[Adopted 12-12-2023 by Ord. No. 2023-20]
A.
Establishment of historic district. The C-1(H) Central Business Historic
District as delineated on the Zoning Map of the Village of Ridgefield
Park, is hereby designated as a historic district, as provided under
the Municipal Land Use Law, N.J.S.A. 40:55D-65.1. This is in recognition
of the description of the district in the Master Plan as described
in the preceding subsection, and also in recognition of studies of
the history of the Village of Ridgefield Park describing its development
by the year 1910 as the second largest railroad commuting community
on any of the New York City rail lines and reflecting the extensive
survival of the original architecture of the Central Business District.
B.
For the purposes of administering and enforcing the required design
guidelines hereunder, a Historic Preservation Commission is established
as provided under N.J.S.A. 40:55D-107. The Historic Preservation Commission
shall include a member of the Planning Board and a member owning or
operating a business in the C-1(H) Zone and at least one member of
each of the following classes:
C.
The Historic Preservation Commission shall consist of five regular
members and not more than two alternate members. Of the regular members,
a total of at least one less than a majority shall be of Classes A
and B.
(1)
Those regular members who are not designated as Class A or B shall
be designated as Class C. Class C members shall be citizens of the
municipality who hold no other municipal office, position or employment
except for membership on the Planning Board or Board of Adjustment.
(2)
Alternate members shall meet the qualifications of Class C members.
The Mayor shall appoint all members of the Commission and shall designate
at the time of appointment the regular members by class and the alternate
members as "Alternate No. 1" and "Alternate No. 2." The terms of the
members first appointed shall be so determined that, to the greatest
practicable extent, the expiration of the terms shall be distributed,
in the case of regular members, evenly over the first four years after
their appointment and, in the case of alternate members, evenly over
the first two years after the appointment, provided that the initial
term of no regular member shall exceed four years and that the initial
term of no alternate member shall exceed two years. Thereafter, the
term of a regular member shall be four years, and the term of an alternate
member shall be two years. A vacancy occurring otherwise than by expiration
of term shall be filled for the unexpired term only. Notwithstanding
any other provision herein, the term of any member common to the Historic
Preservation Commission and the Planning Board shall be for the term
of membership on the Planning Board, and the term of any member common
to the Historic Preservation Commission and the Board of Adjustment
shall be for the term of membership on the Board of Adjustment.
(3)
The Historic Preservation Commission shall elect a Chairman and Vice
Chairman from its members and select a Secretary, who may or may not
be a member of the Historic Preservation Commission or a municipal
employee.
(4)
Alternate members may participate in discussions of the 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 a choice
must be made as to which alternate member is to vote, Alternate No.
1 shall vote.
D.
No member of the Historic Preservation Commission shall be permitted
to act on any matter in which he has, either directly or indirectly,
any personal or financial interest.
E.
The Mayor and Commissioners shall make provision in the budget and
appropriate funds for the expenses of the Historic Preservation Commission.
F.
The Historic Preservation Commission may employ, contract for and
fix the compensation of experts and other staff and services as it
shall deem necessary. The Commission shall obtain its legal counsel
from the Municipal Attorney at the rate of compensation determined
by the Mayor and Commissioners. Expenditures pursuant to this subsection
shall not exceed, exclusive of gifts or grants, the amount appropriated
by the Mayor and Commissioners for the Commission's use.
G.
The Historic Preservation Commission shall have the responsibility
to:
(1)
Prepare a survey of 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 on 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 Board of Adjustment on applications
for development as provided herein.
(5)
Provide written reports as provided herein on the application of
this chapter's provisions concerning historic preservation.
(6)
Carry out such other advisory, educational and informational functions
as will promote historic preservation in the municipality.
H.
The Planning Board and Board of Adjustment shall make available to
the Historic Preservation Commission an informational copy of every
application submitted to either Board for development of buildings
with nonresidential uses in the C-1(H) Zone. Failure to make the informational
copy available shall not invalidate any hearing or proceeding. The
Historic Preservation Commission may provide its advice, which shall
be conveyed through its delegation of one of its members or staff
to testify orally at the hearing on the application and to explain
any written report which may have been submitted.
I.
All applications for building permits involving the exteriors of
buildings with commercial uses in the C-1(H) Zone visible from a public
street and, even where not requiring a building permit, exterior alterations,
including painting and signs, shall be referred by the Construction
Official to the Historic Preservation Commission for a written report,
which shall be made within 45 days. The Chairman of the Historic Preservation
Commission may act in the place of the full Commission for purposes
of this section.
J.
If, within the forty-five-day period, the Historic Preservation Commission
or the Planning Board or Zoning Board of Adjustment, as the case may
be, recommends to the Construction Official against the proposed building
change or recommends conditions, the Administrative Officer shall
deny issuance of the permit or other approval or include the conditions,
as the case may be. Failure to report within the forty-five-day period
shall be deemed to constitute a report in favor of the issuance of
the permit or approval and without the recommendation of conditions
in the permit or approval.
K.
The review criteria shall be the "Building Design Guidelines for
the Ridgefield Park Central Business Historic District," which shall
be maintained in the office of the Village Construction Code Official.
Said criteria shall be made part of this article.
L.
Destruction of historic and architecturally significant buildings
and structures shall be discouraged. Demolition or removal may be
forbidden or postponed for a period of six months, after a public
hearing granted to the applicant, if requested, and the Historic Preservation
Commission shall consult civic groups and public agencies to ascertain
how the Village may preserve the building or structure. The Historic
Preservation Commission is empowered to work out with the owner feasible
plans for the preservation of buildings and structures. Moving of
such buildings and structures shall be encouraged as an alternative
to destruction. If no feasible alternative is reached, demolition
or removal shall be permitted.
M.
When it is necessary to move a historic or architecturally significant
building or structure to another site within the Village of Ridgefield
Park in order to preserve it, upon approval of relocation plans by
the Historic Preservation Commission, said building or structure may
be relocated, provided that it fulfills the area regulations of said
zone as to lot size, setback and yard area. If, however, relocation
is within or adjacent to the C-1(H) Central Business Historic District
Zone, it may be in the public interest to grant a variance from normal
yard requirements, and where it is deemed by the Historic Preservation
Commission that such a variance will not adversely affect neighboring
properties and will maintain the historic appearance of the site,
the Historic Preservation Commission may recommend to the Board of
Adjustment or the Planning Board that such variance from normal yard
requirements be made.
N.
Nothing in this section shall prohibit the repair or rebuilding of
any historic building or structure in order to maintain or return
said building or structure to its original condition prior to its
deterioration or destruction nor to prevent the alteration, repair
or demolition of any recent building, structure or addition out of
keeping with the architectural character of said area. Nothing in
this section shall be construed to prevent ordinary maintenance or
repair of an exterior architectural feature now or hereafter in the
C-1(H) Central Business Historic District Zone which involves no change
in design, material, color or outward appearance thereof, nor shall
anything in this section be construed to prevent the construction,
reconstruction, alteration or destruction of any such feature which
the Construction Official shall determine is required by public health,
safety and general welfare because of an unsafe or dangerous condition.
