HOWELL – The Howell Planning Board has granted final approval to an application that proposed the construction of an age-restricted (seniors) apartment complex on Route 9.
With final municipal approval in place, MGD Holdings HOW, LLC, will move forward with a plan to construct 100 market rate apartments in four buildings on Route 9 north between Alexander Avenue and Estelle Lane. Attorney Steven Gouin and engineer Anthony Castillo represented the applicant at the board’s March 15 meeting.
“The balance of the property, other than what we are proposing to develop, is going to be deed restricted and become a conservation area (for Howell),” Gouin said, explaining that the conservation area will be between 50 and 60 acres.
“Our development of the (four buildings) is going to be concentrated on about a 4-acre portion of the property along Route 9. The balance of the property is wetlands and heavily wooded, and it will be restricted from further development,” the attorney said.
During public comment, resident Elaine Taylor said the back of her property borders the applicant’s property and she requested that a fence be installed to separate the two parcels.
“My property butts up against (the MGD Holdings HOW) property in the back and I have a farm. I am concerned about any kids who are going to come over and bother the animals. I am just concerned about liability, I do not want anybody getting hurt,” Taylor said.
Testimony provided by the applicant’s representatives indicated Taylor’s property borders the portion of the developer’s tract that will be deed restricted to Howell as a conservation area.
Castillo said Taylor’s property line would be several hundred feet away from the portion of the MGD Holdings HOW property that will be developed with the apartment buildings.
Taylor said she wanted to put on the record that she did not want anyone to get hurt and Castillo said the apartment complex will be surrounded by a fence.