under the federal Clean Water Act, which regulates the water quality plans on the part of regional and state authorities.
Incorporated in the 208 plan is the 201 plan, which deals with wastewater infrastructure on the local level.
Therefore, any change in the town’s infrastructure is governed by the federal guidelines and all changes must be monitored and approved by appropriate higher authorities.
It is for this reason that Kellers was called in to meet with Howell Mayor Timothy J. Konopka and Township Council members. Kellers met in executive session with municipal officials on July 6.
Some people have expressed concern that if the council buys 300 acres near the reservoir and turns it into a recreation complex, sewers will be needed to service that facility and will open up the area for additional development.
Kellers, whom Konopka called the "sewer guru," describes himself as "the individual who coordinates and oversees the county’s waste water management activities."
Questions to Kellers following the July 6 executive session from members of the public were deflected by Township Attorney Thomas Gannon.
Gannon said since the council’s planned $16 million purchase of the 300 acres near the reservoir is in negotiations and the subject of litigation, Kellers was not to answer questions about the details of his discussion with the council. He was not permitted to state whether he believes it is environmentally sound to place sewer lines along West Farms Road in the vicinity of the reservoir.
Opponents of the proposal to install sewer lines say no matter what the council includes in Howell’s master plan as it regards zoning, if sewers are installed in the area residential development will follow and officials will be powerless to stop it.
Council members tried to assuage those fears by advancing the position that by properly developing the master plan and its zoning designations, Howell will be protected from residential development in areas where residents do not want it to occur.
In a telephone interview following the July 6 meeting, Kellers said the environmental concerns about sewer installations in any area include the increase of impervious surface and the problem of non-point source pollution such as the runoff from motor vehicles, along with concerns about storm water management, ground water recharge and the loss of forest cover.
When asked directly if he is against the possibility of sewers being installed along West Farms Road near the reservoir, Kellers said there is no simple response. He said the question of whether there should be sewers installed in the vicinity of the reservoir "would be linked to the nature of the need for such improvements."
He said once all of the possibilities have been examined, "we may conclude that no, we don’t want to extend sewers there because of the development that would be contingent to those impacts."
Kellers said he has not heard nothing from the township so far that he would be ready to oppose at this time. He said since there is no specific application pending for the installation of sewers on West Farms Road he had no conclusion as to the merits of any such plan. He said each decision is made on a case-by-case basis once an application is received and reviewed.
Kellers said everything Howell has done so far has been consistent with the county’s plans.
Elizabeth Naskiewicz of Maxim Road is a 30-year resident of Howell and a past chairwoman of the township’s environmental commission. She was also appointed as Howell’s official adviser on the Bear Swamp Natural Area which is comprised of 900 acres between the reservoir and Herbertsville Road.
On July 6, Naskiewicz got into a heated debate with Councilman Peter Tobasco when he responded to her assertion that it is the council’s duty to prevent the sewering of the reservoir area and that the governing body’s efforts should be directed toward "keeping Howell rural."
Tobasco shot back that as Howell ranks 25th in population in the state out of 566 municipalities and that although there are still many rural areas throughout Howell’s 62 square miles, "we are no longer a rural town," and that planning for the future had to reflect that fact.
Donald Smith of Vanderveer Road, who is the present chairman of the environmental commission, also addressed the governing body. He said it is easy to say that zoning and sewers are independent of each other, but that the reality is different.
Smith’s wife Pauline is the chairwoman of the Planning Board and he is familiar with court decisions relating to development. He said when a judge hears there are sewers in the vicinity of proposed construction "it weighs heavily on his decision" and, according to Smith, often leads to a decision that is favorable to a developer.
According to Smith, even the plan to install sewer lines in a particular area can "jeopardize" zoning.
Speaking after the meeting, Naskiewicz said, "If [the council] runs sewer [lines] into the rural areas they will literally kill large-lot 6-acre zoning. It will fall like a house of cards. If we sewer, the courts will not find in our favor."
In an attempt to clarify the council’s position, Tobasco told everyone at the July 6 meeting, "We’re coming up with a plan for the town, not a plan to sewer the town."