Historic Preservation Committee

Meeting Minutes – January 10, 2013

A meeting of the Mountain Lakes Historic Preservation Committee (“HPC” or the “Committee”) was held on January 10, 2013, in the meeting room at the Mountain Lakes Borough Hall.  In attendance were Co-Chairs Tom Dagger and John Grossmann, and Chris Smith.  Also present were member-designees Michael DeWitt and Ginny Cassidy.  Absent were Brigid Walsh, Roberta Matalon, Pat Rusak, and new Borough Council Liaison Jason Bradlee.

Approval of Prior Meeting’s Minutes

The Committee approved the minutes of the December meeting in the form distributed to the Committee in advance of the meeting. 

Public Comments

Brian and Susan Marshall (220 Morris Avenue) returned to present the final architectural plans they intend to present to the Zoning Board of Adjustment at its February meeting so they can rebuild the two-car detached garage that was destroyed by a tree toppled by Hurricane Sandy.  The plans, which would require variances from the setback regulations (but would avoid two additional variances due to the status of the Marshall’s home as a contributing dwelling under the new historic preservation incentive ordinance), reflected input provided by the Committee at the December meeting.  The Committee voted to support the Marshall’s project.  Tom Dagger agreed to draft a letter to that effect on behalf of the Committee which would be submitted to the Zoning Board in connection with the Marshall’s request for a variance.

Treasurer’s Report

            John Grossmann read the monthly accounting provided by Chris Sheasby:

            Opening Balance as of 12/11/12: $30,245.31

            Debits: 

$240.56          John Grossmann for postage and envelopes for Preservation Ordinance mailing to Hapgood and Belhall owners

            Credits:

            $314.00 historic photos and note cards

            Closing Balance as of 1/9/13: $30,318.75

Archivist’s Report

Unable to attend, Pat Rusak passed on word that she is helping the Community Church with its centennial project.

Old Business

Historic Preservation Incentive Ordinance

Two action items discussed were the need for retakes of photos for the website, and a letter to realtors about the benefits of the ordinance. 

A large percentage of the photos taken by the Committee last summer for the website are not sufficient to provide clear views of some or all of the facades of the homes, which is important for enforcement of the ordinance provisions on eligibility for the incentives.  Most of these are due to foliage.  John and Tom were going to create a list of the problematic homes so that a process for retakes could be discussed at the February meeting.  Volunteers would be needed who could take the replacement photos before the trees begin to bud in the spring.  Unfortunately, no homeowners have taken the Committee up on its request in the December 14 letter for substitute photos to be submitted to the Committee.

Ginny Cassidy offered to prepare a draft of a letter from the Committee to realtors who market homes in Mountain Lakes educating them on the benefits of the ordinance so that prospective buyers considering teardown/replacements of historic homes could be told early in the process about the impact of making such a decision.

New Members

John Grossmann shared that through Councilman John Lester he’d submitted three potential new HPC members for consideration at the January 28^th Council meeting: Michael and Margaret DeWitt and Ginny Cassidy.  Mike and Ginny were in attendance at this meeting, and participated in several discussions. 

Midvale Stores Sidewalk Project

John Grossmann stated that he’d been in further contact with landscape architect Bruce Davies and shared a letter from Davies promising a first stage design plan for the sidewalk and fence project in front of the Midvale Stores.  This would cost $800, with $500 upfront.  The Committee voted unanimously to allocate that money, thus funding an alternative design with streetlights and planters and decorative insets to the cement sidewalk that could be taken to the Borough Council for discussion as a Plan B to the proposal of Borough Manager Tovo.  It was decided that before doing so, Grossmann would brief Mayor Happer to learn if such a Plan B proposal would be a welcome addition to the sidewalk repair project discussion.

Salvage Trailer

John Grossmann reported that the webmaster had posted the inventory web pages for the salvage trailer, but final tweaking remained necessary:  A photo ID for John Dagger; a banner across the photo for door #3 saying Save and Recycled, to indicate it had been claimed; and the posting of new photos for the recent acquisition of dining room plate rail and an oak radiator cover. 

Grossmann also told the Committee of a new cooperative arrangement with Habitat for Humanity that should be a win-win development for all parties. Currently, the HPC necessarily turns down such bulky items as old tubs and sinks and radiators and radiator covers due to a lack of storage space in the trailer.  Under the new arrangement, homeowners or contractors remodeling an old home won’t have to send such items to the landfill.  They can be photographed and posted on the Borough home page as salvage items available from the HPC.  Such items will be available to Mountain Lakes residents for one month—after which, if not already stored at Habitat for Humanity in Randolph, Habitat will take possession of them for sale in their store—reaping the benefits of the sale.

Mike DeWitt mentioned that battery powered lights would be a welcome addition to the salvage trailer.  The Committee concurred and authorized him to purchase a couple of lights at Walmart and the HPC would reimburse him. 

New Business

None.

Date for Next Meeting

Following the meeting, due to schedule conflicts, the Committee decided to move the February meeting date from the usual second Thursday (February 14^th) to Tuesday, February 12^th, at 7:30 p.m. at the Mountain Lakes Borough Hall.  

Minutes prepared by John Grossmann and Tom Dagger.