HPC Denies Osborne Street Siding Swap, Tables Two Major Rebuilds for More Information

The Historic Preservation Commission's September 7 meeting saw one outright denial and two large projects sent back for more detail. Commissioners unanimously voted to deny an application from architect Bob Silverman, representing Project Live VIII, to replace shingle and clapboard siding with vinyl or cedar-impression siding on the sides of the house at 70 Osborne Street.

Two significant rebuild proposals were tabled rather than voted on. Eric Baker's plan to demolish the house at 254 Washington Street down to its foundation and build a new four-to-five-bedroom home was held over because the commission wanted more information -- floor-to-floor elevations, garage dimensions, a photo montage, a site plan, and vertical dimensions -- and had concerns about the new house's height. Similarly, an addition and enlarged front porch proposed for 16 Sherman Avenue (owner Lillian Shi, architect Eric Baker) was tabled pending a historic photograph of the house; both applicants were asked to come back another time.

In public comment, Antonio Pavan of 25 Hillcrest Road -- whose own deck application had just been approved -- raised concerns about the size of a treehouse being built in a neighbor's tree behind his house, calling it a future eyesore; the commission noted Glen Ridge currently has no ordinance regulating treehouses. Separately, Kenneth Powell of 26 Forest Avenue complained about a neighbor's noisy, unattractive AC condensers below his bedroom window, but the Borough Administrator and Construction Official confirmed the units meet setback requirements.

Other applications were approved unanimously: an extensive exterior renovation at 224 Bay Avenue (Normandy Investments LLC), an attic dormer at 36 Madison Street (Melissa and Kevin Kuper), a rear addition and deck at 297 Ridgewood Avenue (Vincent and Mary Ellen Cusumano, contingent on Planning Board approval for a setback exception), and a garage downsize at 178 Bay Avenue (Dorothy Jean Schneider).

What to watch

• Both the 254 Washington Street full rebuild and the 16 Sherman Avenue addition remain pending; the applicants are expected to return with the additional plans and documentation the commission requested.