HOWELL HOWELL— At its meeting on Nov. 22, the Howell Township Council may introduce an ordinance to create a technical review committee and streamline the approval process for some minor site plan applications.
On Nov. 1, council members and municipal officials discussed the technical review committee and its role in reviewing minor site plans.
According to William Nunziato, township engineer, Howell does not currently distinguish between major site plan applications and minor site plan applications that come before the Planning Board seeking approval.
Nunziato said employees in Howell’s Community Development department have explored the possibility of creating a technical review committee. He said other towns use a technical review committee.
“This is something we want to explore and set some parameters on so minor things that may now require a lengthy process for a site plan [approval] could be done quicker,” he told the council.
Fees for minor site plans would be lower than what is charged for more substantial site plan applications, Nunziato said.
Township Attorney McKenna Kingdon said the technical review committee would report to the Planning Board.
The committee would not represent a cost to the township because all of its members would be in-house personnel, Township Manager Helene
Schlegel said.
Councilwoman Pauline Smith said she believes a technical review committee could benefit Howell if it is implemented correctly.
“This is one of those things that I think is a really good idea, but we have to make sure we get it right and cover all the bases,” Smith said.
The councilwoman said she is specifically concerned about who would sit on the proposed technical review committee.
Mayor Robert Walsh said, “I’m all for this. I think we are all on the right page here. We want to make the store a little easier to manage, but we don’t want to give away the store. I think we could make it easier and a little less burdensome [for Planning Board applicants], but still make sure the taxpayers of Howell are protected at all times.”
— James McEvoy