2nd Meeting Planned For Convenience Store Application In Chatham

CHATHAM, NJ — Developers looking to modify an existing auto repair shop in Chatham Borough to add a convenience store will go before the zoning board once again in the new year.

According to the Chatham Borough Zoning Board, a second meeting planned for the end of January will be dedicated to the Danny Realty LLC application, which is looking to convert an existing auto repair shop into a convenience store.

Representatives for Danny Realty went before the Chatham Borough Historic Preservation Commission for the third time last month, gaining approval for their revised building design for a "Chatham Convenience Store" at the Exxon Station located at 185 Main St.

On Dec. 20, the zoning board held its initial hearing on the application after months of delays.

The application was initially meant to be heard by the zoning board back in July but was then pushed back until Aug. 23, then to Sept. 27, then to Oct. 25 and finally until Dec. 20.

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

At the start of the three-hour-long meeting, board chair Michael Cifelli informed the public that the proposal would most likely not be approved in one meeting, recognizing the high level of public interest in this development.

Following the meeting, the zoning board announced that a special meeting would be convened to complete all of the testimony for the Danny Realty plan and allow adequate time for the public to ask questions and comment on the project.

According to initial application records, the applicant planned 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.

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 expressed concern about the possibility of extended business hours.

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