The members of the Howell Zoning Board of Adjustment are scheduled to continue their review of a proposed office building on Sept. 21.
Representatives of Ford Road Equities came before the board on Aug. 10 seeking a use variance that would permit the development of a two-story, 16,000- square-foot office building on Ford Road near Route 9 and Irene Boulevard, Howell.
The project requires a use variance from the zoning board because an office building is not a permitted use in the Agricultural Rural Estate zone in which it is being proposed.
Attorney Kenneth Pape, who represents the applicant, said the proposed office building is expected to be a multi-tenant space and include medical offices.
Plans show 60 parking spaces for the building, which Pape said exceeds the required number of parking spaces.
Traffic engineer Scott Kennel said he expects the office building to generate a low volume of traffic and not to cause delays for vehicles entering or leaving the site.
Kennel said Ford Road could expecttoexperiencea1to2percent increase in motor vehicle volume as a result of the construction of the office building.
Residents in attendance at the meeting expressed concern and doubts regarding Kennel’s testimony. Officials said that aspect of the plan will be discussed at the next meeting.
Engineer Peter Strong, representing the applicant, described the plans for the site.
Officials said the property does not have public water or sewer service and said a well and septic system would be required.
“A storm water management facility will be underneath the parking lot with inlets to collect the surface water runoff, (from the) parking lot as well as the building,” Strong said.
“The storm water system below the parking lot is conforming (to code). All surface water is to be collected through the system. No water from this site would be directed out to Ford Road,” he added.
Testimony from the applicant’s professionals indicated that the site will have a significant amount of landscaping around the office building and to screen the building from Ford Road. LED lighting will be spaced around the parking lot to required levels.
Strong said the building will be served by a well because there is no public water at the site. He proposed a single 30-foot-wide entrance/exit from Ford Road.
Strong also suggested that Ford Road be widened across the frontage of the property to be developed.