Exxon Development Not Recommended By Chatham Preservation Commission

CHATHAM, NJ — The application plan looking to convert an existing auto repair shop into a brand-new convenience store has been shot down by the Chatham Borough Historic Preservation Commission.

The Commission unanimously voted on Sept. 19 to "not recommend" the design plan to the borough's zoning board, which is scheduled to review the application at the end of September.

The application was initially meant to be heard by the zoning board back in July but was then pushed back until Aug. 23, and now finally, Sept. 27. The zoning board had previously explained that the setback was necessary to allow the Historic Preservation Commission to provide its feedback.

According to a Historic Preservation Commission report, the decision not to recommend the site plan was made because the application did not adequately respond to objectives included in the "Design Guidelines for Rehabilitation and New Construction" for the Main Street Historic District, which are available on the Chatham Borough Website.

According to application records, the applicant, Danny Realty LLC, was looking to remodel the existing auto repair shop on the property by replacing the interior with a convenience store, as well as installing extra lighting and landscape enhancements.

The Exxon gas station is located at 185 Main Street, at the corner of Hillside Avenue.

According to the Historic Preservation Commission, the building on the property in question is a "non-contributing structure" in the historic district, as it was originally constructed in the 1930s and remodeled in 1982.

The proposed monument sign was one of the objections that the commission had to the proposal.

Danny Realty had previously presented a proposed new monument sign at a Historic Preservation Commission meeting in December 2022. Commissioners at the time suggested a lower scale, a reduction in the area of the signage itself, color adjustments and the elimination of the sign's digital pricing point components.

At the most recent meeting, commissioners questioned why the design for the sign had not incorporated any of the recommendations given at the December meeting.

According to James E. Henry of Dynamic Engineering, representing Danny Realty, the sign had to be a certain size based on previous experiences with hundreds of other gas stations. Henry also stated that color changes to the Exxon emblem could be troublesome from a corporate standpoint and that digital price point signs were required for safety reasons.

"It is HPC’s opinion that the scale and graphics presented are not appropriate for the Historic District. Internally illuminated signs are not permitted in Chatham Borough ordinances," the report stated.

The proposal did not address the existing canopy over the petrol pumps, which has been a source of contention in the Historic District cityscape for many years. The commissioners expressed displeasure that the proposal did not include any improvements to the appearance of this piece on the site.

"It is important to note that it is the HPC’s opinion that there are many favorable actions the property owner can take at 185 Main to improve the property’s appearance and make it more compatible with the historic fabric of Chatham Borough’s Main Street. The HPC would welcome the opportunity to work with the owner’s representatives to achieve that goal," the report said.

The non-recommendation has no formal influence on the application for the preliminary and major site plan, which is on the Chatham Borough Zoning Board agenda.

The borough has said that all property owners and any interested person may attend the September hearing to ask questions, cross-examine witnesses, and make comments about this specific application.