River Road Redevelopment

Overview

The following provides an overview and chronology of the redevelopment planning effort for River Road. It also provides links to related documents, presentations and videos. Please send your comments and questions to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

In August of 2018, the Borough of Chatham began a process to identify and designate an area at the intersection River Road and Watchung Avenue as an Area in Need of Redevelopment in accordance with the Local Redevelopment and Housing Law.

The objective of the River Road Redevelopment Investigation and Planning Study was to enable the Borough to plan for the future development of River Road so that it is integrated, both physically and socially, into the eastern Gateway area.

New Jersey’s Local Redevelopment and Housing Law empowers local governments to initiate a process by which designated properties that meet certain criteria can be transformed to advance the public interest. Once an area is designated “in need of redevelopment,” a municipality may adopt a redevelopment plan and employ several planning and financial tools to make redevelopment projects more feasible.

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RIVER ROAD AND WATCHUNG AVENUE REDEVELOPMENT STUDY - DMR Architechts

January 25, 2021

NOTICE OF VIRTUAL TOWN HALL MEETINGS RE: RIVER ROAD REDEVELOPMENT PROJECT

Thursday, January 21, 2021 Watch the 1/21 Town Hall Meeting

Thursday, January 14, 2021 Watch the 1-14 RIVER ROAD TOWN HALL PRESENTATION

Thursday, January 07, 2021 – 7:30 P.M.

The January 7th meeting was recorded via Zoom: WATCH THE TOWN HALL MEETING

Study Area

The Preliminary Investigation

A Preliminary Investigation Report was prepared for the Chatham Borough Planning Board to determine whether the River Road Study Area qualified as a non-condemnation Area in Need of Redevelopment under the criteria set forth in the Local Redevelopment and Housing Law.

The Study Area includes three properties situated in the M-3 Industrial District and Gateway Overlay District

The River Road Preliminary Investigation Report, dated May 6, 2019, contains an in-depth review and evaluation of each of the three lots that comprise the 4.54-acre Study Area.

The Redevelopment Plan

On May 1, 2019, Topology presented the draft Redevelopment Plan to the Planning Board and the Mayor and Council in a joint meeting. The plan was developed throughcontinued research, planning and programming analysis, and collaboration with the Borough stakeholders. On June 10, 2019, the Borough Council adopted the River Road Redevelopment Plan which lays out the parameters for any development that takes place within the River Road Redevelopment Area.

The property owner will refinethe proposed project through public engagement in the Fall of 2019.

River Road Investigation and Planning Timeline

September 5, 2018

[Step 1 of 7] See the Local Redevelopment and Housing Law

The Borough Council adopted Resolution #18-265 directing the Planning Board to conduct a preliminary investigation to determine whether the River Road Study Area designated as Block 135, Lots 9, 10, and 11 (the “Study Area”) qualifies as a non-condemnation Area in Need of Redevelopment under the criteria set forth in the Redevelopment Law [N.J.S.A. 40A:12A-5].

September 18, 2018

Phil Abramson and Annie Hindenlang, licensed planners with the professional planning firm Topology, were retained by the Mayor and Council to begin the process to investigate whether the area at the intersection of River Road and Watchung is an Area in Need of Redevelopment.

October 19, 2018

[Step 2]

Topology submitted a draft of its investigation of the Study Area entitled, “Preliminary Investigation of River Road North, Chatham Borough New Jersey” dated October 19, 2018 (the “Redevelopment Investigation Report”), authorized by the Planning Board.

November 7, 2018

[Step 3]

At its November 7, 2018 meeting, the Planning Board conducted a public hearing on the October 19th Preliminary Investigation Report. The investigation report concluded that the study area conforms with various redevelopment criteria under Section 5 of the Redevelopment Law [N.J.S.A. 40 A:12A-5]. The Planning Board subsequently adopted a Memorializing Resolution based on Mr. Abramson’s testimony and presentation of the Preliminary Investigation and the comments from the public, which accepted the findings of the Redevelopment Investigation Report that Block 135, Lots 9, 10, and 11 (the “Study Area”) met the criteria for designation as a non-condemnation Area in Need of Redevelopment.

November 26, 2018

[Step 4]

Mr. Phil Abramson presented the revised River Road Preliminary Investigation Report, dated November 7, 2018 to the Mayor and Council to reflect comments from the Planning Board public hearing. TheBorough Council subsequently adopted Resolution #18-331, which accepted the conclusions of the River Road Preliminary Investigation Report, dated October 19, 2018 and the Planning Board’s recommendation to designate the River Road Study Area as a non-condemnation Area in Need of Redevelopment pursuant to the Local Redevelopment and Housing Law.

April 22, 2019

[Step 5]

Topology submitted a draft Redevelopment Plan to the borough.

May 1, 2019

Topology presented the draft Redevelopment Plan to the Planning Board and the Mayor and Council in a joint meeting.

May 6, 2019

Topology submitted the River Road Redevelopment Plan, dated May 6^th, 2019 to the Borough.

May 13, 2019

First reading of Borough Ordinance #19-11 to adopt the River Road Redevelopment Plan.

May 15, 2019

The Chatham Borough Planning Board reviewed the River Road Redevelopment Plan for consistency with the Borough Master Plan.

May 28, 2019

The Chatham Borough Council adopts resolution #19-204identifying the Borough Council as the Redevelopment Entity.

June 10, 2019

[Step 6]

Second reading and adoption of Borough Ordinance #19-11 to adopt the River Road Redevelopment Plan.

June 24, 2019

[Step 7]

The Chatham Borough Council adopts resolution #19-229 designating Chatham River Road Partners, LLC as the redeveloper for the River Road Redevelopment Area.

Future Steps

The Designated Redeveloper is refining a proposed redevelopment project based off of fiscal and traffic analyses.The Designated Redeveloper will vet this proposal through public engagement. Once aproject concept and the Redevelopment Agreement is finalized, the Designated Redeveloper will present a site plan to the Planning Board for final approval. Upon obtaining that approval and the necessary construction permits, the Designated Redeveloper can begin construction.

River Road Development Information Session Video