Large rear addition withdrawn at 10 Ardsley Road as new ordinance expands HPC's siding and roofing review

A proposed three-story rear addition at 10 Ardsley Road from Carol and Joe Harpster was withdrawn after the commission raised extensive concerns about its size, massing, and visibility from the street compared with neighboring properties. Commissioners suggested the owners inset the addition roughly eight inches on both sides, consider lowering the roof ridge, add windows to the left elevation, and provide a full site plan before returning.

In new business, commissioners noted that the Borough Council had passed an ordinance requiring property owners to obtain HPC approval before changing roofing or siding materials, even in cases where no building permit is required -- a response to a recent change in state permitting rules. The commission said it had fielded numerous requests for clarification from residents about the new requirement. Related to that discussion, the commission heard an inquiry from a prospective home buyer asking whether solar roof tiles would be permitted in the historic district; commissioners said any such request would be evaluated case-by-case against the specific building.

Separately, an application to infill two kitchen windows with brick at 253 Forest Avenue from Thomas and Angela Langan was withdrawn after the commission noted that matching the home's existing "klinker" brick would be difficult; the owner said she would instead consider a shadow-box treatment that wouldn't require HPC approval.

The commission unanimously approved five other applications: window changes at 127 Hillside Avenue, a retaining wall at 34 Edgewood Avenue, an ADA-accessible entrance and ramp at the Bank of America branch at 726 Bloomfield Avenue, a two-story addition at 26 Hillcrest Road, a small mud room at 39 Stanford Place (with Chair Herrigel recused due to a conflict of interest), and a one-story addition at 418 Ridgewood Avenue.

The commission's consultant reported that the former Nursing School Building had received final approval from the Planning Board.

What to watch

• The Harpster family may return to 10 Ardsley Road with a revised, smaller-scale addition design.
• The commission may need to form a subcommittee to review fencing and site-access improvements at the former Nursing School Building.