Country Club Clubhouse Redesign Tabled as HPC Splits on Stonehouse Road Roof

The Historic Preservation Commission tabled the Glen Ridge Country Club's revised clubhouse plans at 555 Ridgewood Avenue without a vote, after members noted that dormers shown in an earlier May 2015 presentation had been dropped for budget reasons; the commission asked that the dormers be restored on the west elevation, that overly expansive columns be resized to relate to the railings above, and that new cedar materials be noted on the drawings, with Chair Herrigel stepping aside for the discussion.

Roof and siding work for Jyri and Julie Wilska at 100 Stonehouse Road drew disagreement: the commission approved swapping a failing slate roof for asphalt shingles, but Commissioners Schackner and Kopec both voted No while the rest of the panel voted Yes; a companion request to switch aluminum siding to vinyl was withdrawn after the commission steered the homeowner toward hardy-plank or clapboard repair instead, since vinyl isn't an approved material. A similar slate-to-asphalt roof request from Carl and Kimberly Amici at 486 Ridgewood Avenue was withdrawn after the commission asked for previously approved drawings, current roof condition documentation, alternative materials, and comparative cost bids.

Elsewhere, the commission approved, unanimously in each case, a modified ADA-compliant handicap ramp for Bank of America at 227 Ridgewood Avenue (subject to subcommittee review of a railing sample); siding and deck-railing repairs at 2 Brooklawn Road for Metropolitan Ventures Group, split into two separate motions each carrying subcommittee-review conditions; a "Forest Avenue School" identification sign, contingent on gothic lettering, narrower wood posts and removal of a gas lamp and decorative scrolls; a dormer enlargement at 18 Madison Street (with architect and commissioner Dan Kopec recusing himself as the applicant's designer); a garage extension at 356 Maolis Avenue for Sabine and Boris DeVries (Wright recused); and a new wooden deck at 41 Forest Avenue for Victoria Harrison, resubmitted after an earlier withdrawal for lack of detail. A screened porch and deck application at 327 Maolis Avenue was withdrawn after the commission asked for a full side elevation, consistent drawings, railing samples, baluster spacing and lattice framing detail. The commission closed with a broader discussion of what kinds of exterior changes -- even in-kind material swaps like siding or chimney work -- require HPC approval, concluding that larger changes of this sort do require review.

What to watch

• The Glen Ridge Country Club clubhouse redesign was tabled and must return with dormers restored, resized columns and noted cedar materials.
• 486 Ridgewood Avenue (Amici) withdrew its roof application pending comparative cost bids and condition documentation.
• 327 Maolis Avenue is expected to resubmit with a full side elevation and additional construction detail.
• 9 Rudd Court's revised drawings need added notations (framed lattice under stairs, baluster spacing, painted stringer/fascia) before final sign-off.