Historic Review Proposed For Variance Applications

After months of considering a variety of plans, the Bernards Township Planning Board has submitted a draft ordinance to the Township Committee that would create a "Historical Preservation Committee."

The Township Committee will review the plans and have an opportunity to make amendments and hear public opinion on the issue before making a final decision.

The proposal, as written, would create a new committee of township volunteers with anywhere from 5-9 members – the exact number to be determined later. The Historical Preservation Committee would act similarly to existing groups in town like the Environmental Commission, which review all applications that go before the town's two land-use boards, choosing to make comments for the board's to consider when relevant.

Before finalizing their recommendation, members of the Planning Board debated the merits and detractions of forming the committee, including addressing concerns of homeowners who might be affected by the historic review.

"To put on my homeowners hat for a minute, I live in a 1947 house, which I think has no historic value personally. If my house put on this (historic preservation) list and I wanted to do something, but I was stopped I think I would be upset about that," Planning Board member Richard Huckins said. "How do we protect the rights of the homeowner to do what they want to do while also protecting the historic value of the town?"

Board members came to a consensus that the non-binding, advisory only role of the committee would allow for better information without infringing on homeowners rights. The committee instead is intended to provide information to the planning and zoning boards in a more systematized way than current practice, which is hearing from residents connected to the Historical Society in town.

"You have one group making a recommendation, and another group considering it. So if you have two groups to filter it through, and if it still makes sense, then there might be something legitimate to it," Planning Board member Ann Parsekian said describing the envisioned advisory process for the committee if adopted.

Another major role of the envisioned committee would be to conduct a thorough survey of the historical sites and districts in town to determine exactly which properties are considered to have historic value. The township currently does not have any historic site designations listed on it's zoning maps, making it difficult to deal with applications that involve questions of historical preservation, according to the land-use boards.

Township Planner David Schley said that eight out of the 34 cases reviewed by the Board of Adjustment involved historic sites last year, which along with the recommendation to form the Historical Preservation Committee in the town's master plan, spurred the push for forming a more organized way of receiving preservation advice.