Chatham Township Planning Board to Consider Fourth Round Housing Element and Fair Share Plan on June 16

The Township of Chatham invites residents to attend a public meeting of the Planning Board on Monday, June 16, 2025 at 7:30pm, during which the Township’s Fourth Round Housing Element and Fair Share Plan (HEFSP) will be formally presented and considered for adoption. This important session will take place at the Chatham Township Municipal Building and is open to all members of the public.

The Fourth Round HEFSP, prepared in accordance with the Amended Fair Housing Act (FHA) signed into law in 2024, outlines how Chatham Township will meet its constitutionally mandated affordable housing obligations for the period of July 1, 2025 through June 30, 2035. Under a May 2025 Superior Court order, Chatham Township successfully appealed and reduced its obligation from 157 to 141 units of affordable housing, of which 4 units constitute the Township’s Realistic Development Potential (RDP) and 137 units fall under the category of Unmet Need.

Chatham Township’s plan satisfies the RDP through a 100% municipally-sponsored family rental development on Township-owned property, a strategy that previously yielded success for the Township with The Cornerstone, a recently constructed affordable housing development at 522 Southern Boulevard. The Township is also addressing its Unmet Need through the creation of an overlay zoning district, enabling the potential for mixed-use and inclusionary housing development in key business zones.

“We encourage residents to review the plan and participate in the public process,” said Mayor Mike Choi. “This plan is the result of careful consideration, scrutiny of large volumes of data and community-focused planning in order to ensure that Chatham meets its state obligation while prudently managing growth in our community.”

The full draft of the Fourth Round Housing Element and Fair Share Plan is available on the Township’s official website and in the Clerk’s Office. Community members are encouraged to review the plan and provide input at the meeting. Members of the public will have the opportunity to view the Planning Board Meeting electronically utilizing Zoom (https://us02web.zoom.us/j/81366843448)

The Township will continue to post updates on the Fourth Round Affordable Housing process on our website at www.chathamtownship.org/affordablehousing