Select Board Grants Hey Joe and Jam More Music Hours

Select Board · Meeting of September 29, 2026

Chatham conditionally expanded Hey Joe and Jam's live-music hours and raised its short-term rental fee. The Select Board voted 5-0 to let the West Chatham coffeehouse run up to 10 hours of music a week, ending by 8 p.m., after neighbors including David Daugherty argued the business's 17 parking spaces fall short of the 19 required under its site plan. Chair Jeffrey Dykens said the deal was conditioned on owner Andrea "Dre" Towie resolving the parking issue before a December license renewal and an October 27 Traffic Safety Committee hearing.

Separately, the board voted 4-0 to raise the annual short-term rental registration fee from $200 to $325, after Director of Natural Resources Greg Berman estimated the town's two-person inspection program costs about $280,000 a year to run. "Make it one price. Make it $325," Vice Chair Cory Metters said.

The board also voted to refer a donated lot at 63 George Rider Road to the Affordable Housing Trust for a single-family affordable home.

In the full story:

• Who Was There
• Organizations And Documents Referenced
• The complete report — 3,798 words

Source: the Select Board meeting of September 29, 2026, reported from the official video recording and transcript.