HOWELL — Residents of Howell’s Freewood Acres section have had their say on a plan that could eventually bring a sewer system to their neighborhood.
Freewood Acres is the area of numbered streets that intersect Route 9 just north of the highway’s intersection with Interstate 195.
In recent weeks, municipal officials have discussed the possibility of addressing ongoing issues that involve failing septic systems and noxious odors in Freewood Acres.
Residents of Freewood Acres currently rely on a combination of wells and septic systems, while some homes are connected to a Manasquan River Regional Sewerage Authority (MRRSA) line that runs through the area, according to James Herrman, Howell’s director of community development.
There are 620 residential lots in Freewood Acres, 85 of which are connected to the MRRSA line.
A project to bring sewers to the area would include all portions of Freewood Acres on the east and west sides of Route 9, according to Herrman.
The east side will include Wilentz Avenue, a portion of Windeler Road, Georgia Tavern Road from just east of Helen Avenue to Route 9, and all interior portions of Freewood Acres.
The west side will include Hulses Corner Road from Route 9 to Smith Street and all interior portions of the Freewood Acres neighborhood.
The estimated cost of the project is $13.7 million.
The project will be several years in the making and will require permits to be obtained from the state Department of Environmental Protection and the state Department of Transportation, and attention will be paid to soil erosion and sediment control, according to municipal officials.
Councilman Robert Walsh said a one-time municipal connection fee to the system could be waived for Freewood Acres residents.
Mayor Bill Gotto said Howell officials do not have the authority to waive a $1,989 MRRSA connection fee.
Officials said they will look into the possibility of getting public water service to homes that are served by wells.
In regard to who is required to hook up to a sewer system, officials said a connection is required if the sewer line comes within 100 feet of a residence.
However, if a home has a septic system more than 5 years old, a full inspection will be required and, if results show the septic system is functioning normally, a connection to the sewer line would not be required, according to Township Attorney McKenna Torcivia. The inspection and report must be done annually.
Jerry Carbonaro said he has lived in the neighborhood since 1988. He said residents have been promised sewers and sidewalks.
“The neighborhood has a lot of unhealthy sewage systems, and I believe the needs of the many outweigh the needs of the few. I am totally for it and wish I could afford to have everyone be hooked up because I do believe it is important for responsible people to do the responsible thing for the neighborhood,” Carbonaro said.
Nina Posidelow said, “I received a notice that the sewer extension would be up for conversation, but there was no documentation with it. I remember growing up in Freewood Acres and waiting for sewers and sidewalks so I can feel like a regular Howell citizen. I think it is the council’s responsibility to look at funding options because the residents of this community have waited long enough.”
Gotto said the governing body’s action to move ahead with the Freewood Acres sewer project would be “one of the most monumental changes to happen in Howell in the past 30 years.”
While council members have indicated a desire to proceed with the sewer construction project, they have not yet voted on any aspect of the project.
In other business, the council introduced an ordinance amending sewer user charges.
According to the ordinance, sewer user charges will be for residential dwellings with kitchen facilities, such as a single-family or multi-family dwelling and mobile homes.
The minimum sewer rental charge will be $736 per year per residential dwelling with kitchen facilities. This amount is $56 less than the current $792 fee.
For a residential dwelling without kitchen facilities, including a hotel, motel, boarding house, cottage or tourist cabin, the minimum sewer rental charge will decrease from $396 to $368 per year.
Churches, fraternal organizations, service organizations, public buildings and schools will have a minimum sewer rental of $780 per year, per unit. Commercial and industrial businesses will have a minimum sewer rental of $780 per year, per unit.
A public hearing on the ordinance is scheduled for 7 p.m. March 16 at Town Hall, Route 9. The council may vote to adopt the ordinance after the public hearing.
Contact Taylor M. Lier at [email protected].