Incredible but true: Our elected officials aim to sacrifice the little, green, wooded, Borough-owned lot at 58 North Passaic, right next to our Memorial Park, for two buildings, with four apartments and a parking lot.
The Borough bought that nearly 0.3-acre site for recreation, not housing. Check out this clip from the November 15, 1981 issue of The Chatham Press.
Borough taxpayers shelled out $68,000 to acquire that land by deed dated March 31, 1982.
Today, it’s officially deemed a tax-exempt playground.
Now the Council is trying to steamroll the Planning Board into sacrificing that green lot by cramming in a 4-unit housing project and parking lot, to satisfy 4/6 of the Borough’s new affordable housing quota.
That project would be set back only six feet from the sidewalk, establishing a precedent that would haunt the Borough forever.
The Borough needs to consider other ways to satisfy its housing quota so that we can preserve that green, grassy, treed, Borough-owned lot.
You can help! Attend the Planning Board meeting on June 4, 7:30 pm, at Borough Hall, 54 Fairmount Avenue. Chatham Borough. Use the north entrance and take the elevator to the upper level.
Please bring a friend. Showing up shows you care, even if you arrive late and leave early. Speaking is optional.
Zooming is almost as good. Log in following the directions on the Borough home page www.chathamborough.org. Don’t log out even if you can’t pay attention.
Really tied up on June 4? Email the Mayor & Council right now:
mayorcouncil@chathamborough.org
Cdempsey@chathamborough.org
Jmathiasen@chathamborough.org
Kkoronkiewicz@chathamborough.org
Itreloar@chathamborough.org
Jstrickland@chathamborough.org
Bhargrove@chathamborough.org
Khay@chathamborough.org
