Post Office Plaza Redevelopment Update Expected For Chatham

CHATHAM, NJ — Residents may have more information and an update on the Post Office Plaza redevelopment in weeks ahead, according to the borough’s mayor.

Mayor Thaddeus Kobylarz shared during his mayor's update at Monday’s meeting, that he has not been able to discuss the redevelopment project publicly, because of “multi-party confidential discussions” that have been in the works. Kobylarz said he may be able to provide more information to the public by the Feb. 28 council meeting.

The council has a special meeting planned this coming Tuesday, which will head into closed session after public comment to discuss “pending affordable housing litigation and attorney client privileged advice regarding affordable housing and any other matters that can lawfully be discussed in closed session,” according to the special meeting information and agenda posted by Borough Clerk Steve Williams, after Monday night’s council meeting. The agenda details that the borough’s Planner Kendra Lelie and the project’s financial advisor Robert Powell, would be attending the upcoming special meeting.

The meeting is planned for Facebook Live with Zoom access here or by phone at 929-205-6099 and meeting ID 812 4779 0166.

At past meetings, including one in September when Lelie presented on the project, Kobylarz stressed that borough plans for Post Office Plaza redevelopment and affordable housing, would be at a scale suitable for the borough’s small-town, suburban community. Kobylarz also said multiple discussions about the site’s direction would take place at series of town hall meetings, to allow “every single resident who would like to say something,” the chance to speak about the project.

Resident Bob Weber commented during the public session of the virtual meeting on Monday that in the mayor’s annual message at the start of the year, and the last two council meetings, there has been no mention of redevelopment. Weber called it “one of the most — if not the most — important issues facing the borough at this time.”

Weber told Kobylarz that he understood that specifics could not be discussed at Monday’s meeting, but asked that the borough make available on its website “a full accounting of all the direct and indirect ancillary costs associated with the redevelopment of post office plaza that have been incurred over the last five years including any funds reimbursed by the previously designated redeveloper.”

“I think whether you’re for redevelopment or against redevelopment of Post Office Plaza, the public has a right to know, how much money the borough has put out regarding Post Office Plaza and how much we received back from any of the redevelopers,” Weber said.

Resident Val Clark, who also commented, said she planned to steer away from the Post Office Plaza discussion and instead wanted to speak about River Road’s redevelopment project. She said though the borough had expressed an interest in tech or a pharmaceutical company moving into that area, she suggested instead the site could be a viable location for a curling club. With it an Olympic year, Clark felt it was a timely consideration, stating the curling clubs pay taxes, are “good neighbors” and “would attract nice people.”

Watch the clip below for Kobylarz’s full remarks and the public's comments:

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