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Chester Borough announced that the developers of the Turkey Farm/Mill Ridge project will be holding a public presentation on Dec. 5.

Vianella Burns, Patch Staff

CHESTER, NJ — Chester Borough will soon hear an update on the fate of the Larison’s Turkey Farm property.

Planned for Dec. 5 at 7 p.m., the developers of the Turkey Farm/Mill Ridge project will be hosting a public presentation on an updated plan for the site.

The Chester Borough Council previously said that they had been considering a development plan for Larison's Turkey Farm that would create dozens of new homes, thousands of square feet of retail, office and medical space, and a new restaurant.

Under a plan submitted by the owners back in 2018, 20 townhouses and 36 affordable housing units would be built on the property, a significant decrease from the owner's original 144-unit proposal. The affordable units would be paid for by the developer and would satisfy the Borough's obligation to create affordable housing.

Also included in the old proposal was a 6,300-square-foot restaurant where the old Larison's Turkey Farm Restaurant used to be, with seating for 225. The owners were also looking to build a CVS with a drive-thru, an office building, and a medical building.

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On Dec. 5, the developers will be discussing the addition of a new Wawa, which will replace a previously planned CVS and a preschool/early development center.

According to the borough, the meeting would be strictly informative, with no action taken by the board. The developers will be presented and their proposals will be discussed, with citizens encouraged to ask questions.

The owners of the land, set at the intersection of Rt. 206 and Main Street, have been trying to redevelop the property since 2002. The land grew larger in 2008 with the purchase of adjoining land on Mill Ridge Lane, where the owners attempted to build single-family homes.

The first plan for affordable housing would have been a 144-unit apartment complex with 28 affordable units. Prior discussions with the borough also included adding a hotel or convenience store to the land, which has not been brought to fruition.

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If you close your eyes and picture a quaint, historic town, that’s Chester.

The Morris County town, which dates back to the 1700s (when it was known as Black River), has its roots in farming—and a number of farms are still in operation today, offering pick-your-own veggies and fruits as a fun fall activity. (Of note: Chester is divided into the Borough, which has a population of 1,675, and the township, with a population of 7,729.)

But the center of the action here is the bustling yet quaint downtown, a lovely stretch of several blocks dotted with funky independent boutiques (no chains here!), great small restaurants, a newly reopened historic hotel and, of course, plenty of interesting people to meet.

WHAT TO DO

Head to Main Street and explore the shops. Favorites include Comfortably Chic for home goods and beautifully framed, affordable art; Dainty Dandelion for custom painted vintage furniture; Black River Candy Shoppe for sweets; &Home for handmade home goods; Chester Country Furnishings for decor and home goods; and Chester Crafts, Collectibles & Antiques for quirky antiques.

Photo: Laura Moss

Stop by the Art Diner, an art studio with drop-in hours and events, plus a delightfully messy Splatter Room. Also visit the chic new storefront for Yellow Orchid Co., an event-planning and floral-design company that also sells funky home items.

Municipal Field, meanwhile, hosts a smattering of townwide events, including the Fall Craft Show September 9-10, concerts, movie screenings and holiday events.

Beyond downtown, visit the stunning Willowwood Arboretum. The gardens are exquisite, and life-size sculptures by Seward Johnson are on display through November 15. Part of Hacklebarney State Park is in Chester; enjoy a hike, then stop at Hacklebarney Farm for cider and pie.

An odd but interesting sight is located in Highlands Ridge Park: more than 700 old and abandoned telephone poles, nicknamed the Telephone Pole Farm. The location is a former testing facility for AT&T.

For apple picking, visit Riamede Farm. On your way out of town, stop at Chester Meat Market; the hot dogs are the stuff of local legend.

WHERE TO EAT

A short drive from downtown is Bill’s Luncheonette, an excellent, family-run joint since 1949. Downtown, options include Pren Kitchen for scratch-made comfort food, Fresco Mexican for tasty Mexican food, and Sally Lunn’s Tea Shoppe & Restaurant for a classy lunch. If you’re in the mood for something sweet, head to Taylor’s Ice Cream Parlor for homemade ice cream or , Crib Bakery for top-notch cookies and cupcakes.

WHERE TO STAY

The historic Publick House Hotel (which dates back to the early 1800s), revamped, renovated, and reopened in January. The hotel features a steak house downstairs and 10 charming suites upstairs; one-bedrooms run $175/night and two-bedrooms are $225. Manager Jennifer Evans says the history of the area is the biggest draw. “Some people say, ‘Put me in the haunted room,’” Evans says. But the bigger question is: Which room?

Want to keep exploring? Check out more of our 12 favorite small towns to visit now.

Comfortably Chic, 47 Main Street; Dainty Dandelion, 58 Main Street; Black River Candy Shoppe, 44 Main Street; &Home, 54 Main Street; Chester Country Furnishings, 60 Main Street; Chester Crafts, Collectibles & Antiques, 28 Main Street; Art Diner, 18 Main Street; Yellow Orchid Co., 38 Main Street; Willowwood Arboretum, 300 Longview Road; Hacklebarney Farm, 104 State Park Road; Highlands Ridge Park, Riamede Farm, 122 Oakdale Road; Chester Meat Market, 27 W. Main Street; Bill’s Luncheonette, 455 North Road; Pren Kitchen, 52 Main Street; Fresco Mexican, 137 E. Main Street; Sally Lunn’s Tea Shoppe & Restaurant, 15 Perry Street; Taylor’s Ice Cream Parlor, 18 Main Street; Crib Bakery, 57 Main Street; Publick House Hotel, 111 Main Street

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Patch is asking candidates for their views on issues in the West Morris Regional District. Here are candidate Natasha Chandler's answers:

CHESTER, NJ — Election Day is nearing, and Chester voters will soon head to the polls to cast their votes for a seat on the regional high school board.

Patch sent questionnaires to all candidates, seeking their responses. Here is the response from candidate Natasha Chandler.

Editor's Note: Patch emailed all candidates at the email addresses listed for their campaigns in the clerk's office. The responses will be revealed between now and the general election on November 7. These comments will be published with just minor stylistic changes. Candidates who wish to participate but did not receive an invitation should email [email protected].

Name: Natasha Chandler

Age: 52

Town of residence: Chester Township for 22 years!

Position sought: Chester Township representative for the West Morris Regional High School Board of Education

Family: My husband (Pete) and I have been married for 22 years and we have three daughters, who all went to Chester Schools since kindergarten. Victoria graduated from Mendham, where she played softball and is now a sophomore at Michigan State. Emilia graduated from the Mendham IB program and is a freshman at SMU Cox Business School in Dallas, Texas. Our youngest, Lily, is a junior at Mendham, where she is actively involved and plays field hockey and softball. They have all had a great education and experience at West Morris Mendham High School.

Education: I have two graduate degrees with a Masters in Social-Organizational Psychology from Columbia University and an MBA and B.S. in Marketing from Monmouth University, where I am currently on the Board of the Business School, leading the faculty curriculum advancement committee.

Occupation: Senior Partner at Korn Ferry (Human Capital Advisory) leading the North American Industrial and Energy Sector. I advise executives of top companies on how to build and evolve top-performing organizations through people.

Previous or current elected appointed office: West Morris Regional Board of Education (since 2020) and chair of the Personnel Committee and member of the Education and Referendum Committee. I have also been actively involved on the budget and finance committees.

Why are you seeking to run for school board?

I want to ensure West Morris Regional High School District remains a top district and to do this, my focus is on student engagement, teacher effectiveness, and parent involvement. Student engagement should be at the center of everything we do to ensure our students thrive in a positive learning environment that fosters their interests and curiosity and uncovers their fullest potential.

Teacher effectiveness is the key to unlocking student potential and as Chair of the Personnel committee, I am confident that we hire, develop, and support our teachers so they can be great. PARENT INVOLVEMENT to help as advocates and partner with the school in social and educational development and to be involved in key decisions affecting their children is also important.

What, in your opinion, is the most pressing issue in the school district?

Frankly, I have been disturbed about the political and state regulatory overreach impacting our district and students. Since I have been on the board since 2020, I have been committed to following state laws while also ensuring we represent the needs of all students in the communities where we live.

There have been lots of heated board meetings across New Jersey with parents voicing strong concerns about NJ laws and their impact on districts on topics like: COVID Mask mandates, Curriculum, gender identity, parent rights, and what is appropriate reading material for high school students.

In all cases, my approach is to listen to all points of view and then make a decision based on what I think is in the best interest of students (and families in my district). Being that most of our students are children (under 18 years old), in most cases, I still have a bias that the school must consider the parents and inform and involve them in matters impacting their child.

What sets you apart from the other candidates?

EXPERIENCE. I am a proven leader who has been successful in improving the West Morris Regional High School District. I have a good reputation and strong relationships with board members, administration, and the superintendent. Having served on all the board committees, I understand the issues and policies and where we need to focus to continue to evolve and remain a top district. ADVOCACY: I show up and speak up for families in Chester and deeply understand education and what skills are needed for students to be successful in the "real world." I am approachable and have parents reach out to discuss topics they are concerned about – and I listen and support them. COMMUNITY LEADERSHIP: I am very active in Chester and have been the VP of the PTO, a Girl Scout Leader, a Co-founder of the Chester Baroque Orchestra and a volunteer and donor to countless organizations. I am also a member of St. Lawrence Catholic Church.

What special qualifications do you bring to help meet the challenge?

Proven Leadership focused on District Excellence

What else would you like to share about yourself or your campaign?

Thank you very much for reading this and for considering me. If you would like more information or to speak with me, please go to my facebook page "Natasha Chandler for WMMHS BOE"

CHESTER, NJ — The Borough of Chester is in the process of implementing a borough-wide reassessment for the tax year 2024, which is a continuation of a reassessment process that began many years ago.

The Division of Taxation requires that 20 percent of the borough be inspected each year, according to officials. This means that every five years, each property in the borough will be inspected.

Property owners whose properties will be inspected will receive letters in advance of the inspections from Appraisal Systems Inc., the company performing the assessment.

Appraisal Systems Inc. has been in operation for more than 40 years and is one of only a select group of companies that the State of New Jersey has authorized to carry out property tax revaluations across the entire state.

If you are not at home, a letter with information on how to schedule an appointment will be left at the property. The ASI field inspector will inspect and photograph the exterior during the first visit.

Find out what's happening in Mendham-Chesterwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

Since the reassessment is a continuous process and this is ASI's first year assisting the assessor with residential properties, photographs of all residential properties throughout the borough will be taken.

If ASI inspectors are unable to conduct an interior inspection of a home, they will make assumptions based on exterior conditions and neighborhood characteristics. This may result in a higher property assessment, officials said.

Borough officials have stressed that the process does not imply that all residents and business owners will face higher property taxes; rather, the new tax rates are based on borough-wide averages.

Residents whose property values have increased faster than the borough average can anticipate higher tax rates, while those whose values have increased more slowly can anticipate lower tax rates.

Residents whose properties have increased in line with the borough average should not expect a tax increase.

"The amount of property taxes is based upon the operating budgets of the Municipal Government, School Districts, County government, and State Aid. The reassessment will change the aggregate value of the properties in the borough; however, because the same amount of overall tax is to be collected, the tax rate will change. Until the reassessment is completed and the tax rate is computed, it will be difficult to determine your property taxes," the borough said.

Following the revaluation, each property owner will receive a letter outlining the proposed assessment for 2024 and will have the opportunity to meet with an ASI representative to discuss any potential change.

The first field at the newly renovated Black River Fields will be named "Bill Foelsch Field."

CHESTER, NJ — A longtime community member in Chester now has a field that bears his name.

The Chester Township Parks Committee proudly announced on May 8 that the first field at the new and improved Black River Fields will be named "Bill Foelsch Field" during its annual inspection of the parks system.

"I cannot think of anyone who has put such an incredible mark on the Chester Township park system other than Bill," said Rich Prado, a longtime member and former Chairman of the Parks Committee. "His expertise and knowledge of our town in the ways of local and state government and navigating the system to get things done is unmatched."

Bill Foelsch, Chester Township's parks consultant for decades, was instrumental in the creation of the town's modern park system, being involved in nearly all park improvements since the 1980s, according to township officials.

“Bill Foelsch may be called our parks consultant, but we all know he’s much more than that. He’s been our parks superintendent, our parks expert, and our parks champion,” Mayor Mike Inganamort said. “He knows every blade of grass in Chester Township’s parks system, and that’s hardly an exaggeration. We are a better, stronger, more beautiful town because of Bill Foelsch.”

Black River Fields in Chester, which have been undergoing a longtime renovation project are now officially open for recreational use once again.

The project started in 2017, when the township began negotiations with the West Morris Central Regional High School District to purchase the 45-acre property off North Road, across from Telcordia Park and next to the Black River Middle School and Chester Area Pool.

Morris County approved a $416,250 Open Space grant for the township in November 2019 to purchase the 45-acre property.

"This project was a long time coming. It’s great to finally have level playing fields for Chester’s young athletes. The days of playing soccer on a hill are over," Inganamort said.

On April 21, local youth lacrosse players joined Inganamort, County Commissioner John Krickus, Councilman Tim Drag, Environmental Commission member Charles Happel, and Foelsch at the fields for a formal ribbon-cutting ceremony to commemorate the occasion.

The permanent plaque and stone naming the field after Foelsch will be unveiled this summer, officials said.

"Bill has always helped craft the vision and execute the park's plan. Over time, he has had a remarkably positive impact on Chester Township,” Prado said.