Chatham meeting summaries, agendas, and minutes

Chatham Council to Vote on Housing Land Deal, $1.11M Library Contribution

The Chatham Borough Council is set to vote on an amended redevelopment agreement that would convey land for housing and a $1.11 million contribution to the library capital campaign. The meeting, scheduled for Aug. 10, also includes first readings on a property conveyance and new parking restrictions, along with contracts for road resurfacing and a pickup truck. All items are on the agenda; minutes have not yet been published, so no decisions have been confirmed.

Borough Council

The council will consider Resolution #26-267, approving an amended redevelopment agreement with BCUW/Madeline Housing Partners LLC, and Ordinance #26-13, which would convey a portion of Block 121, Lot 10 to the same entity. A separate resolution, #26-268, authorizes a $1,111,163.58 municipal contribution to the Library of the Chathams capital campaign.

Also on the agenda:

• Ordinance #26-14: Add parking restrictions on Chandler Road.
• Resolution #26-272: Award a road resurfacing contract to Schifano Construction via the Morris County Co-op.
• Resolution #26-271: Award a contract to Greenbrook GMC for a Sierra EV pickup truck.
• The consent agenda includes a bucket truck contract.

The meeting will include an executive session on attorney-client privileged matters related to the library project and affordable housing.

Zoning Board of Adjustment

The zoning board held a special meeting on August 18 to continue reviewing Application ZB 25-011 from Minisink Club Inc., which seeks to convert two Har-Tru tennis courts into four pickleball courts at 1 Princeton St. The board will consider updated engineer and planner reviews dated May 15 and May 13, 2026, respectively, and a drainage report signed May 8, 2026. A previous denial is on file.

A regular meeting on August 19 will revisit the same pickleball application, carried over from prior meetings. The board will also hear several variance requests:

• Jag Construction, 205 Hillside Ave.: five C variances (side yard, front yard, rear yard setbacks, and maximum building coverage) and one D variance for floor area ratio (ZB 26-008).
• Patrick Regan, 43 North Summit Ave.: variances for maximum building coverage and maximum lot coverage (ZB 26-007).
• Krista Cowley, 25 N. Hillside Ave.: a C variance for left side yard setback (ZB 26-011).
• Resolutions for applications ZB 26-003 (189 Watchung Ave.), ZB 26-004 (30 Coleman Ave. East), and ZB 26-002 (218 Washington Ave.).

The meeting will begin with the swearing-in of an alternate member and adoption of minutes from the July 22 meeting.

Board of Health

The Board of Health met on August 13 to discuss an update on the food bank at the Methodist Church and whether to post summer-specific health guidelines in the library, senior center, and possibly churches. The agenda also included adoption of minutes and reports for April and May 2026.

Coming up

No upcoming meetings are listed in the next 14 days.

Chatham boards review mixed-use development, pickleball courts, and housing agreement

Chatham's Planning Board, Zoning Board of Adjustment, and Borough Council all met in the past week, but no minutes have been published yet, so no decisions are confirmed. The most significant items on the agendas include a proposed 100-unit mixed-use building on River Road and a redevelopment agreement tied to housing.

Planning Board

The Planning Board met Aug. 5 and considered two major site plan applications. The first is a preliminary and final major site plan for a 4-story mixed-use building with 100 residential units and retail space at 29, 33, 37, and 39 River Road. The second is a preliminary and final major site plan for 17, 23, and 33 South Passaic Avenue.

The board also reviewed a change-of-use application for 548 Main Street, seeking to convert the property from residential to commercial use. That application requires two variances for parking and signage. Adoption of minutes from the July 1 and July 16, 2026 meetings was also on the agenda.

Zoning Board of Adjustment

The Zoning Board of Adjustment met Aug. 5 to continue its review of an application by Minisink Club Inc. to convert two Har-Tru tennis courts into four pickleball courts at 1 Princeton St. The board considered updated engineer and planner reviews, as well as a response letter from the applicant. A prior denial letter is included in the agenda materials.

Mayor & Borough Council

The Borough Council met Aug. 7. Its agenda included a vote on Resolution #26-267, approving an amended redevelopment agreement with BCUW/Madeline Housing Partners LLC, and the introduction of Ordinance #26-13, which would convey a portion of Block 121, Lot 10 to the same entity.

The council also introduced Ordinance #26-14, adding parking restrictions on Chandler Road, and considered two contract awards: Resolution #26-272, awarding a road resurfacing contract to Schifano Construction via the Morris County Co-op, and Resolution #26-271, awarding a contract to Greenbrook GMC for a Sierra EV pickup truck. The meeting included an executive session on attorney-client privileged matters related to the library project and affordable housing.

No vote tallies or dollar amounts were included in the agenda summaries.

Coming up

No upcoming meetings are listed for the next 14 days.

Chatham Boards Set to Review Major Mixed-Use Development, Residential Variances

Chatham's land-use boards have packed agendas this summer, with the Planning Board scheduled to weigh a 100-unit mixed-use building on River Road and the Zoning Board carrying a pickleball court conversion to a special August meeting. All items below are drawn from published agendas; minutes have not yet been released, so outcomes are not yet confirmed.

Planning Board — August 5 Agenda

The Planning Board is scheduled to meet August 5, 2026, to consider several significant applications:

• **29, 33, 37, & 39 River Road:** Preliminary and final major site plan approval for a four-story mixed-use building with 100 residential units and retail space. This is the largest project on the agenda by unit count.
• **548 Main Street (PB Application #26-02):** A change of use from residential to commercial, with two parking and signage variances requested.
• **17, 23 & 33 South Passaic Avenue (PB Application #26-04):** Preliminary and final major site plan approval.
• Adoption of minutes from the July 1 and July 16, 2026 meetings.

The agenda was published July 27. No minutes or vote tallies are available yet.

Zoning Board of Adjustment — July 22 Agenda

The Zoning Board's July 22 agenda included multiple residential variance applications and one notable recreational facility request:

• **Minisink Club Inc., 1 Princeton St.:** A proposal to convert two Har-Tru tennis courts into four pickleball courts. The agenda indicates this item was previously continued and is scheduled to be carried to a special meeting on August 18, 2026.
• **Matthew & Kathleen Mitchell, 189 Watchung Ave.:** Variances requested for left side yard setback, building coverage, and Floor Area Ratio.
• **Katherine & Robert Magrane, 30 Coleman Ave. East:** Two C variances requested for side yard setback and front yard setback.
• **Richard & Regina Nelson, 218 Washington Ave.:** Variances requested for building coverage and lot coverage.
• Resolutions on applications ZB 25-024 (Melanie & Tom Edwards, 58 North Summit) and ZB 25-021 (54 Ridgeview LLC, 215 Main St.).

Minutes from the July 22 meeting have not been published, so it is not yet known which applications were approved, denied, or continued.

What This Means for Residents

The River Road mixed-use proposal, if approved, would add 100 residential units plus retail to that corridor — a substantial change for the immediate neighborhood and a project that would affect traffic, parking, and school enrollment. The Main Street change-of-use application could shift a residential property to commercial use, which affects the character of that block. The Zoning Board's residential variance applications each concern individual property setbacks and coverage limits that determine how much of a lot can be built upon.

Coming Up

• **Planning Board:** August 5, 2026 — major site plan reviews including the 100-unit River Road mixed-use building.
• **Zoning Board of Adjustment special meeting:** August 18, 2026 — the Minisink Club tennis-to-pickleball conversion is scheduled to be heard.

Residents who want to comment on these applications should check the borough website for meeting locations, start times, and instructions for public participation.

Chatham boards weigh water rates, Washington Ave grants, and 100-unit River Road plan

Council: Water/sewer rates and grant applications on the table

The Borough Council's July 13 meeting agenda included Resolution 26-239, which would amend the water and sewer fee schedule, and two New Jersey Department of Transportation grant applications for Washington Avenue improvements. Resolution 26-240 covers the segment from Watchung Avenue to Fairview Avenue, and Resolution 26-241 covers Fairview Avenue to Longwood Avenue.

The agenda also listed Resolution 26-242, which would establish a Length of Service Award Program (LOSAP) deferred compensation plan, and an executive session to discuss the Library project and affordable housing litigation. The Environmental Commission was scheduled to present a "Skip the Stuff" discussion item.

Minutes from this meeting have not yet been published, so the outcomes of these resolutions are not yet confirmed in the record.

Zoning Board: Residential variances and tennis-to-pickleball conversion

The Zoning Board of Adjustment met July 14 to consider several residential variance requests:

• **Matthew & Kathleen Mitchell (189 Watchung Ave.)** — request for left side yard setback, building coverage, and Floor Area Ratio variances.
• **Katherine & Robert Magrane (30 Coleman Ave. East)** — request for two C variances for side yard and front yard setbacks.
• **Richard & Regina Nelson (218 Washington Ave.)** — request for building coverage and lot coverage variances.
• **Minisink Club Inc. (1 Princeton St.)** — request to convert two Har-Tru tennis courts into four pickleball courts. This item was scheduled to be carried to August 18.

The agenda also included resolutions for Melanie & Tom Edwards (58 North Summit) and 54 Ridgeview LLC (215 Main St.). Minutes have not yet been published, so decisions on these applications are not yet confirmed.

Planning Board: Four-story, 100-unit River Road proposal

A special Planning Board meeting was held July 17 to review Application #26-101, a preliminary and final major site plan for a proposed four-story mixed-use building at 29-39 River Road. The project, submitted by AJDM Chatham LLC, includes 100 residential units and ground-floor retail space.

The agenda listed reviews of engineering reports, a Fire Safety Bureau memorandum, water and sewer review letters from H2M, and stormwater and flood compliance documents. Minutes have not yet been published, so no board action is confirmed in the record.

What this means for residents

• **Water and sewer rates:** Resolution 26-239, if adopted, would change the fee schedule residents pay for water and sewer service. The exact changes are not detailed in the available agenda.
• **Washington Avenue:** The two NJDOT grant applications, if approved and funded, would support road improvements along two segments of Washington Avenue.
• **River Road development:** The 100-unit mixed-use proposal at 29-39 River Road is the largest project on this week's agendas. Planning Board review is the first step in the approval process; no decision is confirmed.

Coming up

No upcoming meetings are listed in the next 14 days. Residents should check the Borough of Chatham website for newly posted agendas or schedule changes.