Developer wants to extinguish Howell’s famous Flame Proposal calls for adult community to be built on Route 33 property

Developer wants to extinguish Howell’s famous Flame
Proposal calls for adult
community to be built
on Route 33 property

VERONICA YANKOWSKI The sign for the Flame Motel has been a familiar sight to motorists on Route 33, Howell, for decades. The Township Council recently heard a plan that may mean the end of the line for the venerable business.

HOWELL — A proposal for an upscale adult community is being looked upon favorably by the governing body, which would have to rezone certain property in order to allow the plan to proceed, according to Township Clerk and interim Town-ship Manager Bruce Davis.

Crawford Corners is a development concept that was presented to the Town-ship Council earlier this fall for review. Officials indicated that zoning density in the area would have to be changed in order to accommodate an age-restricted adult community for people age 55 and older at 1.2 units per acre.

Developer Terry Sherman of the Crawford Group told the council his company has developed similar communities in New Jersey and New York. He said the planned development, to be built on a 35-acre site on Route 33, would include the razing of the Flame Motel to make way for the construction of about 400 single-family homes in a gated community. Sherman said the price of the homes would range from about $249,000 to $300,000 and result in annual tax revenues to Howell of $2.2 million.

"Our community will be more aesthetically pleasing to Howell than the Flame Motel," the developer said.

VERONICA YANKOWSKI A developer’s plan to build an adult community on Route 33, Howell, could mean that the Flame Motel would be demolished to make way for houses carrying a price tag of between $249,000 and $300,000.

Sherman said the concept would be for what he called an "active, upscale adult community." He said the plan is based on "changing demographics of aging baby boomers in New Jersey."

The developer told council members an adult community would present minimal impact on traffic during peak hours.

Two entrance and exit points are planned; one on Route 33 and one on Cranberry Road with a dual access for emergency vehicles. An emergency access route only would be built on Colts Neck Road for emergency vehicles.

According to Sherman, the gated community would feature a clubhouse with indoor and outdoor pools, exercise and assembly rooms and a kitchen.

The development of the site would include the donation of an open space tract to the township as well as the development of jogging and walking trails to be paid for by the builder.

Public water is available and Sherman said a pump station would be built for a sewer connection to Farmingdale. He said officials of the Manasquan River Regional Sewerage Authority and the New Jersey-American Water Company have indicated that capacity is available to serve the development.

The homes would be a choice of brick, stone or stucco facades of eight different styles with three different front elevations. Sherman said the lots are oversized for an adult community because the firm’s research has indicated that people want the feeling of a yard. Lot sizes will be 60 by 120 feet; corner lots will be 80 by 120 feet.

In closing his presentation, Sherman told members of the council, "Obviously this project would be a benefit to us, but we believe it would be a significant gain to the community to get rid of the Flame Motel and gain a desirable ratable."

Mayor Timothy J. Konopka called the proposal a "desirable ratable with no school impact," saying there was a need for adult communities.

Councilwoman Kimberly Alvarez called the proposal a "beautiful concept."

Alvarez and Konopka both told Sherman they would like to see some commercial and professional development at the site in order to meet the daily needs of the residents of the development for such things as a pharmacy or a doctor’s office.

The immediate area surrounding the subject property is zoned for highway development and commercial use.

Davis told the members of governing body that if any rezoning was to be done, it had to be passed before the end of the calendar year. A unanimous council directed Davis to draw up an ordinance introduction for the Nov. 26 meeting in an effort to be prepared to move ahead on the proposal if it gets a thumbs up from the planner.

Konopka did note there would be an impact on township services such as police, fire and first aid.

"What are you willing to do?" Konopka asked Sherman.

The developer told Konopka, "We are willing to do our share to offset the impact on the community."

Councilwoman Cynthia Schomaker expressed dismay over information that she said indicated the builder had first introduced the concept for the development to township attorney Richard Schibell before coming before the council.

Schomaker wanted to know what authority Schibell was proceeding under when meeting to discuss such matters without the express direction of the council to do so.

Schibell said that as township attorney he routinely is approached by business operators or entrepreneurs who speak to him as a way of testing the waters on a particular idea.

The attorney noted that at present there were "at least three such proposals from attorneys sitting on my desk awaiting my review."

Schibell said he participates in these discussions but does not bill Howell for these services and, therefore, no proven authorization is needed. Schibell said if a particular proposal sounds as if it would be beneficial to the town, he forwards it along for discretionary review by the mayor and council members.

Konopka directed the township planner’s office to review the Crawford Group’s proposal and give a recommendation to the governing body.