27 New Homes, Including Affordable Housing, Proposed In Chester Borough

CHESTER BOROUGH, NJ — A proposal to build 27 homes, including five affordable housing units, on two Main Street properties is moving forward in Chester Borough following a court ruling approving the municipality's latest affordable housing compliance plan.

Mayor Janet Hoven recently announced that the borough received court-ordered certification of its Fourth Round affordable housing compliance, satisfying its statutory obligations for the 2025-2035 period.

The certification provides the borough with 10 years of protection from exclusionary zoning and builder's remedy lawsuits related to its affordable housing obligations, according to Hoven.

The agreement follows years of discussions involving borough officials, the Land Use Board, attorneys, engineers and planners.

Hoven said a previous settlement involving the Larison property satisfied the borough's Third Round affordable housing obligations.

As part of the latest agreement, two additional residential developments have been identified for potential construction if wastewater treatment capacity becomes available.

The larger proposal involves 280 and 300 Main Street, including the former Borough Hall property, where officials have introduced a redevelopment ordinance allowing up to 27 residential units.

According to the redevelopment plan, the development would include 15 homes at 280 Main Street, three of which would be affordable, and 12 homes at 300 Main Street, including two affordable units.

The approximately 4.6-acre redevelopment area includes a vacant, wooded property at 280 Main Street and the borough-owned former municipal building at 300 Main Street.

The proposal envisions a neighborhood primarily consisting of detached, Craftsman-style bungalows designed to complement Chester Borough's historic Main Street character.

Although detached bungalows are the preferred design, the plan would allow up to seven units in townhouse buildings if necessary to accommodate infrastructure, circulation, or other site constraints.

The existing water tower and telecommunications equipment at 300 Main Street would remain in place, with access preserved for maintenance and municipal operations.

The Borough Council introduced the redevelopment ordinance on Oct. 20. The proposal is scheduled for further discussion at the Nov. 12 Land Use Board meeting, which is open to the public.

A public hearing and final vote on the ordinance are scheduled for Dec. 15 at 7 p.m. at the Chester Borough Municipal Building, 50 North Road.

The second development identified in the affordable housing agreement involves six residential units, including one affordable unit, at 65 Maple Avenue, near the intersection of Maple Avenue and Seminary Avenue.

However, construction of the proposed developments remains dependent on available wastewater treatment capacity.

According to the Main Street redevelopment plan, Chester Borough's existing public sewer system is at capacity, limiting new connections and expansions.

The borough's redevelopment plan states that NJDEP granted approval related to a proposed new sewage treatment plant in May 2025, although additional design and construction work remains necessary.

The Main Street project would also require further Land Use Board approvals and compliance with applicable environmental, historic preservation, and infrastructure requirements before construction could begin.

Residents can review the proposed redevelopment ordinance and plan on the borough's website or at Borough Hall.