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CFAL, Affordable Housing, Airport Top Chatham’s News
The Blessing of the Fleet returned to the Chatham Fish Pier after an absence of several years. TIM WOOD PHOTO
Two protests against Trump administration policies were held on the Unitarian Universalist Meetinghouse front lawn. An October rally attracted an estimated 1,000 people. TIM WOOD PHOTO
Orpheum Theater Executive Director Kevin McLain organized a number of events around the 50th anniversary of the blockbuster film. FILE PHOTO
In March, police investigated after swastikas were spray-painted on a downtown business and a house under construction in Chatham. FILE PHOTO
Volunteers raised the roof on a historic barn at the Nickerson Family Association complex in Chathamport in June. Work continued into the year. FILE PHOTO
CHATHAM – The past year saw the town come to some significant decisions on longstanding issues, although as often seems to be the case, details continue to linger. Many of the stories we covered last year will no doubt make headlines again in the new year.
Specifically, while voters agreed to fund the renovation and expansion of the Center for Active Living, a shortfall means the issue will once again be on the upcoming annual town meeting warrant. And while one of four affordable housing initiatives moved ahead, the others are likely to engage officials and townspeople through 2026. Final decisions about paid parking downtown and tax exemptions for residents will also be forthcoming.
Here’s a look at some of the major stories we followed during 2025:
Center For Active Living Complications
After the May annual town meeting, it seemed as if the long drama surrounding the fate of the Center for Active Living was finally settled. Voters approved $5 million to renovate and expand the existing council on aging headquarters on Stony Hill Road after numerous failed votes on a new location for the facility.
But within months it was clear that the $5 million was not going to be enough. More detailed plans, rising prices and uncertainty in the marketplace contributed to raising the cost of the project. Final plans were approved in December at an estimated cost of $6.85 million. The select board decided to seek the additional $1.85 million at the upcoming annual town meeting, taking the risky approach of seeking to borrow the money. That will require a two-thirds vote at town meeting. Several previous efforts to find a new CFAL won the backing of a majority of town meeting voters but failed to reach the two-thirds threshold — once by a single vote.
Officials say they expect to have bids in hand prior to town meeting, which may change the final cost of the project.
Progress On Affordable Housing
Two affordable housing projects on town-owned land moved forward last year; both were not without controversy.
In December the zoning board of appeals approved a comprehensive permit for 42 units of rental property at the former Buckley property in West Chatham to be built by developer Pennrose. The vote was 3-2, with dissenting members concerned about density and the inclusion of a management building.
A comprehensive permit for a second Pennrose project off Meetinghouse Road remained under review at the end of the year, with a decision from the zoning board expected this month. The 48-rental unit project engendered significant opposition from neighbors, who have expressed concern about density, the lack of playground facilities, and safety for pedestrians along Meetinghouse Road.
Two other affordable housing projects remain in the works. In November the select board agreed to move forward with designs for housing at 127 Old Harbor Rd. despite threats by neighbors to challenge the property’s use for housing. Neighbors contend that the terms of the donation of the property to the town in the 1970s mean that it should be devoted to a playground, but in a legal opinion, town counsel said that the restriction expired after 30 years and that a portion of the property is currently used as a playground, which could satisfy the restriction.
Officials are still waiting for additional plans for housing at town-owned land on Stepping Stones Road. Select board members plan to devote the property to homeownership rather than rentals.
In another affordable housing development, a home on Crowell Road that was purchased by the town’s affordable housing trust was offered to qualified buyers. A lottery to determine the buyer will be held later this month.
Airport Restriction Fails Again
A town bylaw restricting the type of aircraft that can land at Chatham Airport won approval at town meeting by a 26-vote margin. The petition measure proposed to limit takeoffs and landings at the airport to planes with wingspans of less than 49 feet, which encompasses the so-called Design Group 1 aircraft — mostly small, private single-engine planes that are the most frequent users of the airport.
The goal of the bylaw was to prohibit larger turbojet aircraft from using the airport. Critics have charged that the facility was not designed for the bigger planes and that their increasing use of the airport poses a safety hazard. It was the first of numerous attempts to limit use of the airport to pass at town meeting.
However, in December the bylaw was rejected by the Attorney General’s Office, which ruled that the measure conflicted with state law, which gives the Aeronautics Division of the Massachusetts Department of Transportation sole authority to regulate public airports.
Meanwhile, the airport commission plans to investigate new landing fees and will begin the controversial tree removal program in the coming weeks.
Former Monomoy Theatre Property In The Spotlight
Vacant for six years, the former Monomoy Theatre property took center stage last year. Owner Chatham Productions lost a bid to build two homes on the property in April, the second time the zoning board of appeals shot down the proposals. Without the financing the houses would have provided, the owners said they could not renovate the playhouse building as originally intended.
In November the historic business district shot down Chatham Productions’ request to tear down the theater building, a decision affirmed by the select board last month. Chatham Productions owner Greg Clark insisted that the building did not meet the criteria necessary to be listed on the National Register of Historic Places, while local officials insisted that the structure was historic and should not be torn down. Clark said the decision would be appealed in court and vowed to build commercial or retail space on the site, whether the theater building is torn down or renovated. A theater, he said, would not return to the property.
Parking, Tax Policy Shifts
There were two major policy shifts that will impact both residents and visitors. The select board voted in August to adopt a property tax exemption for year-round homeowners. Set to go into effect with the 2027 fiscal year, the board saw the move as a way to help homeowners combat the high cost of living and high property values in Chatham. Officials will determine later this year the exemption percentage.
In September the board endorsed paid parking at three of the large lots downtown. Town Manager Jill Goldsmith was tasked with developing a plan to implement paid parking this coming summer. The vote was not unanimous, with Stuart Smith and Cory Metters dissenting.
Closures, Changes
Two iconic local businesses closed their doors in 2025. In July, the Ben Franklin store ended its more than 65-year tenure on Main Street, with the owners citing competition from online sellers and big-box discount stores as the chief reason. And just last month, Tale of the Cod closed, also after 65 years downtown, after a buyer couldn’t be found for the shop. As of this week, both spots remained vacant.
Paws and Claws in West Chatham also closed, again because of competition from online stores.
Several new shops opened. Eastbred replaced Canterbury Leather in the historic building at 630 Main St. Across the street, the short-lived Namazu Ramen closed but will soon be replaced by a new restaurant, Diane’s Kitchen. Three Fins opened a coffeehouse and chocolateria on Crowell Road, and Hey Joe And Jam opened in West Chatham.
Other Top Stories…
Former Harbormaster Stuart Smith ousted incumbent Michael Schell to win a seat on the select board in May. Barnstable County took over dispatching duties from the fire department in a move aimed at boosting the department’s efficiency and responsiveness. Two swastikas were found spray painted on Chatham buildings in January and March. Numerous digital speed signs were placed along town roads after a proposal to impose a town-wide 25 mile per hour speed limit drew criticism. New electric vehicle charging stations opened at the new Eldredge Garage parking area.
Long-gestating plans for the National Weather Service to open a weather balloon-launching station on Chatham Airport property to replace the station lost to erosion on Morris Island were shelved, a victim of the Trump administration’s cutbacks. In a related story, the National Park Service purchased a building on Main Street across from the main post office as the new headquarters of the Monomoy National Wildlife Refuge. The refuge’s offices and visitors center was torn down in 2024 as erosion encroached on the Morris Island site.
The town’s railroad museum celebrated its 65th anniversary, the Friends of Pleasant Bay marked 40 years, and Puritan Clothing’s Chatham store turned 100. Efforts began to upgrade the Mack Memorial adjacent to the lighthouse and Coast Guard Station. A plan by the Coast Guard to eliminate aids to navigation in Chatham waters and along the east coast was put on hold after significant opposition. The McGrath property in South Chatham was finally cleaned up after years of effort by the health department and neighbors. A trampoline was discovered in the dunes at Harding’s Beach after people apparently posted videos of themselves jumping on it to social media. In February, the Jan and Louise Nickerson estates donated $1 million each to three local nonprofit organizations.
And in what was the best news of the year for many, Larry’s PX finally reopened in September more than nine months after a vehicle drove through the front of the popular West Chatham diner.
Specifically, while voters agreed to fund the renovation and expansion of the Center for Active Living, a shortfall means the issue will once again be on the upcoming annual town meeting warrant. And while one of four affordable housing initiatives moved ahead, the others are likely to engage officials and townspeople through 2026. Final decisions about paid parking downtown and tax exemptions for residents will also be forthcoming.
Here’s a look at some of the major stories we followed during 2025:
Center For Active Living Complications
After the May annual town meeting, it seemed as if the long drama surrounding the fate of the Center for Active Living was finally settled. Voters approved $5 million to renovate and expand the existing council on aging headquarters on Stony Hill Road after numerous failed votes on a new location for the facility.
But within months it was clear that the $5 million was not going to be enough. More detailed plans, rising prices and uncertainty in the marketplace contributed to raising the cost of the project. Final plans were approved in December at an estimated cost of $6.85 million. The select board decided to seek the additional $1.85 million at the upcoming annual town meeting, taking the risky approach of seeking to borrow the money. That will require a two-thirds vote at town meeting. Several previous efforts to find a new CFAL won the backing of a majority of town meeting voters but failed to reach the two-thirds threshold — once by a single vote.
Officials say they expect to have bids in hand prior to town meeting, which may change the final cost of the project.
Progress On Affordable Housing
Two affordable housing projects on town-owned land moved forward last year; both were not without controversy.
In December the zoning board of appeals approved a comprehensive permit for 42 units of rental property at the former Buckley property in West Chatham to be built by developer Pennrose. The vote was 3-2, with dissenting members concerned about density and the inclusion of a management building.
A comprehensive permit for a second Pennrose project off Meetinghouse Road remained under review at the end of the year, with a decision from the zoning board expected this month. The 48-rental unit project engendered significant opposition from neighbors, who have expressed concern about density, the lack of playground facilities, and safety for pedestrians along Meetinghouse Road.
Two other affordable housing projects remain in the works. In November the select board agreed to move forward with designs for housing at 127 Old Harbor Rd. despite threats by neighbors to challenge the property’s use for housing. Neighbors contend that the terms of the donation of the property to the town in the 1970s mean that it should be devoted to a playground, but in a legal opinion, town counsel said that the restriction expired after 30 years and that a portion of the property is currently used as a playground, which could satisfy the restriction.
Officials are still waiting for additional plans for housing at town-owned land on Stepping Stones Road. Select board members plan to devote the property to homeownership rather than rentals.
In another affordable housing development, a home on Crowell Road that was purchased by the town’s affordable housing trust was offered to qualified buyers. A lottery to determine the buyer will be held later this month.
Airport Restriction Fails Again
A town bylaw restricting the type of aircraft that can land at Chatham Airport won approval at town meeting by a 26-vote margin. The petition measure proposed to limit takeoffs and landings at the airport to planes with wingspans of less than 49 feet, which encompasses the so-called Design Group 1 aircraft — mostly small, private single-engine planes that are the most frequent users of the airport.
The goal of the bylaw was to prohibit larger turbojet aircraft from using the airport. Critics have charged that the facility was not designed for the bigger planes and that their increasing use of the airport poses a safety hazard. It was the first of numerous attempts to limit use of the airport to pass at town meeting.
However, in December the bylaw was rejected by the Attorney General’s Office, which ruled that the measure conflicted with state law, which gives the Aeronautics Division of the Massachusetts Department of Transportation sole authority to regulate public airports.
Meanwhile, the airport commission plans to investigate new landing fees and will begin the controversial tree removal program in the coming weeks.
Former Monomoy Theatre Property In The Spotlight
Vacant for six years, the former Monomoy Theatre property took center stage last year. Owner Chatham Productions lost a bid to build two homes on the property in April, the second time the zoning board of appeals shot down the proposals. Without the financing the houses would have provided, the owners said they could not renovate the playhouse building as originally intended.
In November the historic business district shot down Chatham Productions’ request to tear down the theater building, a decision affirmed by the select board last month. Chatham Productions owner Greg Clark insisted that the building did not meet the criteria necessary to be listed on the National Register of Historic Places, while local officials insisted that the structure was historic and should not be torn down. Clark said the decision would be appealed in court and vowed to build commercial or retail space on the site, whether the theater building is torn down or renovated. A theater, he said, would not return to the property.
Parking, Tax Policy Shifts
There were two major policy shifts that will impact both residents and visitors. The select board voted in August to adopt a property tax exemption for year-round homeowners. Set to go into effect with the 2027 fiscal year, the board saw the move as a way to help homeowners combat the high cost of living and high property values in Chatham. Officials will determine later this year the exemption percentage.
In September the board endorsed paid parking at three of the large lots downtown. Town Manager Jill Goldsmith was tasked with developing a plan to implement paid parking this coming summer. The vote was not unanimous, with Stuart Smith and Cory Metters dissenting.
Closures, Changes
Two iconic local businesses closed their doors in 2025. In July, the Ben Franklin store ended its more than 65-year tenure on Main Street, with the owners citing competition from online sellers and big-box discount stores as the chief reason. And just last month, Tale of the Cod closed, also after 65 years downtown, after a buyer couldn’t be found for the shop. As of this week, both spots remained vacant.
Paws and Claws in West Chatham also closed, again because of competition from online stores.
Several new shops opened. Eastbred replaced Canterbury Leather in the historic building at 630 Main St. Across the street, the short-lived Namazu Ramen closed but will soon be replaced by a new restaurant, Diane’s Kitchen. Three Fins opened a coffeehouse and chocolateria on Crowell Road, and Hey Joe And Jam opened in West Chatham.
Other Top Stories…
Former Harbormaster Stuart Smith ousted incumbent Michael Schell to win a seat on the select board in May. Barnstable County took over dispatching duties from the fire department in a move aimed at boosting the department’s efficiency and responsiveness. Two swastikas were found spray painted on Chatham buildings in January and March. Numerous digital speed signs were placed along town roads after a proposal to impose a town-wide 25 mile per hour speed limit drew criticism. New electric vehicle charging stations opened at the new Eldredge Garage parking area.
Long-gestating plans for the National Weather Service to open a weather balloon-launching station on Chatham Airport property to replace the station lost to erosion on Morris Island were shelved, a victim of the Trump administration’s cutbacks. In a related story, the National Park Service purchased a building on Main Street across from the main post office as the new headquarters of the Monomoy National Wildlife Refuge. The refuge’s offices and visitors center was torn down in 2024 as erosion encroached on the Morris Island site.
The town’s railroad museum celebrated its 65th anniversary, the Friends of Pleasant Bay marked 40 years, and Puritan Clothing’s Chatham store turned 100. Efforts began to upgrade the Mack Memorial adjacent to the lighthouse and Coast Guard Station. A plan by the Coast Guard to eliminate aids to navigation in Chatham waters and along the east coast was put on hold after significant opposition. The McGrath property in South Chatham was finally cleaned up after years of effort by the health department and neighbors. A trampoline was discovered in the dunes at Harding’s Beach after people apparently posted videos of themselves jumping on it to social media. In February, the Jan and Louise Nickerson estates donated $1 million each to three local nonprofit organizations.
And in what was the best news of the year for many, Larry’s PX finally reopened in September more than nine months after a vehicle drove through the front of the popular West Chatham diner.
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