Special Historic Preservation Commission Meeting

City of Cape May Historic Preservation Commission Special Meeting Minutes February 15, 2024 Opening: The special meeting of the City of Cape May Historic Preservation Commission (HPC) was called to order by Vice Chairperson Tom Carroll at 3:00 p.m. In compliance with the Open Public Meetings Act, adequate notice of this meeting was provided. ANNOUNCEMENTS Open Public Meetings Law (Sunshine Law) Under the Open Public Meetings Law (P.L. 1975, Chapter 231 of the State of New Jersey), notice of this meeting was sent to the Cape May Star and Wave and the Cape May County Herald and posted on the Cape May City website and Cape May City Hall bulletin board. Pledge of Allegiance Roll Call Mr. Coupland, Chairperson Absent Mr. Carroll, Vice Chairperson Present Mr. Boecker Present Mr. Stevenson Present Mr. Testa Present Ms. Pessagno Absent Ms. Wilson-Stridick Absent Mr. Johnson (Alt. 1) Absent Mr. Hammeran (Alt. 2) Present Also Present:, Judith Decker, HPC Secretary, Police Chief Fashaw, Mayor Zack Mullock virtually. HPC Solicitor Chris Gillan Schwartz was absent. NEW BUSINESS Cape May City Police Department - 701 Lafayette Street, Block 1061, Lots 42-44, 47-49, Non-Contributing New Police Building - Advisory Review City Manager/City Engineer Paul Dietrich and Architects Rob Conley and John Descano of Rob Conley Architect LLC presented the plan for a new Cape May City Police building. Mr. Dietrich thanked HPC for the special meeting for the HPC advisory review to expedite submission to the State Historic Preservation Office for approval to hopefully begin the project by the fall. Mr. Conley reported that they had worked with HPC committee members beginning with the initial sketches for the building. The proposed red brick building will face Lafayette Street accented by black brick with a cedar shake or an acceptable composite slate roof as they feel a period Second Empire style masonry building would have had a slate roof and not wood shake. He proposed the same windows and doors as were used on the firehouse, which they also designed, with overhead cottage style doors on St. John Street. Mr. Descano reviewed the design details and proposed lighting fixtures. HPC favored the design but agreed that the tower was too high with a height of 52’as confirmed by the applicant. Discussion followed regarding the tower with a decision by the applicants that the tower height would be reduced. Mr. HPC Minutes February 15, 2024 1 Boecker reported that he had researched the roofing material online and found thirty Second Empire masonry public buildings with Mansard roofs and found that all of them had slate roofs with twenty composed of brick. He noted that the Secretary of the Interior’s Brief #16 offers a pathway to allow appropriate newer materials and offered the applicants several options he had found to obtain samples for review. The applicant agreed to match the standard city streetlights and HPC favored the globes lights flanking the front entry. In response to a comment from Mr. Carroll, Mr. Conley explained that the extra height of the Mansard on the main roof functioned as a parapet to shield any future solar panel installation. Mr. Testa confirmed that HPC would like to follow up on later changes to the plan following the issuance of the advisory letter regarding the use of substitute materials, the tower height, lighting and site landscaping. Mr. Conley emphasized that they want the new building to be appropriate and will continue to consult HPC. Chief Fashaw thanked HPC and noted that residents in the neighborhood were consulted on the plan. Mr. Dietrich said the site plan is forthcoming with the park plan and the streetscape will align with Franklin Street. OPEN TO PUBLIC Public comment was opened at 3:53 p.m. Roz Johnson of Lafayette Street liked the plan but also thought the tower was too high. Stacy Sheehan of Columbia Avenue asked if the height of the building, not including the tower, complied with the zoning ordinance which she believed to be 35’. Mr. Conley responded that the building height was close to 40’. Public comment was closed at 3:58 p.m. Motion made by Mr. Testa to issue a favorable advisory report with conditions regarding the tower height, the roofing material and the lighting seconded by Mr. Boecker and carried 5-0. Those in favor: Mr. Carroll, Mr. Testa, Mr. Stevenson, Mr. Boecker, Mr. Hammeran. Those opposed: none. Those abstaining: none. DISCUSSION ADJOURNMENT Motion to adjourn the meeting was made by Mr. Testa at 4:00 p.m. with all in favor. A verbatim recording of said meeting is available on the City of Cape May website. Respectfully Submitted, Judith E. Decker HPC Secretary HPC Minutes February 15, 2024 2