Historic preservation comm. members to be named

Historic preservation comm. members to be named
BY KENNY WALTER Staff Writer
Long Branch officials expect to finally name the members to the Historic Preservation Advisory Commission in the coming weeks.

The topic came up at both the workshop and executive sessions during the Feb. 23 City Council meeting. The ordinance creating the commission was adopted in May.

“What we are doing in executive session is the culmination of the process and all the revisions to the ordinance,” Councilman Brian Unger said. “We are ready to move forward and, hopefully, within the next couple of weeks we will have all the members agreed upon.”

Councilman David Brown referred to Unger as “the architect” of the commission and agreed that it was time to appoint members to the commission.

“I think we are at the stage for appointments,” Brown said. “All the work is in; it’s a good bill.”

The ordinance adopted in May aims to protect historical structures in the city by creating a Historic Preservation Advisory Commission that would review the potential effect of development and permit applications on designated historical sites.

The ordinance gives the council authority to appoint a commission with three classes of members.

According to the ordinance, a Class A member is a person “knowledgeable in building design and construction or architectural history and who may reside outside of the municipality.”

A Class B member is a person “who is knowledgeable of, or with a demonstrated interest in, local history and who may reside outside of the municipality.”

Class C members “shall be citizens of the municipality who shall hold no other municipal office, position or employment, except for membership on the Planning Board or Board of Adjustment.”

The ordinance originally called for a seven-member commission with two alternates, but at the Feb. 9 meeting the council approved an amendment to the ordinance eliminating the alternates, citing a lack of necessity.

To discuss recommendations to fill the seats on the commission, the council must do so in executive session behind closed doors, but not all council members had names in mind just yet.

“The one thing we would need is résumés from people,” Councilwoman Mary Jane Celli said. “That would give people an idea of what we are looking for.”

Brown said that he had a name in mind but would also like to see the résumés.

“That has been our standard policy,” he said.

City Attorney James Aaron explained that if the council has specific people in mind, they could have them submit résumés as well.

“If you reach consensus this evening, it will be on for the next public meeting,” he said. “If you are going to leave the topic open, then in executive session you can discuss those names that you already have.

“If there is an agreement, then you can ask them directly for a résumé, and the public is invited to submit résumés to the clerk’s office,” he said.

The commission would review the potential effect of development and permit applications on designated historical sites and work with and advise the Planning and Zoning boards and individual property owners.

The ordinance will regulate only designated sites that require a permit and application for development.

The ordinance, which has the endorsement of the local historical society, defines the goals of the advisory committee.

“Maintaining, preserving, and rehabilitating these visual links to the past is an important function of government, not only to provide a sense of stability and continuity for future generations, but to provide impetus for the revitalization of the city’s economic base and for the resulting increase in property values,” the ordinance reads.

The ordinance lists specific goals, which include safeguarding the heritage of Long Branch, encouraging the continued use of historical landmarks, and maintaining and developing a “harmonious setting” for the historical and architecturally significant buildings.

Other goals listed are: to stabilize and improve property values, to promote appreciation of historical landmarks, to encourage the beautification of and reinvestment in historical sites, and to discourage demolition of historical resources.

The responsibilities of the commission include preparing and maintaining preservation guidelines, reviewing applications that affect the historical properties, recommendations on design, and preparing an inventory of historical sites and landmarks.

The ordinance also states that new construction on or near a historical site should not necessarily duplicate the exact style of the site but should not detract from the historical site.

Contact Kenny Walter at

kwalter@gmnews.com.