Goal 1 Preserve Chatham’s self-sufficient, small-town character. Chatham’s historical growth has occurred with a centralized community infrastructure and well-defined commercial and industrial areas along well-established transportation corridors. The local schools, library, fire and police facilities, parks and recreation facilities, water supply system, wastewater treatment facilities and railroad station all provide a tangible sense of community and self-sufficiency, whether owned and operated privately, publicly or jointly with adjacent towns.
Objectives
A) Promote continuity of established commercial, industrial and residential neighborhoods that contribute to the current character of Chatham Borough and the well being of its citizens.
B) Assure future local development or re-development adequately considers the impacts on existing infrastructure and community facilities, and provides adequate open space and recreation opportunities for residents.
C) Promote conservation of historic sites and districts.
E) Protect local natural resources that provide our water supply, prevent flooding and provide recreation opportunities.
D) Consider common regional issues, such as water supply, stormwater management, transportation and recreation as opportunities for cooperative regional solutions.
Implementation Strategies
A) Ensure that approved development plans are consistent with the Land Development Ordinance.
B) Ensure that regulations as well as infrastructure investments and other related programs are consistent with our Master Plan and Stormwater Management Plan.
C) Promote closer coordination between Zoning and Planning Boards and the Construction office.
D) Revise checklists used by the Construction Office and information packages created by the Planning and Zoning Boards so as to improve preparation by applicants seeking variances and other approvals.
Goal 2 Keep a reasonable mix of residential properties available in Chatham Borough. Chatham has become almost fully developed, with less than 20 vacant parcels remaining with residential zoning. More than 2500 of its 3160 total housing units are owner-occupied. The current mix of predominantly single-family dwellings, combined with apartments, condominiums and multi-family dwellings, provides a reasonable variety of options for a population with a range of family sizes and economic circumstances. As older housing stock is updated and redeveloped, this diversity of housing types and affordability for all age groups should be maintained and enhancements made where feasible.
Objectives
A) Promote appropriate population densities and bulk densities that contribute to the well being of persons, neighborhoods and the community.
B) Promote preservation and upgrading of existing housing stock and develop new housing stock to meet affordable housing goals, permit younger persons to become residents and permit senior citizens to remain in the community.
C) Assure adequate light, air and open space.
D) Promote desirable neighborhood environments through good civic design.
Implementation Strategies
A) The Planning Board should work with the Borough Council and the Board of Health to evaluate and improve the current property maintenance code and publicize availability of rehabilitation funding.
B) Review residential bulk regulations of the Land Development Ordinance in relation to changing life styles and residential needs while assuring adequate light, air and open space.
C) Develop and regularly review the Borough’s Affordable Housing Plan for compliance with COAH regulations and the Master Plan.
D) Work with the Open Space Committee and the Borough Council to review existing lots zoned for Affordable Housing as well as other Borough-owned lots to determine the most appropriate sites for senior and other affordable housing
Goal 3 Preserve, enhance, complement and increase the understanding of the historical character of Chatham. Chatham’s unique character is in large part due to the emphasis on maintaining and preserving the character of the historic districts that extend through most of the center of the town. Continue the focus on identifying and preserving the historic structures, streetscape, and landscapes that contribute to this historic character. The land development ordinance should ensure that renovations and new construction are compatible in scale and design with this character.
Objectives
A) Promote the understanding of Chatham’s history among residents so as to encourage full participation in the preservation process.
B) Promote the identification and conservation of historic sites and districts.
C) Guide residential and commercial renovation and construction activity throughout the town so that such improvements are done in a manner and style compatible with the historical look of the surrounding area.
D) Encourage the development of business districts that have a look and feel compatible with the predominant historical period represented by their structures.
Implementation Strategies
A) Continue to pursue planning and zoning rules and procedures, including development incentives, that will protect and enhance the historic character of the Central Business District and of the residential areas.
B) Identify and encourage the use of architectural and landscaping features that contribute to historical settings, especially with respect to trees and shrubs, lighting, shielding parking areas and signs.
C) Better align the zoning districts with the currently defined historic districts so as to promote more cohesive and consistent land use planning.
D) Work with the Historic Preservation Commission to continue to identify historic structures, and to identify the historic periods reflected in the town on a neighborhood by neighborhood basis, recognizing that different neighborhoods reflect different historic periods.
E) Work with the Historic Preservation Commission to expand the Historic District Design Guidelines to provide more explicit guidance on a neighborhood by neighborhood basis.
Goal 4 Improve the utilization and appearance of Chatham’s industrial district. The same level of attention and energy that has been applied to the business district extending along Main St. through the center of town (including the historic districts) should be applied to the industrial districts in the eastern end of Watchung Ave., along River Rd., and on Commerce St. Recent developments in the area (i.e. the expansion of Dreyer’s Lumber and the construction of the Westy self-storage facility) should be capitalized upon to spur further improvements to the structures and landscape of these areas.
Objectives
A) Promote improvements that will reduce the blight and cluttered look of these areas.
B) Encourage developments that will promote the economy of the area and increase tax revenues.
C) Promote development that preserves light, air and open space and reduces harm to the environment.
Implementation Strategies
A) Conduct a survey of the industrial districts to identify and record the types of businesses and the structures currently in place.
B) Work with property owners in district to develop strategies for improvements to the area.
Goal 5 Encourage the expansion, preservation and maintenance of open space. As a densely-populated community, the preservation and maintenance of open space is essential to making Chatham an attractive and pleasant place to live, to providing recreation opportunities for residents, and for protecting our natural resources and the environment in general.
Objectives
A) Provide adequate light, air and open space and to limit development in environmentally sensitive areas.
B) Ensure that development is compatible with Chatham’s Open Space and Recreation Plan, which encourages the preservation of open space for conservation and recreation purposes.
Implementation Strategies
A) Continue to establish the Greenway system for publicly accessible portions of scenic and historic corridors.
B) Obtain conservation easements where possible to preserve and promote public access to open space.
C) Revise zoning where appropriate to be consistent with the Open Space and Recreation Plan and the State Plan.
D) Investigate the incorporation of incentives for the application of “environmentally friendly” (“green technology”) to the construction and renovation of structures.
Goal 6 Balance transportation needs of residents, workers and transients as they move within and through Chatham Borough. Chatham Borough is the locus of train and bus stops and a gateway to both a major highway and neighboring towns. This mix of transportation requirements challenges the community to maintain its viability as a place safe for pedestrians and cyclists with suitable parking and free of obstacles to the flow of vehicular traffic. Improvement of parking, sidewalks, walkways and bike paths, upkeep of roads, vigilance in the planning process and education of the public are necessary to enable Chatham to fulfill its varied circulation role.
Objectives
A) Encourage the location and design of transportation routes which will promote the free flow of traffic while discouraging the locating of facilities and routes which result in congestion or blight, or danger to pedestrians.
B) Encourage the appropriate and efficient expenditure of public funds by the coordination of public development with land use policies.
C) Encourage land planning that incorporates safe pedestrian and bicycle pathways.
D) Identify and evaluate opportunities to increase parking availability and accessibility.
Implementation Strategies
A) Involve the Traffic Safety Advisory Committee in development applications that have significant traffic impacts.
B) Continue involvement with regional traffic management and regional
municipal organizations relative to traffic and development issues.
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