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Planning Board

Who We Are

The membership is made up of the Mayor, one member of the Borough Council, one member of the Environmental Commission, a Municipal Official, and six local residents, plus up to two alternates. Most of the members are Mayor-appointed volunteers approved by the Borough Council, who serve for a three-year renewable term.

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The Board meets on the first and third Wednesday of each month at 7:30 PM in Borough Hall. Meetings are open to the public.  

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What We Do

The New Jersey Municipal Land Use Law (MLUL) states that a planning board may “exercise its powers” in regard to:

• The town’s Master Plan
• Subdivision control and site plan review
• The Zoning ordinance
• Appeals for variance (along with the Board of Adjustment)
• Environmental considerations

The MLUL permits boards to adopt and maintain a Master Plan unique to each community. Our Master Plan reflects the town’s physical character in basic stated objectives with respect to its land use, zoning and housing, historic preservation, recreation and conservation. To achieve these broad objectives, the Board writes and updates regulations for the Borough Council to adopt or amend. These regulations make up the town’s Land Development Regulations, also referred to as the Land Development Ordinance (LDO).

Since no regulation can be applicable to all situations, an appeal process is in place wherein the landowner may make their case to the appropriate board for variance relief. The Planning Board stays aware of environmental concerns through its members who serve on the Environmental Commission and the Open Space Advisory Committee.

The overall objective of planning and zoning is to maintain a reasonable balance between the particular needs and intentions of the property owner and the general welfare and character of the community.

The Planning Board is responsible for: 

1. Holding hearings and deciding upon land subdivisions and certain site plan applications.
2. Reviewing and updating the Land Development Regulations.
3. Coordination with the Board of Adjustment, the Construction Department and other Borough agencies.
4. Maintaining and regularly updating the Master Plan.
5. Reviewing and updating the Borough zoning map from time to time.
6. Reviewing State Development Plans and participating in the Cross-Acceptance process.
7. Developing plans to assure compliance with the State Affordable Housing Laws and Council on Affordable Housing (COAH) decisions.
8. Training Board members through attendance at seminars.

Planning Board Members

The mayor appoints all Members to the Planning Board.  Six (6) Class IV Members serve a 4-year term and two (2) Alternate Members serve a 2-year term.  

Class I - Mayor	Bruce A. Harris	01/01/2019-12/31/2019
Class II - Borough Employee	Stephen W. Williams	01/01/2019-12/31/2019
Class III - Council Member	Thaddeus Kobylarz	01/01/2019-12/31-2019
Class IV - Zoning Board of Adjustment Member	H. H. Montague	01/01/2018-12/31/2021
Class IV – Vice Chair	Matthew Wagner	01/01/2018-12/31/2021
Class IV	Curt Dawson	01/01/2018-12/31/2021
Class IV - Chair	Susan W. Favate	01/01/2016-12/31/2019
Class IV	William Heap	05/23/2019-12/31/2021
Class IV - Environmental Commission Member	Torri Van Wie	01/01/2018-12/31/2019  Note: Term is for 3 years or shall terminate at completion of the term served on the Environmental Commission, whatever occurs first [Borough Code §165-156B.]
1st Alternate	Matthew Engel	01/01/2019-12/31/2020
2nd Alternate	Kyle Muir	01/01/2018-12/31/2019
Minutes Secretary	Liz Holler
Planning Board Engineer	Vince DeNave
Planner	Kendra Lelie, PP, AICP, ASLA	Professional Service Appointment
Consulting Engineer	Roert C. Brightly, PE	Professional Service Appointment

Frances Boardman is the Borough of Chatham Land Use Administrative Officer. She may be reached at fboardman@chathamborough.org .