Is the Borough Supporting Another Massive Development on River Road?

Many of you have heard rumors to this effect. Unfortunately, the folks who spread these rumors love to rile people up, and statements like that are effective even though they are not accurate.

The property south of The Ivy is privately owned, and the landowners (or the people they sell it to) can develop this property according to its current zoning. There are 20.1 developable acres in total, with an allowed density of 35 units per acre and 4 stories of height.

If all of this land is developed this would net up to 707 all-residential units, which would include up to 106 affordable housing units. The Borough could not require any traffic assessment or traffic improvements, could not require any public improvements to be made, and has no say into the design of what is constructed or whether the properties are all residential or represent a mix of uses.

Alternatively, a redevelopment plan essentially creates new zoning for the properties and allows the Borough to impose conditions and requirements that otherwise it cannot do legally. If the public wants to have input into the design, size, use, traffic calming measures, and possible public amenities the only option is through the redevelopment plan process.

Under our affordable housing settlement with the courts, we cannot downzone this area, and even with a redevelopment plan we need to include at least 75 affordable housing units. However, we can set many other parameters as part of the redevelopment plan. (The posts you see about 500 units assume that the properties will have a 15% affordable set aside, but there are alternatives that could net fewer residential units but still allow us to provide the agreed-upon 75 affordable.)

In exploring the redevelopment option over the past year, the Borough has had two public presentations, conducted a survey, and held an in-person public visioning workshop related to what people would like to see on River Road. We have now authorized a planner to begin work on a draft redevelopment plan that would look at all of these things, with many additional opportunities for public input over the coming year.

Instead of moving forward and authorizing the drafting of a redevelopment plan, we could wait and see what happens and hope that nothing does. This is a much riskier strategy. Once someone files an application to build according to current zoning, it is too late to place any conditions on their project through a redevelopment plan.

I think anyone who drives by this area of the Borough would generally agree that it is unlikely to remain the way it is forever, even if that is what they prefer. Thus, the Borough Council has decided to try to make sure we have some input instead of washing our hands of an entire region of our town.

The counter to “why is the Council supporting another massive development” is, in short, that is not what is happening. But, if we do nothing and this area does develop on its own, I am sure many residents will ask a different question: “why didn’t the Borough do anything to prevent this?”

Instead of listening to rumors, I encourage people to take the time to watch the presentations given by the Borough’s redevelopment planner and follow this page for updates:

https://chathamborough.org/government/redevelopment

And, it goes without saying, don’t believe everything you read on Facebook.

Jocelyn Mathiasen

Council President, Chatham Borough