The purpose of this article is to provide a method by which
to locate, identify and designate historical landmarks within the
Township of Verona and to regulate the repair, alteration, replacement,
removal and demolition of historical landmarks, to prevent the loss
and destruction of historical landmarks by neglect, improper restoration,
alteration and development and to preserve historical landmarks and
thereby preserve the historical, cultural, and architectural heritage
of the Township of Verona and to thereby foster civic pride and the
well being of the community.
A. There is hereby established a Historic Preservation Commission which
shall consist of five regular members and two alternate members.
B. Membership on the Commission shall include one member designated
as a Class A member, who shall be a person who is knowledgeable in
building design and construction or architectural history and who
may reside outside of the municipality; and one member designated
as a Class B member, who shall be a person who is knowledgeable of
or has a demonstrated interest in local history and who may reside
outside the municipality. Regular members who are not designated as
Class A or Class B members shall be designated as Class C members
and shall be citizens of the municipality and shall hold no other
municipal office, position or employment except for membership on
the Planning Board or Board of Adjustment. Alternate members shall
meet the qualifications of Class C members.
C. Appointment; terms.
(1)
Regular members and alternate members shall be appointed by
the Manager. At the time of the appointment, the Manager shall designate
the members by class and the alternates as "Alternate No. 1" and "Alternate
No. 2."
(2)
The term for a regular member shall be for four years and the
term of an alternate member
(4)
A vacancy in the term of any regular or alternate member occurring
otherwise than by expiration of a term shall be filled for the unexpired
term only.
(5)
Despite any other provision contained herein, the term of any
member common to the Commission and to the Planning Board shall be
for the term of the membership on the Planning Board, and the term
of any member common to the Commission and the Board of Adjustment
shall be for the term of membership on the Board of Adjustment.
(6)
The Commission shall elect a Chairman and Vice Chairman from
its members and shall select a Secretary who may or may not be a member
of the Commission or a municipal employee.
(7)
Alternate members may participate in proceedings but may not
vote except in the absence or disqualification of a regular member.
A vote shall not be delayed in order that a regular member may vote
instead of an alternate member. In the event that only one alternate
number may vote, alternate number one shall have priority to vote
over alternate number two.
(8)
No member of the Commission shall be permitted to act on any
matter in which he or she has, either directly or indirectly, any
personal or financial interest.
(9)
A member of the Commission may, after public hearing, if public
hearing is requested by such member, be removed by the Township governing
body for cause.
D. Authority and responsibility. The Commission shall have the responsibility
to:
(1)
Prepare a survey of the historic sites of the municipality,
pursuant to criteria identified in the survey report.
(2)
Make recommendations to the Planning Board on the historic preservation
plan element of the Master Plan and on the implications for preservation
of historic sites of any other Master Plan elements.
(3)
Advise the Planning Board on the inclusion of historic sites
in the recommended capital improvement program.
(4)
Advise the Planning Board and to the Board of Adjustment on
applications for development, pursuant to N.J.S.A. 40:55D-110.
(5)
Provide written reports, pursuant to N.J.S.A. 40:55D-111, on
the application of the provisions of this chapter concerning historic
preservation.
(6)
Make recommendations to the governing body of sites to be designated
as historic under this section.
(7)
Carry out such other advisory, educational and informational
functions as will promote historic preservation in the municipality.
(8)
Conduct research on and, if appropriate, nominate additional
significant resources to the State and National Register of Historic
Places.
The Planning Board and Board of Adjustment shall, when an application
before it that pertains to property in an historic zoning district
or on a landmark designated on the Zoning Map or on the Official Map
or identified in any component of the Master Plan, is deemed complete
or is scheduled for a hearing, whichever is sooner, refer such application
to the Historic Preservation Commission in accordance with N.J.S.A.
40:55D-110.
The following standards shall be considered by the Historic
Preservation Commission in connection with referrals pursuant to N.J.S.A.
40:55D-110 and by the Historic Preservation Commission and Planning
Board in connection with permits and/or certificates as required by
this chapter; and by the Planning Board and Board of Adjustment in
connection with development applications pursuant to N.J.S.A. 40:55D-1
et seq. when a development application involves a property which has
been designated by ordinance as a landmark or as being located within
an historic district:
A. Demolitions. The following matters shall be considered when an application
is made to demolish an historic landmark or to make an improvement
within an historic district:
(1)
The structure or landmark's historic, architectural and aesthetic
significance.
(2)
The structure or landmark's current and potential use and whether
such use is permitted by the zoning ordinance.
(3)
The probable impact of the structure or landmark's removal upon
the ambiance of the historic district.
(4)
The structural soundness and integrity of the building, structure,
site, object, or improvement and the economic feasibility of restoring
or rehabilitating same.
(5)
The structure's importance to the municipality and the extent
to which its historic or architectural value is such that its demolition
would be detrimental to the public interest.
(6)
The extent to which the structure is of old, unusual or uncommon
design, craftsmanship, texture or material that it could not be reproduced
or could be reproduced only with great difficulty.
(7)
The extent to which preservation of the structure would generate
business, create new jobs, attract tourists, students, writers, historians,
artists, and new residents or promote the general welfare by maintaining
and increasing real estate values, encouraging study and interest
in American history, stimulating interest and study in architecture
and design, educating citizens in American culture and heritage, or
making the municipality a more attractive and desirable place in which
to live.
(8)
If a structure is within an historic district, the probable
impact of its removal upon the ambience of the historic district.
B. Relocation.
(1)
If an application is made to move an historic landmark or any structure in an historic district to a new location within the municipality, the following matters, in addition to those factors set forth in Subsection
A of this section, shall be considered:
(a)
The probability of significant damage to the landmark or structure
itself.
(b)
The historic loss to the site of original location.
(c)
The compelling reasons for not retaining the landmark or structure
at its present site.
(d)
The compatibility, nature and character of the proposed surrounding
area into which the landmark or structure will be moved as they relate
to the intent and purposes of this article.
(e)
If the proposed new location is within an historic district,
the visual compatibility factors as set forth in this article.
(2)
If an application is made to move an historic landmark to a location outside of the municipality, in addition to the matters set forth in Subsections
A and
B of this section, the Commission shall consider the proximity of the proposed new location to the municipality, including the accessibility to the residents of the municipality and other citizens.
C. Modifications.
(1)
The following matters shall be considered if an application
is made to alter, modify or otherwise change an historical structure
or landmark:
(a)
The impact of the proposed alteration, modification or change
on the historic and architectural character of the landmark or structure
in an historic district.
(b)
The historic or architectural importance to the municipality
and the extent to which such interest would be affected by the proposed
action.
(c)
The extent to which textures and materials could not be reproduced
and the hardship to the applicant of reproducing such textures or
obtaining such materials.
(d)
The use of the structure.
(e)
The extent to which the proposed action would adversely affect
the view from a public street, of a landmark or structure within an
historic district.
(f)
If the application deals with a structure within an historic
district, the impact that the proposed change would have on the character
and ambience of the historic district and the structure's visual compatibility
with the buildings, places and structures to which it would be visually
related.
(2)
Visual compatibility factors. In assessing the effect of any
proposed change under application for any landmark, the following
visual compatibility factors and standards shall be used to analyze
the effect that the proposed change would have on the landmark and
on those structures to which the landmark is visually related:
(a)
Height. The height of the proposed building shall be visually
compatible with adjacent buildings.
(b)
Proportion of the building's front façade. The relationship
of the width of the building to the height of the front elevation
shall be visually compatible with buildings and places to which it
is visually related.
(c)
Proportion of openings within the facility. The relationship
of the width of windows to the height of windows in a building shall
be visually compatible with the buildings and places to which it is
visually related.
(d)
Rhythm of solids to voids on facades fronting on public places.
The relationship of solids to voids in such facades of a building
shall be visually compatible with the buildings and places to which
it is visually related.
(e)
Rhythm of spacing of buildings on streets. The relationship
of the building to the open space between it and adjoining buildings
shall be visually compatible with the buildings and places to which
it is visually related.
(f)
Rhythm of entrance and/or porch projections. The relationship
of entrance and porch projections to the street shall be visually
compatible with the buildings and places to which it is visually related.
(g)
Relationship of materials, texture and color. The relationship
of materials, texture and color of the façade and roof of a
building shall be visually compatible with the predominant materials
used in the buildings to which it is visually related.
(h)
Roof shapes. The roof shape of a building shall be visually
compatible with buildings to which it is visually related.
(i)
Wall of continuity. Appurtenances of buildings, such as walls,
open-type fencing and evergreen landscape masses, shall form cohesive
walls of enclosure along a street, to the extent necessary to maintain
visual compatibility of the building with the buildings and places
to which it is visually related.
(j)
Scale of building. The size of a building, the mass of a building
in relation to open spaces, the windows, door openings, porches and
balconies shall be visually compatible with the buildings and places
to which it is visually related.
(k)
Directional expression of front elevation. A building shall
be visually compatible with buildings and places to which it is visually
related in its directional character, whether this be vertical character,
horizontal character or nondirectional character.
When a historic landmark requires immediate emergency repair
to preserve the continued habitability of the landmark and/or health
and safety of its occupants or others, such repairs may be performed
in accordance with town codes, without the necessity of first obtaining
a certificate of appropriateness. In such event, repairs shall be
limited to those that are necessary to maintain habitability of the
structure and to preserve the health and welfare of the occupants
and the public in general.
It shall be the duty of all municipal officials reviewing all
permit applications involving real property or improvements thereon
to determine whether such application involves any activity that should
also be the subject of an application for a certificate of appropriateness
under this article and to inform both the Secretary of the Historic
Preservation Commission and the owner of such property of such requirement.
Despite anything contained herein to the contrary, upon Township
certification under the state's Certified Local Government (CLG) Program,
the Commission shall, in accordance with the state's CLG guidelines,
review and comment on all State and National Register nominations
for historic resources within the Township.
[Amended 5-15-2023 by Ord. No. 2023-15]
11 Cole Road, Verona, New Jersey is designated as a landmark.