Revised Application For Exxon Development To Be Heard In Chatham

CHATHAM, NJ — Developers looking to modify an existing auto repair shop in Chatham Borough to add a Tiger Mart convenience store will be presenting a new redesigned site plan at the Tuesday night Historic Preservation Commission meeting.

The initial application, submitted by Danny Realty LLC, was shot down by the commission on Sept. 19.

According to a Historic Preservation Commission report, the decision not to recommend the initial site plan was made because the application did not adequately respond to objectives included in the "Design Guidelines for Rehabilitation and New Construction" for the Main Street Historic District, which are available on the Chatham Borough Website.

The Exxon gas station is located at 185 Main Street, at the corner of Hillside Avenue.

"It is important to note that it is the HPC’s opinion that there are many favorable actions the property owner can take at 185 Main to improve the property’s appearance and make it more compatible with the historic fabric of Chatham Borough’s Main Street. The HPC would welcome the opportunity to work with the owner’s representatives to achieve that goal," the commission report said.

Danny Realty LLC plans to modify the existing auto repair shop on the property by replacing the inside with a convenience store and building additional lighting and landscape improvements.

The building on the site in question, according to the Historic Preservation Commission, is a "non-contributing structure" in the historic district because it was built in the 1930s and remodeled in 1982.

As part of their initial application, the applicants had proposed signage for Exxon that included LED lights for its gas prices.

Danny Realty had first suggested the new monument sign in a Historic Preservation Commission meeting in December 2022. At the time, commissioners proposed a lower scale, a reduction in the area of the signs itself, color changes, and the elimination of the sign's digital pricing point components.

At the September meeting, commissioners questioned why the design for the sign had not incorporated any of the recommendations given at the December meeting.

"It is HPC’s opinion that the scale and graphics presented are not appropriate for the Historic District. Internally illuminated signs are not permitted in Chatham Borough ordinances," the report stated.

Since the proposal was first announced, some homeowners have raised concerns about the possible increase in lights and traffic that the convenience store could bring to the neighborhood.

Others have voiced worry about the prospect of extended business hours; however, the application specifies that the store's hours of operation would stay the same, which are currently 6 a.m. to 10 p.m.

The application was initially meant to be heard by the Chatham Borough Zoning Board back in July but was then pushed back until Aug. 23, then to Sept. 27, and now finally to Oct. 25.

The zoning board had previously explained that the setback was necessary to allow the Historic Preservation Commission to provide its feedback.

The agenda for the Oct. 17 Chatham Borough Historic Preservation Commission meeting can be viewed here.