Chatham Should Move Forward with Post Office Plaza Development

To The Editor:

It was recently learned that the all-Democrat Chatham Borough Council is contemplating a property tax increase of more than 2-percent. An article on Patch on May 24th states the increase could be 3.49 percent. Even if it is only in the 2-percent range, homeowners here already pay some of the highest property tax rates in the country, among other taxes, and enough is enough.

The Council will be voting on a proposed budget soon, but it is not too late for them to consider trimming certain costs to lessen the tax burden on all of us. An across-the-board cut of one or two percent, and larger cuts to certain bloated expenditures, would help to obviate the need for a tax hike. Also, increasing certain usage fees would help as well, rather than taxing everyone for specific services not everyone uses.

But such cuts and fee increases might not have been necessary if the Borough had managed to move forward with the Post Office Plaza development more expeditiously than it has. The need to improve and make use of the areas surrounding the post office has been apparent for at least a decade. The site is currently mostly just a big parking lot, which is very often almost empty.

In response to public inquiries about the undeveloped land area, in November of 2016, the Borough began a process to identify and designate the area as an Area in Need of Redevelopment in accordance with state law. Now five years later, typical of government, nothing concrete or meaningful has happened. There were two public meetings early on, in 2016 and 2018, where various ideas were tossed around, but somehow nothing ever got done. Various Council resolutions and investigations have taken place, but nothing has led to a single shovel actually breaking ground.

My review of information about this project on the Borough’s website suggests that nothing has been publicly revealed or discussed since about May 2019. Instead of a lot of talk and unfulfilled promises we need diligence and tangible action on this significant and important development which will add a great deal to municipal revenues, while perhaps adding to our dining, entertainment, and shopping options.

Just as important as the need to expeditiously restart work on the Post Office Plaza project is the need for all decisions with respect to that development to be 100-percent transparent to the public, with full public involvement at every step of the way. The residents must be comfortable with any changes, and the character of our town must not be altered.

The Council must also be careful about the nature of any businesses to come to the new development. For example there should be no large grocery store or large chain store, as that kind of addition would make traffic far worse. If housing units are added, the number must not be excessive, or the traffic would be increased and the schools might be inundated with too many new students given their current capacities and budgets.

Without extensive public input, the development may become problematic. We need residents’ input as to what types of structures or businesses are to be added, so that we don’t end up with a giant eyesore, an attractive nuisance, or anything that is drastically different from what presently exists in the downtown area. Further, the development should not include any more Affordable Housing than is required by state law.

I implore the all-Democrat Council to stop the inexplicable delay concerning the Post Office Plaza development, to reconsider the not-insignificant proposed tax hikes, and to consider instead increasing certain usage fees and spending cuts.

Separately, I suggest that, given the very low Covid infection numbers and high vaccination rates in our town, it is past time now to return to in-person Council meetings, and to move back the meeting time from 6 pm to 7 or 7:30. Many people work till 6 or 7 or later, or have dinner around that time, and cannot attend these important civic functions given the early start time. Let’s be thankful that the scariest days of the pandemic are behind us, and let’s get back to normal now.

In full disclosure, I am a Republican candidate for Chatham Borough Council and these issues are just some of the many important issues facing Chatham at this time.

Sincerely,

Freddie Bicknese

North Hillside Avenue