Historic Preservation Commission

MADISON HISTORIC PRESERVATION COMMISSION Regular Meeting – January 10, 2017 Attending: Co-Chairman John Solu; Members, Karen Jeisi, Mary Ellen Lenahan, David Luber and Carmine Toto; Council Liaison Carmela Vitale; and Recording Secretary Laurie Hagerich. Absent: Co-Chairman Janet Foster; Members, John Forte, Chris Kellogg, and William VanRyzin. The meeting was called to order as an open public meeting at 7:35 p.m. in accordance with the Open Public Meetings Act. Mr. Solu mentioned new Commission member Ann Huber was unable to attend but will be welcomed at the February meeting. Information packets made for each Commission member were given out, containing pertinent Borough Ordinances, case law and resource information, Morris County Cultural Resource Inventory, and other information useful to new and long-standing Commission members. Ms. Lenahan offered to look into ways MHPC and the Borough could be stronger in encouraging preservation of historic structures and to identify powers of the Zoning and Planning Boards. The December 13, 2016, minutes were considered and by unanimous consent the minutes were approved as written. For Discussion: MHPC Reorganization/Appointment of Officers: Ann Huber was appointed by the Mayor as Alternate Member of the Commission. He asked members to consider candidates to take on positions of Chairman, Co-Chairman, Secretary and Liaison to Sign & Façade Commission. The appointments will be made at the February meeting when it is hoped the entire membership will be present. Follow Up: TCC applications update: See two action items below. Sign & Façade applications update: There were no new Sign & Façade applications that MHPC is aware of. For Action: TCC request for review 36 Kinney Street: Application for driveway and impervious coverage issues was reviewed. Since the property is not located in a designated historic district and the structure is not historic, MHPC had no comment. Fran Boardman at the Madison Zoning Board will be informed. Review of 90 Park Avenue Subdivision: Plans were reviewed for subdivision and new construction of 3 buildings were reviewed. MHPC had no comment since the new buildings will not affect the streetscape, and the property is not located in a designated historic district. New Business: Update of Ridgedale Avenue District Nomination: There was discussion of MHPC’s efforts to extend the Bottle Hill Historic District to the Florham Park border, so that some historic properties and structures not included will be part of the Historic District. Mr. Toto gave background on the custodian’s house next to Madison High School dating from 1903 and the Ess-A-Kay property next to Summerhill Park. He also spoke about recent preservation efforts and work being done on a house on Main Street next to the Masonic Lodge. The meeting was adjourned at 8:45 p.m. Laurie Hagerich, Recording Secretary