Historic Preservation Committee

Meeting Minutes – April 11, 2013

A meeting of the Mountain Lakes Historic Preservation Committee (“HPC” or the “Committee”) was held on March 14, 2013, at the Mountain Lakes Borough Hall.  In attendance were Co-Chairs Tom Dagger and John Grossmann, Pat Rusak, Mike DeWitt, Roberta Matalon, and Borough Liaison Jason Bradlee.  Absent were Chris Smith, Brigid Walsh, Ginny Cassidy and Margaret DeWitt.

Approval of Prior Meeting’s Minutes

The Committee unanimously approved the minutes of the March meeting in the form distributed to the Committee in advance of the meeting, with some additional non-substantive changes proposed by Tom Dagger. 

Treasurer’s Report

John Grossmann presented the report prepared by Chris Sheasby:

Opening Balance as of March 11, 2013: $32, 904.68

Debits:

$  40.00          Pat Rusak for historic photos and supplies

Credits:

$233.00          1 plaque and 2 historic photos

$175.00          1 plaque

$120.00          Salvage trailer donations

$528.00         

Closing Balance as of April 10, 2013: $33,392.68

It was noted that a substantial payment for the historic plaques, in the range of $4,000, would need to be made to the vendor at some point in the near future.

Archivist’s Report

Pat Rusak reported she is still doing deed work at Morris County Courthouse, working to pinpoint dates for Hapgood houses where a date is not firm.

Pat has also been organizing the plan files with the newly purchased archival dividers. This will keep fragile maps, pictures, etc. from ripping further.

Pat recently brought old documents to Boonton and Boonton Township. These were from the windfall of maps from Lakeland Survey Co.

Old Business

Historic Preservation Incentive Ordinance

Tom Dagger brought forward a proposal to modify the list of Contributing Dwellings under the ordinance to remove two homes – 11 Cobb Road and 115 Lake Drive – that did not appear to satisfy the eligibility criteria under the ordinance.  Tom first reviewed with the Committee the file from the Borough’s construction files relating to work that had been done on 11 Cobb in 2005, which clearly showed that the vast majority of the home had been demolished and replaced from scratch, thus failing to satisfy the requirement under the ordinance that the dwelling not have been demolished prior to the ordinance effective date, as well as the eligibility requirement that 75% of the floor area of the original structure as it existed on December 31, 1931 must remain.  Tom then discussed his research indicating that 115 Lake Drive had also been substantially (if not completely) demolished by builder Scott Dignes around 1999-2000, and that in fact the HDA entry for this structure appears to have been incorrect in identifying the home as a “Hapgood” because it also listed the construction date as "ca. 2000.”  Tom also discussed a third home that had been called into question -- 131 Lake Drive -- but was able to show, based on a review of file from the Borough’s construction files relating to work that had been done on this home in 2009 and Tom’s discussions with the architect, that, although the alterations would have rendered the home ineligible for the zoning incentives if they had been performed after the August 2012 ordinance effective date (primarily due to significant alterations to the street-facing façade), they did not affect the home’s status as a “Contributing Dwelling” as that term is defined in the ordinance.

After discussion and on motion duly seconded, the Committee voted unanimously to remove 11 Cobb Road and 115 Lake Drive from the Contributing Dwelling list under the ordinance, and to confirm that 131 Lake Drive belongs on the list.  Tom undertook to draft a letter to the affected homeowners informing them of the Committee’s decision and to arrange for the list of Contributing Dwelling published on the ordinance website to be updated.

Tom also updated the Committee on the re-dos of photos of Contributing Dwellings for the website, which had been completed over the prior month while the leaves were still off the trees.  The photos will be organized and uploaded to the website over the next few months.

Midvale Stores Sidewalk Project

John Grossmann brought in a PDF file of the proposal drawn up by landscape architect Bruce Davies.  He noted that it was both small and thus hard to discern, but that a much larger version was being made and would soon be sent.  More pertinently, he noted that the proposal did not include the request cost estimate for the work on the initial phase of the project, that which pertains to the sidewalk renovation work from Pollard to Romaine.  He said that he had requested that be done and was to meet the following week with Davies and a colleague on site to move that along.

Letter to Realtors re: Preservation Ordinance

Brigid Walsh had reported by email prior to the meeting that she had distributed the letter and Ginny's article to the Weichert offices in Morris Plains and Mountain Lakes, to the Prudential and Century 21 offices in Parsippany and to Mary Menard, Keller Williams. No one had yet expressed an interest in having the Committee Co-Chairs come to their office, but the recipients very much appreciated the information. 

Salvage Trailer

Grossmann reported three visits to the trailer recently and several items claimed: two more of the recently posted radiator covers; a door; hardware for doors.  He said there is potential interest in the four garage doors.  A story on the salvage trailer appeared this week in The Citizen, the reporter learning about the HPC salvage trailer from the announcement on the Borough home page of the new salvage program between the HPC and Habitat for Humanity.  All of this reflects well on the recent reordering and online posting of the inventory—the project driven by high school volunteers John Dagger and Keara Walsh.

Hapgood and Belhall Plaque Order

Roberta Matalon reported that 23 plaques are on order and should be arriving soon for distribution and pickup.  She asked about providing homeowners with a lead on a handyman who could be hired to install the plaque.  John Grossmann said he would look into this and let her know.

Borough Council Communications Committee

Mike DeWitt reported that the meetings “are moving in a good direction.”

HPC Merchandise Web Page Displays

This agenda item was briefly mentioned but effectively held for discussion when more members would be present.  

Date for Next Meeting

Thursday, May 9, at 7:30 p.m. at the Mountain Lakes Borough Hall.

Minutes prepared by John Grossmann and Tom Dagger.