01/08/2024 Historic Preservation Commission Meeting

City of Cape May Historic Preservation Commission Minutes January 8, 2024 Opening: The regular meeting of the City of Cape May Historic Preservation Commission (HPC) was called to order by Chairperson Warren Coupland at 6:03 p.m. In compliance with the Open Public Meetings Act, adequate notice of this meeting was provided. Pledge of Allegiance Roll Call Mr. Coupland, Chairperson Present Mr. Carroll, Vice Chairperson Present Ms. Pessagno Present Ms. Wilson-Stridick Present Mr. Testa Present Mr. Stevenson (former Alt. 1) Present Mr. Boecker (former Alt. 2) Present Also Present: Chris Gillin-Schwartz, HPC Solicitor, Mayor Zack Mullock, Deputy Mayor Lorraine Baldwin, Judith Decker, HPC Secretary Proclamation Mayor Mullock presented former HPC member Corbin Cogswell with a Proclamation honoring his 25 years of volunteer service as a commission member on HPC. OATHS OF OFFICE Solicitor Gillin-Schwartz swore in Commissioners Joseph Stevenson, John Boecker and Alternatives Steve Johnson and Kevin Hammeran. Mayor Mullock congratulated the new and reappointed members of the HPC and departed the meeting. Mr. Johnson and Mr. Hanneran were seated at the dais. REORGANIZATION Appointment of Chairperson: Motion made by Mr. Carroll nominating Warren Coupland as the Chairperson to the Commission for the year 2024 seconded by Mr. Boecker and carried 7-0. Those in favor: Mr. Coupland, Mr. Carroll, Mr. Testa, Ms. Pessagno, Ms. Wilson Stridick, Mr. Stevenson, Mr. Boecker. Those opposed: none. Those abstaining: none. Appointment of Vice Chairperson: Motion made by Mr. Coupland nominating Tom Carroll as the Vice Chairperson to the Commission for the year 2024 seconded by Mr. Testa and carried 6-0. Those in favor: Mr. Coupland, Mr. Testa, Ms. Pessagno, Ms. Wilson Stridick, Mr. Stevenson, Mr. Boecker. Those opposed: none. Those abstaining: Mr. Carroll. Appointment of Legal Advisor/Solicitor to the Commission: Motion made by Mr. Coupland nominating Chris Gillin Schwartz, Esquire, as Legal Advisor/Solicitor to the Commission for the year 2024, seconded by Mr. Stevenson. Mr. Testa noted that he would vote in favor of Mr. Gillin-Schwartz as he can advocate for HPC at other boards, but he had reservations to the appointment as he is currently the City Solicitor and potential conflicts may arise from time to time. Mr. Gillin- Schwartz responded that Municipal Land Use Law designates the City Solicitor as the default HPC Minutes January 8, 2024 1 council for HPC and he has served as HPC Solicitor in West Cape May. He added that applications will be evaluated on a case-by-case basis and if any member has any concerns, a conflict council can be appointed. Ms. Baldwin thought that the alignment with City Council will be helpful to HPC. A vote was taken as follows: Those in favor: Mr. Coupland, Mr. Carroll, Mr. Testa, Ms. Pessagno, Ms. Wilson Stridick, Mr. Stevenson, Mr. Boecker. Those opposed: none. Those abstaining: none. The motion carried 7-0. Designation of Official Newspaper: Motion made by Mr. Coupland for designation of the Cape May Star & Wave as the Official Newspaper of the Commission for the year 2024 seconded by Mr. Boecker and carried 7-0. Those in favor: Mr. Coupland, Mr. Carroll, Mr. Testa, Ms. Pessagno, Ms. Wilson Stridick, Mr. Stevenson, Mr. Boecker. Those opposed: none. Those abstaining: none. Designation of Meeting Dates and Time: Motion made by Mr. Carroll to approve the advertised meeting dates for the Commission for the year 2024 and January 2025 seconded by Ms. Pessagno and carried 7-0. Those in favor: Those in favor: Mr. Coupland, Mr. Carroll, Mr. Testa, Ms. Pessagno, Ms. Wilson Stridick, Mr. Stevenson, Mr. Boecker. Those opposed: none. Those abstaining: none. Appointment of the HPC Member Review Committee: Mr. Coupland suggested that the 3-person HPC Review Committee be composed of the Chair, Mr. Boecker, and a rotation of the two new alternate members. Mr. Testa expressed concern about appointing alternates to the committee. Mr. Coupland responded that the Chair or Vice Chair oversees all decisions. Motion made by Mr. Carroll that the HPC Review Committee be composed of the Chair, Mr. Boecker with the two Alternate members rotating the third position seconded by Mr. Testa and carried 7-0. MINUTES Motion made by Ms. Wilson Stridick to approve the December 18, 2023, Minutes seconded by Mr. Boecker and carried 7-0. Those in favor: Mr. Coupland, Mr. Carroll, Mr. Testa, Ms. Pessagno, Ms. Wilson Stridick, Mr. Stevenson, Mr. Boecker. Those opposed: none. Those abstaining: none. RESOLUTIONS Sawyer’s Dowry, 665 Hughes Street, Block 1058, Lots 10 & 18 - Resolution 2023-48 Damato Family LLC, 1236 Lafayette Street, Block 1129, Lot 16 - Resolution 2023-49 Muraika and McLaughlin, 1009 Kearney Avenue, Block 1097, Lots 8 & 9 - Resolution 2023-50 Authorizing Appointment of Christopher Gillin-Schwartz as Solicitor of HPC - Resolution 2024-01 Motion made by Mr. Carroll to approve Resolutions #2023-48 through #2023-50 and Resolution #2024-01 seconded by Mr. Boecker and carried 7-0. Those in favor: Mr. Coupland, Mr. Carroll, Mr. Testa, Ms. Pessagno, Ms. Wilson Stridick, Mr. Stevenson, Mr. Boecker. Those opposed: none. Those abstaining: none. APPLICATIONS APPROVED/DENIED IN REVIEW Baldwin, 909 Washington Street, 1094/22, Non-contributing - Rehabilitate Shed Cape May City, 717 Franklin Street, 1060/31, Non-contributing - Demolition Cape May City, 715 Franklin Street, 1060/30, Key Contributing - Steeple Tower, Steps, Ramp Cape May City, 100 Beach Avenue, 1000/14, Not Rated - Advisory Letter Cape May City, 1410 Harbor View Lane, 1173/1, Not Rated - Advisory Letter Celio, 120 Decatur Street, 1041/7, Contributing - Ten Window Sash Replacement Kits Congress Hall LLC, 200 Congress Street, 1028/1.01, Key Contributing - Gate HPC Minutes January 8, 2024 2 GC Ventures LLC, 314 Claghorne Place, 1031/63,64, Not Rated - Masonry Wall, Paver Strips Hamilton, 1028 New York Avenue, 1102/15, Contributing - Roofing Heard, 9 Jackson Street Unit 506, 1041/16 C-506, Non-contributing - Heat Pump Levy, 703 St. James Place, 1061/68 C-703, Non-contributing - HVAC Lynch, 825-1 Stockton Avenue, 1068/13 C-1, Contributing - Porch Posts, Stair, Trim Mackin, 111 Ocean Street, 1057/26, Contributing - Porch Decking, Stairs Marquis de Lafayette Hotel, 501 Beach Avenue, 1047/1, Non-Contributing - Heat Pumps McGowan, 263 Grant Street, 1023/23, Contributing - Windows, Door, Exterior Shower Merenich & Sawyer, 924 Kearney Avenue, 1082/6, Non-contributing - Door Miller, 932 Sewell Avenue, 1088/1 - Deny Jurisdiction - Elevation NJ Prime Real Estate LLC, 1507 Yacht Avenue, 1160/8.01, 8, 9, Non-contributing - Garage Doors Regent Beach Condos, 10 Congress Street, 1024/7, Non-contributing - Fences Stonitsch & Witt, 1216 New York Avenue, 1131/9.02, 10, Contributing - Window Trim, Soffits, Brick Repair Motion made by Mr. Boecker to approve the applications approved or denied in review seconded by Mr. Carroll and carried 7-0. Those in favor: Mr. Coupland, Mr. Carroll, Mr. Testa, Ms. Pessagno, Ms. Wilson Stridick, Mr. Stevenson, Mr. Boecker. Those opposed: none. Those abstaining: none. OLD BUSINESS: Raimo - 266 Grant Street, Block 1019, Lot 7, Non-Contributing Rebuild 2.5 Story House Retaining Rear Addition Architect Catherine Lorentz returned with Anthony Caporizzo a “family member” of owners James & Carol Raimo, who were not present. Mr. Lorentz presented a more articulated front façade design with a front porch and reconfigured roof with a front dormer in response to HPC comments. Ms. Lorentz presented a streetscape diagram with the new house and the old houses raised to the new flood requirements to support the height. Zoning Board variances will be sought. HPC favored the new plan. Motion made by Mr. Testa to grant Conceptual approval conditional upon three vertical dormer windows and removing the crosshatching seconded by Mr. Boecker and carried 7-0. Those in favor: Mr. Coupland, Mr. Carroll, Mr. Testa, Ms. Pessagno, Ms. Wilson Stridick, Mr. Stevenson, Mr. Boecker. Those opposed: none. Those abstaining: none. NEW BUSINESS: Adis, Inc., d/b/a La Mer Beachfront Resort - 1317 Beach Avenue, Block 1146, Lots 6-24, Non-contributing Demolition Representing La Mer were Attorney Keith Davis, NDG, owner George Andy, General Manager Francesca Santoro, and Architect Bill McLees. Mr. Davis presented the demolition request for the southwest wing and the detached duplex house on New Jersey Avenue. Seven of the Nine Points of demolition were presented by Mr. McLees and Mr. Davis in favor of demolition. Motion made by Mr. Testa to approve the demolition seconded by Mr. Stevenson. Mr. Carroll objected to the demolition as it will negatively impact the residents on New Jersey Avenue, especially the demolition of the house which was designed to fit into the Historic District and acts as a buffer. Ms. Wilson Stridick concurred and noted that the description and photo of the building on the Property Report notes that it fits into the fabric of Cape May although it is rated Non-contributing due to changes made over time; Mr. Coupland also objected to the demolition of the house for the same reason. The motion failed with a vote of 1-6. Those in favor: Mr. Testa. Those opposed: Mr. Coupland, Mr. Carroll, Ms. Pessagno, Ms. Wilson Stridick, Mr. Stevenson, Mr. Boecker. Those abstaining: none. The applicants requested a break, returned and reported that they would return to provide additional testimony regarding the Property Report. HPC Minutes January 8, 2024 3 Mr. Boecker made a motion to approve the demolition of the southwest wing of the existing La Mer building which failed for lack of a second. Discussion followed. The applicants requested to table and agreed to waive the 45-day review period. Mr. Testa made a motion to table the demolition application and the reconstruction application seconded by Mr. Boecker and carried 7-0. Those in favor: Mr. Coupland, Mr. Carroll, Mr. Testa, Ms. Pessagno, Ms. Wilson Stridick, Mr. Stevenson, Mr. Boecker. Those opposed: none. Those abstaining: none. Adis, Inc., d/b/a La Mer Beachfront Resort - 1317 Beach Avenue, Block 1146, Lots 6-24, Non-contributing Reconstruct Hotel Wing and Constrict Rear Event Wing - Tabled with above motion. OPEN TO PUBLIC Public comment was opened at 7:21 p.m. and closed at 7:21 p.m. with no individuals coming forward to comment. DISCUSSION Advisory Reports Mr. Testa reported that he developed a revised template for an HPC advisory letter to the city following consultation with the State Historic Preservation Office. Mr. Gillin-Schwartz and Mr. Coupland praised the format. Mr. Carroll made a motion seconded by Mr. Boecker that going forward Advisory Reports will substantially conform to the template presented by Mr. Testa. Those in favor: Mr. Coupland, Mr. Carroll, Mr. Testa, Ms. Pessagno, Ms. Wilson Stridick, Mr. Stevenson, Mr. Boecker. Those opposed: none. Those abstaining: none. Conceptual Approval Notice Mr. Testa presented a final draft of the Conceptual Approval notice letter to be issued to the city Boards and applicants for compliance with the HPC decisions. Discussion followed with amendment suggestions resulting in a decision for the Solicitor to finalize the draft. Ms. Wilson Stridick requested that this process be posted to the website. HPC determined that Conceptual Approvals would expire two years from the approval date. Parking Beneath Residential Buildings Mr. Boecker reported that he sent out a revised version of his research with comments from Mr. Testa. HPC would like a Zoning Ordinance amendment to prohibit parking under residential use beyond the FEMA requirements citywide, not just in the Historic District. Mr. Gillin-Schwartz advised that a recommendation would first go the Planning Board for Master Plan consistency. Discussion ensued. It was agreed that Mr. Boecker would finalize a recommendation with Ms. Baldwin for the next meeting. Boat Parking Mr. Stevenson reported on the issue of parking boats or trailers in driveways or side yards visible from the street which detracts from the streetscape in the Historic District. He sent out samples from other municipalities and will send the information to the Solicitor. The subject will be revisited at the next meeting. Announcement Following discussion, Mr. Coupland made an announcement that there will not be a meeting of HPC on February 5. Mr. Testa made a motion seconded by Mr. Boecker and carried 7-0 to amend the earlier motion adopting the HPC Schedule of Meetings to exclude the February 5 meeting. Those in favor: Mr. Coupland, Mr. Carroll, Mr. Testa, Ms. Pessagno, Ms. Wilson Stridick, Mr. Stevenson, Mr. Boecker. Those opposed: none. Those abstaining: none. HPC Minutes January 8, 2024 4 Mr. Carroll made a motion to adjourn at 9:47 p.m. Respectfully Submitted, Judith E. Decker HPC Secretary HPC Minutes January 8, 2024 5