Post Office Plaza Possibilities Discussed Among Chatham Council, Residents: Watch

CHATHAM, NJ — As all municipalities in New Jersey are required to provide for affordable housing in their towns, the topic on one tract in particular, Post Office Plaza in Chatham Borough, has been one potential development that has left some residents with questions.

To help give residents with questions a clearer overview of the full picture, at the most recent meeting on Sept. 27, Chatham Borough’s Planner Kendra Lelie presented a detailed picture for residents, with background about the history of New Jersey’s affordable housing requirements, as well as the potential plans for Post Office Plaza.

As part of Chatham’s requirements for affordable housing, Lelie presented that although Chatham Borough has an unmet need of 320 units, as per an amended settlement agreement from June 14 that resulted from a developer’s mid-point review of the borough’s affordable housing requirements through the third and prior round state requirements, based on availability of vacant land, the reality is less.

In 2016, Lelie said, the realistic development potential or RDP for 2016 was 36 units, but to include its third round affordable housing requirements in 2021, the settlement agreement from June stated 71 affordable units were required.

This would leave the requirement, based on other development possibilities within the borough, for Post Office Plaza at an approximate 15 affordable units, within an estimated 100 unit building. However, Lelie and Development Attorney John Hague, who participated in the discussion virtually, said the affordable housing number could be lower dependent on those other developments.

Residents inquired if there could be other possibilities for developing, including those on the outskirts of the borough, with concerns about issues in the Post Office Plaza area for parking and traffic. Lelie stated that municipalities are encouraged to take a “smart growth” approach with their affordable housing, to provide low and moderate-income residents who may not have a car, with better access to transit and retail areas.

Fran Drew was one resident who discussed the use of unoccupied space, including a building by Shepard Kollock Park, as well as others in the Main Street vicinity.

Based on comments from the audience, Mayor Thaddeus Kobylarz stressed that borough land would neither be sold, nor given away. He said the scale of whatever is developed would be suitable for the Chatham’s small-town, surburban community.

“My commitment is to be consistent,” Kobylarz said. “We are exploring a number of avenues to do so.”

“We do need to work within our legal constraints and that’s basically the hand that’s been dealt to us,” Kobylarz added. “Within that framework, this is very much still a work in progress and the final outcome isn’t very clear to any of us up here yet, but we’ll keep you informed.”

He said the discussion from the public on the topic was important and “without you, we’d be flying blindly;” and told residents they were “providing the contours of what will eventually happen at Post Office Plaza.”

Kobylarz said it is a topic that will be continued and he looks forward to further discussion with residents.

Council Member Frank Truilo said two years ago, he listened to the original presentation about Post Office Plaza from a developer, stating he was “surprised and taken aback” by the density and scale of what was then proposed, feeling that five-stories - the initially proposed scale - and more than 230 units, was “way over the top for Chatham.”

“I thought then and I think now that, that type of density and scale would have destroyed our wonderful downtown, small-town feeling,” Truilo added.

“I don’t think anyone on council or in this room tonight, would agree with that original proposal,” Truilo said.

Truilo said that moving forward, he believes that residents and the council should explore the possibilities together “of what Post Office Plaza can be.”

He envisioned open space, “a village green, a gathering place for people, instead of automobiles.”

“I do see some residential, some second and third floor max,” Truilo said. “I think that would be acceptable, but at a much, lesser, reduced scale of what was initially proposed.”

He suggested more restaurants, opening onto terraces for outdoor dining as a possibility as well for Post Office Plaza, “instead of eating outdoors in a parking lot or a sidewalk, it would be wonderful to eat on a terrace," he said, discussing how COVID has changed the way people now dine.

“I think Post Office Plaza, the way it is right now, it is not the most attractive part of town, but I really think it can be,” Truilo said.

Borough officials said they would have a series of town halls to allow “every single resident who would like to say something,” given the opportunity to present their input.

Watch the full presentation and discussion from the most recent meeting about Post Office Plaza and affordable housing here:

For the borough’s settlement agreement, click here.

Questions or comments about this story? Have a news tip? Contact me at: jennifer.miller@patch.com.