Historic Preservation Commission

MADISON HISTORIC PRESERVATION COMMISSION Regular Meeting – October 14, 2014 Attending: Co-Chairmen John Solu and Janet Foster; Members, John Forte, David Luber, Carmine Toto, William VanRyzin and Margaret Weisgerber; Recording Secretary Laurie Hagerich. Absent: Members, Alberta Marcy and Joseph Longo; Council Liaison Robert Catalanello. Jan Williams of the Morris County Dept. of Planning and Public Works and representatives of Richard Grubb and Assoc. were also present. 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 September 9, 2014, minutes were considered and by unanimous consent, the minutes were approved as written. Follow Up: TCC Applications update: Mr. Toto reported there were no applications in the Historic Districts that he is aware of. Sign and Façade applications update: There were no new sign applications before the Sign and Façade Committee. Mr. VanRyzin mentioned that he attended a meeting of the Open Space, Recreation and Historic Preservation Committee recently as MHPC’s liaison. That Committee asked that he relay a request that representatives of the Friends of Bottle Hill Historic District attend one of their meetings (on the 2d Wednesday of each month) to show plans and talk about their concerns and priorities for the Ridgedale Avenue road construction project. The Committee is concerned about removal of some trees and would like to review the streetscape plans prepared by Friends of BHHD. A possible goal of OSRHP would be to purchase additional property to link Summerhill Park and the Luke Miller property. For Action: Morris County Cultural Resource Inventory: Jan Williams, Cultural and Historic Resources Specialist from the County of Morris Dept. of Planning and Public Works and Jennifer Leynes and Kelly Wiles, representing Richard Grubb & Associates, Cultural Resource Consultants, were present to explain and answer questions about the updating of the 1986 Acterion Inventory of Historic Sites. Ms. Williams explained that Madison is one of several communities in Phase 3 of the Project and they are about to begin fieldwork and research to add 10 sites to the Inventory. Input of Madison’s municipal bodies and its citizens is invited. Anyone with information or background material on historic sites should convey this information to the team so it can be included in the history of each site. Historic sites where buildings have been demolished will be included in a “ghost section” of the inventory. There was discussion of possible demolition of a 1950’s era ranch home on Green Avenue which has been sold to a developer, who most likely will build 4 houses on the property after demolition. Some sites MHPC recommended adding to the Inventory are: • 99 Madison Avenue and adjoining streetscape (multi-family building next to #99 and Drew University building across Madison Avenue). • Rosemont Avenue streetscape, as an example of unaltered development; • Albright Circle neighborhood;  • Tuttle Oak/Maple/Prospect Street neighborhood; • Creative use for remnants of the Tuttle Oak tree for the “ghost” section; • Historic walls of Madison; • Hitching posts, carriage steps and slate sidewalks of historic significance; • Giralda Farms and Villa Lorraine for the “ghost” section; • Old trolley tracks under Main Street were also discussed; John Forte offered to provide information on residences of former Mayors of Madison. It was agreed MHPC will submit its recommendation for the 10 additional sites to be added for evaluation by Ms. Williams and her team. It was also recommended that MHPC keep a list of properties that are about to reach 50 years of age so they can be added as they become eligible for historic designation. Follow up on September applications: It was reported that the 57 Ridgedale Avenue application for construction of a storage shed on the property, among other requests, was approved. For Discussion: Bottle Hill Historic District 10th Anniversary: It was agreed representatives of Friends of Bottle Hill Historic District will attend a meeting of the Open Space, Recreation and Historic Preservation Committee to discuss their concerns and priorities for the Ridgedale Avenue road construction project It was suggested a picnic or party at Summerhill Park would be a good way to celebrate the anniversary. Also when the promised traffic calming measures are put into effect by the Borough, attention could be brought to the public by placing banners on the street. The meeting was adjourned at 9:25 p.m. Laurie Hagerich, Recording Secretary