Chester Plans For Post-COVID Life In 2021

CHESTER, NJ - As the holidays wind down and the 2021 sharpens into focus, officials in Chester Township are looking at what the community will be like post-COVID.

The Post-Covid Strategic Planning Committee met several times and sought to answer this question:

Where should Chester Township focus in a post-COVID environment?

This committee consisted of representatives from our standing committees/ commissions/boards and Township staff. The takeaways were:

Upgrade Wifi, JCP&L and Comcast

• Improvement of cell and internet service
• Add public wifi in our parks to accommodate remote
work/learning.

Expansion of gas service areas

Sidewalks

• Benefit both communities: increase foot traffic, help Borough businesses on Main Street and extending to the local farms, the Township will be safer and a more attractive place for home buyers as a walkable community, sidewalks would directly benefit older residents.

Transportation

• Recognize that our population is aging (14 percent are 65 & over, an increase of 65 percent since 2000) and address transportation needs, ideally through the private sector.

Community communications

• Invest in town hall communication infrastructure so that residents can remain informed and participate in public meetings without leaving their homes.
• Upgrade our website so that more services/actions can be contactless.

Support local businesses

• Ensure that outdoor dining will continue to be allowed even when current state of emergency ends.

Remain fiscally conservative and keep a close
watch on spending

Changes in real estate values

• Eight percent turnover of homes by the end of the year, with a return to home prices highs of 2006. Buyers are seeking homes with second offices, pools.

Plan and anticipate for future pandemics, power outages and other calamities:

• Budget for annual joint services emergency planning workshops.

Plan for multigenerational households

• More families will be choosing at-home options for elderly parents.
• Need to make sure our land use ordinances are in place to support these priorities.

Focus on passive & active recreation for all ages

• Recognize need to foster connections between residents during time of reduced in-person social interactions.

Invest in community communications

• Upgrade town hall communication infrastructure so that residents can remain informed and participate in public meetings without leaving their homes.

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