Preservation Commission Approves Five Applications, One Over a Lone Dissent

Commissioners approved a slate of five renovation applications at their October meeting, with only one drawing dissent. At 45 Hamilton Road, architect Jonathan Perlstein presented Takatoshi Sawa's plan to remove a street-facing patio and build a new roofed front porch, restoring a porch that had originally existed on the house. Commissioners required the new front door be widened, columns beside the door be eliminated, and a proposed top railing be dropped entirely. The application passed 5-1, with Kopec the only no vote among the six members present.

The commission also gave the Agarwals at 162 Ridgewood Avenue the go-ahead for a kitchen roof change, approved window changes tied to Andrew Kremer's kitchen renovation at 33 Lincoln Street, and approved -- in concept only, pending detailed drawings -- the Sistas' plan to restore an enclosed front porch at 34 Sommer Avenue to its original open design. The Kozlowskis at 117 Midland Avenue also received conceptual approval for new porch railings and more decorative shingle siding, again pending detailed drawings and material specifications for subcommittee review. All of these votes were unanimous among the members present.

In public comment, Julian Reda of 142 Ridgewood Avenue, working toward his Eagle Scout rank under commissioner Kopec's guidance, briefed the commission on his project: building a database of Glen Ridge's architecturally historic homes.