Preserving Howells Agricultural Roots To Be Subject Of Assembly

HOWELL, NJ — Keeping local agriculture thriving and preserving farmland in town will be among the topics discussed at an upcoming meeting of the township Farmer’s Advisory Committee and Preservation Task Force.

Community Development Director Matthew Howard said the meeting will be on March 23, at 6:30 p.m., at the Municipal Building.

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Members of the Howell Township Farmers Advisory Committee and the Preservation Task Force will be presenting the Comprehensive Farmland Preservation Plan Element of Howell Township’s Master Plan at the meeting.

“Howell Township’s elected officials and committee members are deeply committed to preserving our natural resources, open space and agricultural foundation,” Howard said in a news release about the meeting.

The plan will identify and list potential properties that may be eligible for grant funding on a state, county and local level for farmland preservation.

Other goals of the plan include:

• Preserving open farmland from pressures of development.
• Improving sustainability of Howell’s natural resources.
• Supporting local agricultural businesses.

Officials and farming committee members will be on hand to discuss preservation and the plan.

“We invite you and your neighbors to hear about the draft plan and learn about the possibility of preserving your land. Existing owners who have preserved their property are welcome to attend and share their experience,” the news release said.

This meeting will also be an opportunity to showcase farming practices and how they contribute to the town’s farming community. In addition, this is an opportunity to get to know local farmers, landowners and connect with local resources.

According to the township master plan, tax records indicate are a total of 597 farmland-assessed tax parcels within Howell.

These parcels represent a combined total of approximately 5,645 acres, the master plan says.

Howell is 61.21 square miles or 39,174.4 acres, meaning the farmland assessed properties account for approximately 14 percent of the municipality. This compares to a total of 49,000 acres of farm-assessed properties in Monmouth County for the same year.

According to the master plan, the township, in conjunction with the county, the state and the private sector, will “actively encourage, support and assist participation by local farmers and landowners in . . . farmland preservation programs in order to preserve as much farmland in the township as possible in the short term.”

“We see this as an opportunity to come together for the betterment of our town’s future,” Howard said in the news release.

If you would like to know learn more about Howell Township Farmers Advisory Committee and Farmland Preservation Task Force please email [email protected].

You can view the master plan and other documents at this township link: https://www.twp.howell.nj.us/286/Farmers-Advisory-Committee.

The meeting will be at 6:30 p.m. March 23 at the Howell Municipal Building, 4567 Route 9, Howell, in the Main Meeting Room, second floor.