HOWELL – In a surprising turn of events, the application for Monmouth Commerce Center’s warehouse complex on Randolph Road has been officially withdrawn.
A letter from the developer’s attorney addressed to the Planning Board provided a straightforward explanation regarding the decision to abandon the proposed project.
“The applicant, Monmouth Commerce Center, LLC, no longer has a proprietary interest in the subject property after recently selling the property,” wrote Attorney Meryl A. G. Gonchar.
In her correspondence, Gonchar refrained from disclosing the identity of the new property owner. Despite requests for comment, Gonchar remained unresponsive to discuss the changes. The undisclosed details have sparked a sense of intrigue surrounding the future of the site, situated at the intersection of Randolph Road and Glenn Oak Road.
According to a thorough examination of public property records, Todd Katz and Gary Katz, c/o Executors of Lawrence Katz and Felix Pflaster’s estates, transferred ownership of the property on May 19, 2023. The official deed, executed on that particular date, identifies 25/29 Stults, LLC as the recipient of the property, with a purchase price of $12 million.
A little more than a month later, on June 29, 2023, an open public records search lists a contract of sale from 25/29 Stults LLC to Mid-Atlantic Offshore Development LLC. No images of the documentation are available for review to determine the purchase price.
As recently as the planning board’s meeting on May 11, the Monmouth Commerce Center was listed on the agenda. The meeting was cancelled with residents expecting the application to be relisted in June.
According to Shawn Trahan, Mid-Atlantic Offshore Development Communications Director, Mid-Atlantic Offshore Development, LLC (MAOD’s) is a 50:50 joint venture with Shell New Energies US, LLC and EDF Renewables North America. Trahan acknowledged purchase of the land, but said the company does not supply comment on specific capital expenditures.
“I can tell you MAOD intends to use the parcel to construct electrical transmission infrastructure,” confirmed Trahan. “With the guidance of PJM, MAOD was awarded scope by the New Jersey Board of Public Utilities in October 2022 to build the Larrabee Collector Station.
MAOD’s website boasts an objective of supporting New Jersey’s ambitious target of delivering 7,500 megawatts of offshore wind energy by 2035.
A November 2022 press release issued by Mid-Atlantic states that “power from offshore wind farms in central New Jersey will be delivered onshore to a collection point in Monmouth County.”
This initiative aligns with the New Jersey Board of Public Utilities (BPU’s) award to Jersey Central Power and Light (JCP&L), assigning them the responsibility of constructing the connection between clean energy generated by the state’s offshore wind farms and the power grid.
Documentation reviewed from the State Board of Public Utilities indicates authorization given to MAOD to construct a new substation near the current Larrabee Substation in the municipality. The BPU recognized that eventually, up to four OSW generators may be required to construct their converter stations in the area.
The State Board of Public Utilities has authorized Mid-Atlantic to construct a new substation near the current Larrabee Substation in the municipality. The BPU recognized that eventually, up to four OSW generators may be required to construct their converter stations in the area.
Meanwhile, government officials and local residents have applauded Monmouth Commerce Center’s decision to abandon the mega-warehouse proposal in Howell. The project, which faced substantial resistance, included a court battle.
“I have been fighting this project with many people since it was first proposed,” said Mayor Theresa Berger, a Democrat. “It was too big for that location and should never have been proposed for that spot.”
Berger said she voiced persisting concerns regarding the potential ripple effect the mega-warehouse proposal could have triggered throughout the town.
Members of Howell’s all Republican town council and former Deputy Mayor Pam Richmond sent separate press releases regarding Monmouth Commerce’s application withdrawal.
Both press releases contain similar language attributed to Planning Board Chairman Paul Boisvert, who commended the hard work of past and present members of the committee. They “tirelessly sat through hours of testimony and raised serious concerns regarding the proposed development” according to one press release.
“Despite criticism from a small group of activists, the Planning Board remains steadfast in its commitment to adhering to the law and conducting thorough research,” reads the press release shared by Richmond.
The planning board application for the Monmouth Commerce Center was initially submitted by property owners Lawrence Katz and Felix Pflaster in 2018. After their attempt to secure approval for 1.2 million square feet of warehouse space was turned down, the developers sued. Both the trial court and the appeals court upheld the planning board’s denial, marking a significant setback for the project.
Monmouth Commerce Center returned to the planning board last year, presenting a revised and scaled-down plan for property development. The modified proposal entailed a notable reduction of approximately 32 percent in the warehouse space, resulting in a total area of 940,400 square feet.
Although Howell recently passed new zoning laws that would have prohibited the scope of the project, Monmouth Commerce Center’s application came before the change.
Dawn Van Brunt lives immediately down the road from the site of the proposed project. She took on the fight herself against the application when plans for the mega-warehouse were announced.
“I’m very happy this project was withdrawn,” said Van Brunt. “I fought against it in 2019 and believe had I not hired a lawyer and traffic expert; it may have been approved.
“I’m thankful to the residents and officials who joined in the fight,” Van Brunt continued. “I wish the town had changed the zoning sooner to avoid this second go around.”
Van Brunt said that she has personally contacted Mid-Atlantic Offshore Development to learn more about their plans. She’s hopeful a portion of this wooded property near the watershed can be preserved.
