HOWELL – Members of the Howell Township Zoning Board unanimously voted against a proposed warehouse and storage facility to be built along Fort Plains Road.
According to the application, Fort Plains Partner LLC proposed a commercial development on a 34-acre parcel which would include one four-story flex warehouse with mezzanine office space and a four-story self-storage building.
The proposed development would run parallel to Fort Plains Road, but the main entrances could only be accessed by the public on Route 9, with no entrances on Fort Plains Road.
The application was first heard on August 26, 2024 and was carried multiple times up to the recent Zoning Board meeting on March 24, 2025. The additional testimony presented at the meeting discussed design issues that were brought up previously by board members.
“There was a safety and an aesthetic element of the discussion when the architect was presenting the rear of the flex building. We have addressed that in a modest redesign,” said Kenneth Pape, who represented Fort Plains Partner LLC.
The updated version addressed ADA access into the offices. Engineer Louis Zugner noted in the site plans that they shifted the buildings five feet north, away from Fort Plains Road, to provide more function to the office side, building steps and ADA ramps into each office door.
In his closing remarks, Pape noted that the Township requested the applicants to eliminate the Bungalow community on the property due to their “poor conditions.”
At this time, the company had not secured any tenants for the flex space. Township Planner Jennifer Beahm expressed that the impact and the implication of the development is still relatively unknown.
“I appreciate the applicant’s efforts to mitigate the safety concerns that were raised. However, it doesn’t change my overall opinion on the fact that we still don’t understand the tenants. We don’t know who’s going to be coming in and out, the frequency, etc.,” Beahm said. “The site was evaluated – specifically all sites on Route 9 because we paid particular attention to the uses on Route 9 – flex was not identified as appropriate in this location. I still have the same opinion on the suitability and the potential negative impact from this type of use at this location.”
“I understand it’s Zone HD1, however this is not a typical lot that we see on Route 9. It’s limited access on Route 9, it’s long and skinny, it impacts into a residential neighborhood, and without understanding exactly what is going there the negative impact is still not resolved when it comes to my analysis,” Beahm said.
“There’s a lot that’s going into the site and one of them is not a permitted use and you’re adding two uses on a lot and jamming it all into a tight space,” Township Engineer Charles Cunliffe added.
“In regards to the Bungalows, the application before you is a completely separate issue from the Bungalows that are being demolished,” Aguiar said. “The Bungalows do not meet State housing codes standards. It was an option not a demand by the Township to tear them down. It was an option that the applicant had. He chose that, for whatever reason, it wasn’t in his best interest to continue with the Bungalows. A separate case that started way before this application, was put together and an agreement was made that they would be vacated and torn down, regardless of how you vote.”
Zoning Board Secretary Glenn Cantor made a motion to deny the proposed warehouse and storage facility.
“After hearing all of the testimony, it is my opinion that the applicant has not proven to me that the positive benefits of this site would exceed any of the negative impact to the community of Howell.” Cantor said
“I agree with Mr. Cantor and I agree with the professionals. There were not enough positive criteria to grant this,” Chairman Richard Mertens added.
The Howell Times reached out to the Township for further clarification on the Bungalow community located on Fort Plains Road.
Matthew Howard, Director of Community Development and Land Use Officer explained that it is up to the property owners whether they want to keep the bungalows or not.
“If they do, they need to be brought up to State code, as it’s been years since they were last evaluated,” Howard noted.
No further information regarding the future of the bungalows was given at this time.
