HOWELL – An application proposing a new business, Tall Oaks Farm and Brewery, to be built on Colts Neck Road was recently approved by the members of the Howell Township Planning Board.
According to the application, the applicant AATZ Holding, LLC and 214 Colts Neck Road Partnership (Lot 79.01) and 196 Colts Neck Road Partnership (Lot 79.02) as owners were seeking preliminary and final major site plan approval to build a one-story, 2,815-square-foot building for use as a microbrewery.
In addition, they proposed to construct a hops fields, a 30-foot by 60-foot open pavilion, a 20-foot by 20-foot shed, a patio area with an overhead pergola and an outdoor grass seating area.
At the meeting, applicants Chelsey and Michael Ziolkowski were present and explained the details of the proposed project.
“We currently own a microbrewery in Bradley Beach. We have been open for about three-and-a-half years,” Michael said. “It has always been a passion of ours to open up a more farm-like, outdoor-like brewery outside of what we currently have in Bradley Beach. Our intent is to continue to run the brewery in Bradley Beach, and this becomes our second project and includes some additional things we always wanted to do that we did not get a chance to do in Bradley Beach.”
Michael also said how the proposed building in Howell would have a small office and offer a tasting room. The outside seating area and the small pavilion would be used to host outdoor events while the hops field would only serve the business.
Michael said the idea of this new business is to “have an environment for folks to come to, to meet outside, to enjoy beer, to take some things to go.”
“Our tasting room is where you can actually come in and have a beer, take some to go, experience this whole farm-like, brewery aesthetic. Our proposed hours for the tasting room are noon to 10 p.m.,” Michael said. “Our goal is really to focus on the tasting room experience, with some supplemental support for some of the production we are trying to do out of Bradley Beach right now.”
They were represented by Attorney Michael Wenning.
Planning Board Chairman Brian Tannenhaus, Councilwoman Pamela Richmond, Robert Seaman, Paul Boisvert, Nicholas Huszar, Robert Nicastro, Lara Casper and Joseph Cristiano all voted “yes” to approve the brewery’s application.
