There is hereby established the Historic Landmark for the purpose
of protecting and preserving sights or structures which are, because
of age, association or architecture, of special historical and aesthetic
interest or character and which, as such, have an impact upon the
economic well-being and general welfare of the residents of the Township
of Pequannock.
An amendment to reclassify property to a Historic Landmark may
be initiated by the property owner, the Township Planning Board, the
Township Council or the Historic District Commission.
For the purposes of this article, a "historical landmark or
monument" may be any real property, such as a building, structure,
ruins, foundation, route, trail or place, including but not limited
to a cave, cemetery, burial ground, camp or village area or a natural
configuration, geological formation or feature, which:
A. Is of particular historical,
cultural, scenic or aesthetic significance to the Township of Pequannock
and in which the broad cultural, political, economic or social history
of the nation, state or community is reflected or exemplified.
B. Is identified with historic personages
or with important events in the main current of national, state or
local history.
C. Shows evidence of habitation,
activity or the culture of prehistoric or early man.
D. Embodies a distinguishing characteristic
or an architectural type valuable as representative of a period, style
or method of construction.
E. Represents a work of a builder,
designer, artist or architect whose individual genius influenced his
age.
F. Is imbued with traditional or
legendary lore.
G. Is specifically identified within
the historic preservation plan element of the Master Plan as recognized
by the provisions of N.J.S.A. 40:55D-28b(6).
Any application for a Historic Landmark classification hereunder
shall first be referred to the Historic District Commission of the
Township of Pequannock for a report and recommendation. In addition,
the Commission may and, if requested by the Township Council, shall
initiate studies of structures or sites within the Township for possible
inclusion hereunder.
In classifying a historical landmark or monument in a Historic Landmark, the Township Council shall rely upon the following standards, in addition to those provided in §
360-22:
A. The landmark designated shall
have a historical, aesthetic or special character or interest for
the general public.
B. The designation of such landmark
shall not infringe upon the rights of a private property owner hereof
to make any and all uses of such landmark which are not in conflict
with the purposes of this article.
C. The designation of such landmarks
shall not require expenditures by the Township of Pequannock of any
amount, unless such designation results in a dedication of the building,
structure, area or property for public purposes, in which case the
property owner shall be entitled to just compensation within one year
after the approval of the final plat or site plan pursuant to the
provisions of N.J.S.A. 40:55D-44.
D. Any historical landmark, monument, parcel or place as otherwise described in §
360-22 which has been included in the historic register on either the county, state or federal level shall be included in the Historic Landmark of the Township of Pequannock.
A historical landmark, either as an individual structure or
within a Historic Landmark, shall not be altered, modified, relocated
or demolished without a certificate of approval issued by the Township
Planning Board after review and recommendation thereof by the Historic
District Commission. A certificate of approval will declare that such
alterations are consistent with the style and general design of the
historic structure or district in question.
An application under §
360-25 shall be made, in writing, to the Historic District Commission and shall indicate, in detail, the proposed alteration. Plans and drawings submitted pursuant to any other section of this chapter may be used in total or partial satisfaction of this requirement. Existing and proposed elevation drawings of the historic building alterations shall be supplied to the Commission for its review of the application. The Historic District Commission shall also consider the following criteria when reviewing an application and prior to any recommendation to issue or deny a certificate of approval:
A. Architectural style. Any alterations
or additions being considered shall not detract from the original
architectural style of the structure.
B. Design. Any modifications to
the proposed structure regarding design, including but not limited
to fenestration, rooflines and decorations, shall be consistent with
the historical features of the original structure.
C. Color, texture and materials.
Use of color, texture and types of materials shall be judged in comparison
to the original structure's historical features.
D. Other exterior considerations.
Lighting, landscaping, signs, utilities and parking shall not detract
from the historical character of the structure or structures in question.
Signs shall be in keeping with the historical character of the structure,
and no illuminated signs shall be permitted on or near historic structures.
The Township Planning Board, after review and recommendation of the Historic District Commission, shall hold a public hearing on any application under §
360-26, said hearing to be scheduled in accordance with the Open Public Meetings Act of 1975 of the State of New Jersey.
If an application under §
360-26 is for demolition of a historical landmark hereunder, the Historic District Commission, with the concurrence of the Township Planning Board, may suspend for up to 60 days the granting of permits requisite to demolition in order to allow consideration by the Township of acquisition by the Township or any other public or private entity of the landmark for the purpose of preservation thereof.
Within 45 days of the date the application was submitted, the
Historic District Commission shall approve, conditionally approve,
disapprove or request revision of the plans or drawings. Failure by
the Commission to act within 45 days shall be deemed approval of the
application, unless the applicant shall consent to an extension of
time.
The Township Council or the Historic District Commission may
register with the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection,
Office of Historic Sites, a landmark or site which has historical
or architectural significance, where the registration would assist
in the preservation thereof.
[Amended 4-27-2021 by Ord. No. 2021-05]
See Chapter
5, Administrative Code, §
5-35, Historic District Commission.