Madison Formally Expresses Concerns With Community Garden Expansion

A group of Madison residents on and near Brooklake Road have received backing from the borough against a proposed Chatham Borough community garden expansion adjacent to their property.

Mayor Mary-Anna Holden told Irene Knobloch, of 30 Brooklake Road, at Monday's Borough Council meeting that a letter had been sent to Chatham Borough, signed by Borough Administrator Ray Codey, expressing Madison's concerns over the project.

The letter, addressed to Chatham Borough Mayor Nelson Vaughan with Monday's date, said Madison Engineer Bob Vogel had reviewed the plan for the gardens and detailed a number of problems Madison had with it.

One issue raised in the letter was that, though the survey for the proposed project was done on March 3, the council and residents did not find out about the project until about five months later.

"It is unfortunate that until recently our residents and governing body were not informed or consulted regarding the development plan," Holden read from the letter.

Also addressed in the letter are what the municipality sees as numerous safety concerns raised by Vogel, including the location of metal structures, new water lines, and vehicles in close proximity to electrical transmission towers, and permanent improvements over the below ground Transco gas pipeline.

The letter also stated that Madison Attorney Joe Mezzacca and Zoning Officer Frank Russo say notices are required to adjacent property owners, regardless of municipal boundary lines. The letter ended by requesting that if Chatham Borough wished to proceed with the project, that it give advanced notice for a community meeting to address the issues raised by the Madison residents and council.

Chatham Borough Mayor Nelson Vaughan said he wants to work with Madison and have a good relationship with the neighboring town. But he said he felt he had spent time notifying Madison residents of the plan when he attended a previous Madison Borough Council meeting.

The letter was also sent to Transco, Texas Eastern Gas Company, PSE&G and New Jersey Board of Public Utilities Commissioner Joseph L. Fiordaliso.

According to the proposal, two­ garden areas of 30 plots each would be placed along the Chatham side of Brooklake Road. Each plot would be twice as big as the current plots on the south side of Main Street—they would each be 10 x 20 feet.

The plans also include a 45 x 120 parking lot with a 20-foot driveway sitting between the two officially proposed gardens.

Knobloch presented a petition at an Aug. 9 council meeting that spoke out against the plan. She said it contained the names of 95 people, and said the 95 came from 100 people polled around the area, asking if they would sign the petition in opposition of the project. She said only five people said they would not sign, and that some of those who did sign were Chatham Borough residents who are near to the proposed gardens.

Holden reiterated statements she previously made at that council meeting, saying the proposal as it stands appears to be "really, really dangerous," and wondered if there was another option for its placement.

In particular, she mentioned expanding the gardens that already exist on the Chatham side of Division Avenue, where she said there appears to be plenty of room to expand.

"There seems to be an awful lot of room," Holden said. "If they want to continue the gardens, wouldn't it make more sense to put them there, where it already is and it's along a Chatham road?"

Vaughan has said he hopes the expansion can proceed as planned. But he also said farmers are not necessarily fighting types.

"Never in my wildest dreams did I think there would be objections," Vaughan said.