New Exxon Development To Go Before Chatham Zoning Board Again

CHATHAM, NJ — A proposed development on Main Street will go before the Chatham Borough Zoning Board again next week.

A special zoning board meeting is set for Jan. 30 and will be solely dedicated to the Danny Realty LLC application, which is looking to convert an existing auto repair shop into a convenience store.

The initial public hearing was held back in December, following a slew of cancellations and postponements that began in July 2023. The reason for the delays, according to the borough's zoning board, was that the board wanted to allow the Historic Preservation Commission to provide its feedback on the project.

However, at the Dec. 20 meeting, Zoning Board Chair Michael Cifelli said there was not enough time to fully go through the project and allow residents the proper time to ask questions and express concerns.

"With the Danny Realty application, given the complexities of it as well as the public interest in it, it's probably not going to resolve tonight. My assumption is that we are not going to get through this tonight and are most likely going to need a second meeting," Cifelli said.

That second meeting will take place at 7 p.m. on Jan. 30.

According to initial application records, the applicant planned to modify the existing auto repair shop on the property by replacing the inside with a convenience store and building additional lighting and landscape improvements.

Since the proposal was first announced, some community members have raised concerns about the possible increase in lights and traffic that the convenience store could bring to the neighborhood.

This past fall, representatives for Danny Realty went before the Chatham Borough Historic Preservation Commission multiple times, presenting modified versions of their building design to gain a stamp of approval.

The commission had unanimously voted on Sept. 19 to "not recommend" the design plan 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.

However, by their third appearance before the commission in November, Danny Realty got full approval for their design plans.

The Historic Preservation Commission's role is to focus on the proposed architecture in an application. The Historic Preservation Commission does not consider changes in use, traffic, parking, or business hours.

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