Jim,

Just want to bring this below email to your attention.  As you know this is one of the most common complaints we get.  This is from 5 Vicksburg which has a Conservation/Farmland Buffer easement at the rear.  In the picture attached the survey wheel is approximately the line of the easement.  We will handle the obvious violation of the structure within the easement but the resident makes a good point about these buffers – why should our ordinance require these to be left completely intact?  This homeowner installed sprinklers in this area which technically have to be removed.  The restrictions on these buffers to do nothing does result in them becoming unsightly, overgrown and usually infested with poison ivy and similar invasive plants.  I wonder if there is a middle ground with more expansive plantings, but the allowance to mow and maintain the area?

 

This is just such a common complaint that I wanted to bring this up.  Also when we tell him to remove the structure I have a feeling he will go over my head.

 

Matthew R. Howard, PSM

Land Use Director

 

Township of Howell

4567 Route 9 North, 2nd Floor

Howell, NJ 07731

P: 732-938-4500 x2334

 

 

 

 

 

From: Julian Leone [mailto:[email address]]
Sent: Sunday, September 30, 2018 3:46 AM
To: Matthew Howard
Cc: Janet Majorana; John Aguiar
Subject: Notice of Violation

 

Hi Matthew,

I would like to thank your department for the violation letter that I received today.  As I mentioned to your inspector we were robbed of $45,000 from a contractor who gave us bad information and assured us that everything we were doing in the backyard was approved by the town.  While that matter is currently in court it was a pleasant surprise to be notified of a summons for the work that the contractor did.  Not your problem at all but you can imagine the rage that a letter like that would cause given the sensitivity of the situation.

My question to you at 3:44am is whether or not your office would refrain from issuing a summons while we file a land use variance request with the zoning board.  My understanding of the purpose of a farmland buffer is to protect me from the farm.  While we didn’t remove any of the vegetation, I am not sure where in the regulation it says that we are not allowed to cut the grass in that buffer.  That said, we will be spending the thousands of dollars necessary to hire a lawyer and get a survey done so that we can ask the zoning board for a pass.  

We spend a ton of money to make the house look nice but it seems like your office would rather weeds growing so that we can blend in with the trailer parks and homeless refuges.  I now understand why Howell is such a shit hole.  You will please excuse my language.  I can’t sleep over this nonsense and it’s the nicest way of expressing my gratitude.  Please let me know if there is any flexibility to let us take this up with the zoning board.  

Thanks,
Julian



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