Historic Preservation Commission

MADISON HISTORIC PRESERVATION COMMISSION Regular Meeting – July 11, 2016 Attending: Co-Chairman Janet Foster; Members, Karen Jeisi, Mary Ellen Lenahan, David Luber and Carmine Toto; Recording Secretary Laurie Hagerich. Absent: Co- Chairman John Solu; Members John Forte, Chris Kellogg and William VanRyzin; Council Liaison Patrick Rowe.. 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 June 14, 2016, minutes were considered and one correction made on page 2: The Verizon Wireless antenna paragraph should be “Old Business,” instead of “New Business”. By unanimous consent the minutes were approved as corrected. For Action: Sign and Façade applications: 7 Waverly Place: Ms. Foster noted that in the case of both Sign and Façade applications being reviewed, the signs have been placed with review, which is contrary to the regulations of the Ordinance. Photos were shown of the new door lettering for 3 businesses on the upper floors of 7 Waverly Place. MHPC had not objection to the design of the signage. 17 Waverly Place – The Loft Salon: Photos were shown of new door and window signs for The Loft Salon at 17 Waverly Place. MHPC has no objection to the design or placement of these signs. Ms. Foster will write a confirming letter for both applications. Old Business: Downtown Historic District Sidewalk Repair Project (SHPO Memo): Ms. Foster reported receiving a copy of a letter from the State Historic Preservation Office acknowledging receipt and approval of plans for the Borough’s Capital Project involving sidewalk repairs and resetting pavers around trees in the Downtown Historic District. Ms. Foster will send a letter to Borough Engineer Robert Vogel thanking him for submitting the plans to SHPO in compliance with procedures for a project involving expenditure of public funds within a historic district. Hopefully this will give encouragement for compliance with these procedures on future public projects. The letter will also be a reminder that MHPC is ready and willing to help and give advice on aesthetic aspects of such projects. A Madison citizen sent a letter to objecting to a phase of the project recently completed, being the work at the Waverly-Green parking lot where pavers were removed and replaced with cement at the entrances to the lot. This led to Mr. Solu reminding, project head, that HPC review is required for. Project description with photos for the Trees and Paver Project were reviewed and comments included:  Reminder to the Borough that projects within a historic district involving public funds need to be reviewed by HPC and DEP  Request that the textured surface applied to curb ramps be uniform in grey color throughout the Borough. Mr. Solu mentioned that the grey color was used in the Bottle Hill Historic District and was very well received.   Request for color tint and embossed grid to match existing pavers when poured cement replaces the pavers in driveways with heavy truck and vehicle traffic. Downtown Historic District benches and water fountains (DDC): Photos were shown of water fountains proposed by the DDC for installation in the Downtown Historic District, some containing water bowls for pets. After review and discussion, the Commission was not in favor of the design or need for the fountains in the downtown, which already has many benches, utility boxes and signage. Photos of several benches the DDC has proposed for installation on the Waverly Place central island were also reviewed and found to be unnecessary. There is presently sufficient seating on Waverly Place. For Information: Applications have been submitted to the Morris County Historic Preservation Fund for grants by the Museum of Early Trades and Crafts and the Borough of Madison for the Hartley Dodge Memorial. HPC had no comment on the grant applications, which will be decided in late June. Old Business (Cont’d): Verizon Wireless antenna at 51-55 Main Street: A letter was received from Trileaf Corp., an environmental consultant doing a Section 106 review relative to the antenna installation. Ms. Foster will send a letter re-affirming the comments and recommendations made at the April 12, 2016, meeting pertaining to review of the Verizon antenna application. The meeting was adjourned at 9:00 p.m. Laurie Hagerich, Recording Secretary