realistic developmnet poteitial

At Monday’s meeting, the Mayor & Council intend to accept the huge affordable housing Prospective Need quota imposed by the state last October 18. https://legistarweb-production.s3.amazonaws.com/uploads/attachment/pdf/3106163/RESOLUTION__25-87_COMMITTING_TO_COMPLY_WITH_AFFORDABLE_HOUSING_OBLIGATIONS.pdf

https://www.njcourts.gov/sites/default/files/administrative-directives/2024/12/dir_14_24.pdf

To fill that quota with inclusionary rental housing, Chatham Borough would be forced to make space for more than 1,200 additional families, putting at least 2,000 additional cars on our busy streets.

Why haven’t the Mayor & Council demanded an adjustment for the lack of vacant land in the Borough?

If they go ahead and accept the number, will they have another opportunity to demand an adjustment?

When will they make that demand? What are the chances they’’ll get it?

At the same meeting, the Mayor & Council are also poised to adopt a resolution to amend the state’s affordable housing law to do away with “unrealistic burdens” on municipalities. https://legistarweb-production.s3.amazonaws.com/uploads/attachment/pdf/3106150/RESOLUTION__25-85_RESOLUTION_SUPPORTING_NJILGA_LEGISLATION.pdf

Here’s the proposed amendment: https://www.newjerseyhills.com/west_morris_reporter/news/bucco-calls-for-responsible-growth-in-regard-to-affordable-housing/article_55dad006-d8f7-11ef-b37f-3fee22524221.html

But the Mayor & Council have yet to announce any efforts toward advancing that amendment or reducing the unrealistic burdens on Chatham Borough. https://www.njcourts.gov/courts/civil/affordable-housing?fbclid=IwY2xjawIA3-pleHRuA2FlbQIxMQABHQVmSy-JmZvt7OZupIHS4SES1HwsPN3zxvm1FyKEeeRSuHAlm8D8HCvO_w_aem_ndPSSH2i6leLkR2aqu3RHw

When are we going to get some answers?

Why didn’t the Council consider the environmental risks and consequences BEFORE commissioning a Plan to Redevelop River Road, adding at least another 1,000 residents in a 500+ unit apartment project twice the size of the Ivy? https://chathamchoice.org/2024/10/will-the-truth-come-out/

Why didn’t they consider the effect on our water supply, for instance?

Chatham Borough draws its water supply from the Buried Valley Aquifer system of the Central Passaic River Basin via three deep wells near the Middle School.

https://www.chathamborough.org/forms-documents/forms/maps/1263-chatham-borough-well-head-protection-area-overlay-zone/file

https://www.chathamborough.org/government/forms/public-works/2450-2023-water-quality-report-chatham-water-utility/file https://www.usgs.gov/centers/new-jersey-water-science-center/major-aquifers-new-jersey

https://www.chathamborough.org/forms-documents/forms/maps/1263-chatham-borough-well-head-protection-area-overlay-zone/file

Because “there is no practicable or affordable alternate water supply, as certified by the United States Environmental Protection Agency,”https://ecode360.com/6793268#6793268, the Borough Code restricts the use of water, even when there’s no drought.

https://ecode360.com/6796030

Given the scarcity of well water, why did our Council allow the Ivy project on River Road to bring in at least 500 more residents and even put a swimming pool on the roof in the middle of a drought?

https://chathamborough.org/government/news/453-nj-declares-drought-watch

https://chathamborough.org/government/documents/forms-documents/redevelopment-projects-documents/river-road-redevelopment-documents/2181-11-community-impact-statement-bne-chatham-2021-02-23-with-schools-and-updated-bedroom-mix/file

And why is the Council now rushing to build another huge apartment project in the middle of another drought?

https://www.tapinto.net/towns/chatham/sections/news-around-new-jersey/articles/drought-warning-declared-in-new-jersey-residents-urged-to-limit-water-use-13

Can our wells satisfy the demands of yet another 1,000 residents, flushing toilets, showering, bathing, running dishwashers and washing machines? Will the new place also include a swimming pool?

What will happen to Chatham if our wells run dry?

Will the Council consider any of the other potential water consequences of overdevelopment, including runoff, flooding, and pollution of the wells and the Passaic River?

Water quality: https://www.chathamborough.org/government/forms/public-works/2448-chatham-swap/file

https://www.nj.gov/dep/watersupply/pdf/violations2023.pdf

Well head protection: https://ecode360.com/6793268

Storm water: https://chathamborough.org/government/documents/forms-documents/plans-reports/storm-water-reports/2727-2023-stormwater-pollution-prevention-plan/file

Flooding: https://firststreet.org/city/chatham-nj/3412100_fsid/flood

https://water.noaa.gov/gauges/camn4

Water treatment: https://www.rosenet.org/256/Madison-Chatham-Joint-Meeting. https://ecode360.com/6796352

Water pollution: https://www.njwatercheck.com/SystemFinder/433/Detail

Passaic River: https://rucore.libraries.rutgers.edu/rutgers-lib/29153/PDF/1/play/

https://rucore.libraries.rutgers.edu/rutgers-lib/32341/PDF/1/

Water resources: https://dep.nj.gov/wp-content/uploads/water-supply-plan/docs/nj-water-supply-plan-draft-2024.pdf