Historic Preservation Commission

MADISON HISTORIC PRESERVATION COMMISSION Regular Meeting – February 11, 2014 Attending: Co-Chairmen John Solu and Janet Foster, Members Joseph Longo, David Luber, Alberta Marcy, Carmine Toto, William VanRyzin and Margaret Weisgerber; Recording Secretary Laurie Hagerich. Absent: Members John Forte and Council Liaison Robert Catalanello. The meeting was called to order as an open public meeting at 7:30 p.m. in accordance with the Open Public Meetings Act. The January 15, 2014, minutes were considered. By unanimous consent, the minutes were approved as written. Follow Up: TCC Applications: Plans for the following TCC applications were shown: • 27 Belleau Avenue, which is on the Inventory because of its large size; • 34 Prospect Street - replacement building for a small house to be demolished; new building will be a dental office with apartments above; • 85 Park Avenue – replacement building on corner of Park and Loveland where previous building was destroyed by fire. • 134 Main Street – New Investors Bank building will replace former car dealership. A second building for retail space is also planned. Changes from the original plans reviewed were noted. • The above applications were reviewed because of their close proximity to the Downtown Historic District and other historic structures. There was no comment since none of the properties are in a historic district and MHPC has no jurisdiction over the applications. Sign and Façade applications update: Walgreen’s: Plans for new signage were shown. Mr. Solu explained the application has been reviewed and approved by Sign and Façade and was forwarded to MHPC for comment. 48 Main Street – Photos of new signage for Rose City Nails were shown. Mr. Solu explained the DDC and Sign and Façade Committee are working with the business owner to come up with a more creative design in keeping with the streetscape in the Downtown Historic District. Through a new scholarship fund, DDC will pay for development of the design and the owner will pay for the sign. Another sign in preliminary stages for property on Madison Avenue was shown. MHPC was not in favor of the simulated stone used in the design. For Action: MHPC Reorganization/Elections: Mr. Solu was informed that all commission members were re-appointed for 2014. The meeting dates for 2014 have been posted on the website.  For Discussion: Annual Report: The Annual Report, which had been emailed to all members prior to the meeting, was reviewed and comments were as follows: • The Report will reflect that funds were not available for professional photographs of the home at 92 Greenwood Avenue prior to its demolition but that the owner upon request provided documents, photographs and plans which were filed with the Madison Historical Society. • Some suggested changes will be made in the Inventory section and correction of spelling errors will be made. • Some of the initiatives mentioned in the January minutes will be added to the Goals section of the Annual Report. Mr. Longo was thanked for his work on the website. He indicated he would be willing to help with posting properties which have been lost from the Inventory of Historic Sites to increase public awareness of these losses. There was discussion of ideas for a property to be featured on the 2014 Historic Preservation poster to be displayed at the Green Fair. One suggestion was the Mantone building on Prospect Street, recently opened as a canine hotel after extensive improvements to the facade. 2014 Initiatives: Mr. Solu shared a recent issue of Heritage Review, a newsletter of the Morris County Heritage Commission, which has information about activities and events planned for 2014. New Business: There was announcement of a Borough sponsored Committee Leadership Workshop on Saturday, March 1, which will include training on protocols and legal procedures. Kathy Solu, MHPC’s Sign and Façade Liaison will attend the workshop and other Commission members were invited to attend as well. There being no further business, the meeting was adjourned at 9:00 p.m. Laurie Hagerich, Recording Secretary