Testimony is expected to resume on April 27 on the Chelsea Commons application that is currently before the Howell Zoning Board of Adjustment.
Applicant and owner Marvin Kornmehl of Chelsea Commons at Howell LLC is proposing to build a 126-unit age-restricted housing development on property at the corner of Route 9 north and Salem Hill Road, Howell.
The applicant is seeking a use variance from the zoning board in order to construct a residential use in a highway development zone. The property adjoins St. Veronica Parish.
Testimony on the Chelsea Commons application continued at the zoning board’s March 16 meeting. Several residents objected to the plan that evening.
Attorney Gerald Sonnenblick, representing the applicant, said, “Nobody wants this. The point is that if we are going to be there, what is best” for that site.
“We are the less intrusive use,” Sonnenblick said.
Professional planner James Higgins testified that in his opinion, the use variance should be granted because “the site is suited for the proposed uses. It is isolated from all other commercial uses on Route 9. There is no specific zoning for age-restricted [projects]. The site has access to transportation, proximity to services, and it is geared toward modest-income families, with units ranging from $1,400 to $1,500 monthly.”
Higgins said the proposed residential use is a better plan compared to a permitted commercial use because “in terms of impact on surrounding properties, a commercial use would create more garbage, activity, loading, lighting issues on site, noise and later hours of operation.”
He added, “This is really a transitional use between Route 9 and residences. It also promotes smart growth.”
The proposal has drawn opposition from residents who live near the property. Residents have said they believe Chelsea Commons would create more traffic and result in an unsafe area for the St. Veronica congregation and students at St. Veronica School.
Resident Brian McCarthy opposed the applicant’s request for a use variance. He said the Chelsea Commons project will negatively impact the St. Veronica School and all parish activities.
Previous testimony indicated that vehicles will reach Chelsea Commons via an access on the St. Veronica property.
“Allowing vehicular traffic to the church property will pose a significant danger to all who use the property. If this variance is granted, there would be a traffic accident waiting to happen,” McCarthy said.
Debra McCarthy also spoke against the application.
“Having been a long-term parishioner of St. Veronica’s and the parent of four children who attended St. Veronica School, I had to serve as a traffic cop for many years as cars whizzed through the school’s mall,” she said.
“Granting this variance would only increase the number of cars,” McCarthy added. “I know we need ratables to keep taxes in check, but do we really need to develop every piece of property, even property that’s part of a jughandle?”
Roger Avallone said he saw no benefit to the Chelsea Commons project at all. He said it would do nothing to improve the quality of life for residents.
Mark Krupnick had a different view of the application, saying, “The applicant has a right to develop the property. Along some lines it would seem to me that the property’s [proposed] use might be a better use than some of the permitted uses in the highway development zone. I think the board should strongly consider granting the applicant his use variance.”