Historic Preservation Commission

MADISON HISTORIC PRESERVATION COMMISSION Regular Meeting – May 13, 2014 Attending: Co-Chairman John Solu, Members David Luber, Alberta Marcy, Carmine Toto, and Margaret Weisgerber; Recording Secretary Laurie Hagerich. Absent: Co- Chairman Janet Foster Members John Forte, Joseph Longo and William VanRyzin; Council Liaison Robert Catalanello. The meeting was called to order as an open public meeting at 7:35 p.m. in accordance with the Open Public Meetings Act. The April 8, 2014, minutes were considered. By unanimous consent, the minutes were approved as written. Follow Up: TCC Applications: Mr. Toto reported he was not aware of any applications which would affect the Downtown Historic District and other historic districts or structures. Sign and Façade applications update: Bow Tie Cinema: The proposed façade renovations and upgrade work are progressing with removal of the present marquee covering. Sign & Façade Commission has requested the owner submit renderings of Bow Tie signs used in other locations, which vary a great deal from town to town. Plans will be formulated as the covering is removed depending on what is found underneath. The owners are very cooperative and the end result will be a great improvement over the theater’s present appearance. James Building/Home Sweet Home: Mr. Solu showed photos of façade improvements for the James Building where a new tenant/business, Home Sweet Home, will be occupying space facing Main Street. The intention is to uncover the original building façade and bring back the look of the period of the building’s construction, as shown in an historic photo brought by Mr. Solu. For Action: There were no new applications to be reviewed or matters for follow up. For Discussion: Update on Acoterian by Morris County: Mr. Solu reported he and Ms. Foster have been attending meetings with the County of Morris and working on updating MHPC’s Inventory of Historic Sites from the early 1980s. Madison was selected by Morris County as one of the first communities to have this update done, at no expense to the municipality. Information from the Master Plan, as well as the present Inventory of Historic Sites, is being used. Mr. Solu hopes the County will allow Madison to link into its data base, so that the information will be available to Madison’s citizens and property owners. The County will also do research on some neighborhoods established after World War II, such as Anthony Drive, Wayne Boulevard, Shady Lawn Drive and others. These neighborhoods originally consisted of smaller homes which helped to provide reasonably-priced housing for returning veterans. New Business: Mr. Solu reported he received a letter from the State of New Jersey’s Department of Environmental Protection about the availability of Green Acres that would enable communities to acquire land for outdoor recreation and conservation purposes. The letter states that “eligible land acquisition projects include the purchase of natural areas, historic sites, conservation areas, water bodies and open space for active or passive recreation.” Mr. Solu passed the letter on to the Mayor and Council for consideration. MHPC is aware of some properties that are presently available adjacent to parkland and would be in favor of acquiring more open space without cost to taxpayers through use of Green Acres funds. There being no further business the meeting was adjourned at 8:20 p.m. Laurie Hagerich, Recording Secretary