Tag Archives: tigermart

Do Over

Will our Zoning Board waive the usual rules and allow the new owner of the Exxon gas station to swap out the garage for a Tigermart convenience store?

Background: https://chathamchoice.org/2023/07/how-convenient/

With the hearing on that application set for October 25, the owner isn’t taking any chances. Last week, he polished up his proposal, with a new design.

Though not yet posted on the Borough website, the new design addresses some shortcomings identified by the Historic Preservation Commission at its September public meeting.*

https://chathamchoice.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/HPC-Recommendation-Report_185-Main_2023-0921.pdf

One such concern was the fate of the tall, lovely evergreen at the NW corner of the lot.

Summer 2023: A bright spot in the Historic District for the past two decades
https://www.chathamborough.org/government/documents/meeting-documents/historic-preservation-meetings/2022-historic-preservation-meeting-documents/2123-chatham-borough-historic-district-design-guidelines-2021-0221-compressed/file

After the HPC expressed its concerns, that tree vanished, down to the roots.

Oct. 11, 2023: Gone forever

Will the Historic Preservation Commission accept that? We’ll find out at the Commission’s October 17 public meeting. Here are the standards:

https://www.chathamborough.org/government/documents/meeting-documents/historic-preservation-meetings/2022-historic-preservation-meeting-documents/2123-chatham-borough-historic-district-design-guidelines-2021-0221-compressed/file

Whatever the HPC recommends, the ultimate fate of the proposed Tigermart convenience store is in the hands of the Zoning Board.

https://chathamborough.org/boards/zone

The Zoning Board hearing on the Exxon application is set for October 25, 7:30 pm on the upper level of Borough Hall at 54 Fairmount Avenue.

https://chathamborough.org/resident/calendar/zoning-board-2-1698276600

This hearing is your chance to get the facts, ask questions, and comment on the proposal BEFORE the Zoning Board decides whether or not to waive our normal zoning rules to allow the addition of a convenience store to the Main Street Exxon station. Everyone is welcome to attend.

* The author has elected not to vote or otherwise participate in this matter in her capacity as an alternate commissioner.

An historic moment

On Tuesday night, 9/19 the Historic Preservation Commission** voted to advise the Zoning Board not to approve a proposal to convert the Main Street Exxon station into a combination gas station and convenience store. https://chathamchoice.org/2023/07/how-convenient/

The reason? The application was inconsistent with many of the Design Guidelines for Chatham’s Historic District and lacked sufficient details. https://www.chathamborough.org/government/documents/meeting-documents/historic-preservation-meetings/2022-historic-preservation-meeting-documents/2123-chatham-borough-historic-district-design-guidelines-2021-0221-compressed/file

End of story? No, it’s just the beginning.

The applicant could try to convince the Zoning Board to ignore the advice of the HPC, or could spruce up its proposal and give HPC another try.

That’s something HPC encouraged the applicant to consider, and it seems the applicant may do just that.

Today the Borough website indicates that 9/27 hearing before the Zoning Board will be put off once again, this time until at least October. https://chathamborough.org/resident/calendar/zoning-board-2-1695857400

Of course, even if the applicant can satisfy the Design Guidelines for the Historic District, it will still need to meet the other legal requirements for the variances necessary to complete the proposed project.

Stay tuned.

The Chatham Press, 4 Sep 1936

** The author has elected not to vote or otherwise participate in this matter in her capacity as an alternate commissioner.