Borough of Chatham Announces River Road and Watchung Avenue Public Visioning Workshop - June 27 7pm -9pm

WORKSHOP PRESENTATION 6-20-2024

PRESS RELEASE- River Rd & Watchung Ave Public Workshop.pdf

June 17, 2024

Borough of Chatham Announces River Road and Watchung Avenue Public Visioning Workshop

Chatham, NJ - The Borough of Chatham is excited to announce a crucial public visioning workshop regarding redevelopment options for the River Road / Watchung Avenue area. Scheduled for June 27th from 7 pm to 9 pm, the workshop will take place at Borough Hall located at 54 Fairmount Avenue.

The River Road area South of the current Ivy development is likely to be developed over the coming years, and the Borough is seeking to engage with residents to gather their insights and perspectives. This workshop serves as an inclusive platform for community members to contribute their thoughts and ideas, with the goal of ensuring that any future development aligns with the needs and desires of the local population.

Council member Kate Hay, who lives near this area, indicated that there is both interest and concern amongst her neighbors. “People are concerned about traffic, about another large residential building and how that would affect the town, and they want to have a say.”

“Because most of this land is private property and the owners have certain rights, we cannot stop development from happening,” explained Council President Jocelyn Mathiasen. “However, we should be able to shape what happens if we remain engaged.”

Residents are encouraged to attend the workshop in person to actively participate in the discussions and provide direct input. However, for those unable to attend physically, the event will also be accessible via Zoom. While remote viewers will have the opportunity to observe the proceedings, active participation will be limited to in-person attendees.

An initial information session regarding the River Road area, what is allowed by zoning, and what the Borough’s affordable housing requirements are, was held March 11 Mayor & Council Meeting. Residents are encouraged to view the video, which is available at this link:

https://chathamborough.granicus.com/MediaPlayer.php?view_id=1&clip_id=197

In addition, there is currently a survey of residents asking for their opinions on the area. The survey is available at this link:

https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/QRXR5NF

"We value the input of our residents immensely, especially when it comes to shaping the future of our community," stated Carolyn Dempsey, Mayor of Chatham. "This workshop is a prime opportunity for residents to collaborate with our planners and explore various redevelopment options for the River Road area together."

The Borough urges all interested parties to mark their calendars for June 27th and join the conversation.