Divided Preservation Commission Narrowly Approves Vinyl-Sided Addition, Denies Slate-to-Asphalt Roof Swap

The commission's closest vote of the night came on a two-story rear addition proposed for 10 Victor Avenue by owners Jessica Leiken and Howard Stuart. Commissioners debated at length whether the addition, which needs a zoning variance because the house's angled lot placement pushes the new footprint within four feet of the property line, should use vinyl siding to match the home's existing vinyl siding or be offset to visually separate it from the historic house. The application passed only 4-3: Kopec, McMahon, Way and Vande Stouwe voted yes, while Darby, Githens and Chair Herrigel voted no; Wright recused himself due to a conflict of interest. The approved conditions require the addition's wall sheathing to align with the main house's.

Commissioners also denied an application from Narayan Singhal at 111 Ridgewood Avenue to remove a red slate roof and install asphalt shingles. Herrigel said preserving slate roofing, a defining feature of the borough's historic housing stock, is central to the commission's mission, and the vote to deny was unanimous among members present (Darby recused himself).

Two applications on Midland and Hamilton produced repeated dissents from commissioner Kopec. At 117 Midland Avenue, Vincent and Ingrid Kozlowski won approval, 7-1, for front-elevation upgrades including decorative gable shingles and a new porch railing, with Kopec voting no; a second motion addressing the porch roof design passed 7-1 with Darby dissenting instead. At 45 Hamilton Road, a revised porch application from Margaret Sawa and Takatoshi, including a decorative roofline railing modeled on a historic photograph, was approved 7-1, with Kopec again the lone no vote.

In other business, commissioner Kara Travia has resigned, and Herrigel said he would welcome recommendations for her replacement to send to the mayor. The commission also learned that Glen Ridge's Planning Board rejected a separate appeal from the owners of 16 Sherman Avenue, upholding the commission's requirement that they install Dutch Lap siding matching the home's original design drawings.

What to watch

• Herrigel is scheduled to represent the commission before the Planning Board on December 20 regarding the ongoing dispute over railings at 134 Ridgewood Avenue.
• The mayor is expected to appoint a replacement for Kara Travia's seat on the commission.