HPC Rejects Vinyl Siding for 12 Rudd Court Addition, Approves Addition With Cladding Decision Deferred

The Glen Ridge Historic Preservation Commission's March 3 meeting hinged on a two-story rear addition proposed for 12 Rudd Court by owners Kevin Amahit and Liza Chanco. Architect Dan Kopec's original plan called for vinyl siding on the addition, painted to match the existing vinyl-clad house, since replacing the wood siding on the rest of the house wasn't financially feasible. After lengthy debate over vinyl versus wood or composite materials, a motion to approve the application as submitted -- vinyl siding included -- failed on a 3-3 tie, with commissioners McMahon, Switzer, and Moriarty voting no against yes votes from Vande Stouwe, Herrigel, and Githens; a majority is required to pass. Commissioners then unanimously adopted a second, different motion approving the addition itself but carving out the cladding material entirely: a subcommittee will review siding options once the owner and architect investigate whether wood siding under the existing vinyl can be matched, or a suitable substitute found. No vinyl siding was actually approved for the property.

Vice Chair Vande Stouwe formally recused herself before the commission heard an application from Michael and Shana Fiorianti at 77 Baldwin Street to enclose part of a second-floor sleeping porch; the commission found the submitted materials too vague to evaluate, and the owners withdrew the application. A separate application at 573 Ridgewood Avenue, to add a second story to a mid-20th-century bi-level home, was also withdrawn after the commission raised concerns about how the design would relate to neighboring properties.

Elsewhere, the commission unanimously approved a rear pavilion at 68 Clinton Road, and approved -- with conditions subject to subcommittee review -- a front-porch and bedroom renovation at 214 Forest Avenue and a rear deck, pavilion, and hot tub addition at 46 Ridgewood Avenue. In old business, the commission voted to recommend that the Borough Council award the Historic District Design Guidelines contract to architect Steven Smolyn, who recently won a State Preservation Award for similar guidelines prepared for Hoboken; it also recommended Nicholas Colello, a Glen Ridge resident architect, to fill the commission's open architect seat.

What to watch

• Borough Council is expected to act on the HPC's recommendations to award the Design Guidelines contract to Steven Smolyn and appoint Nicholas Colello to the commission's architect vacancy.
• The 12 Rudd Court subcommittee is due to report back on possible siding alternatives for the addition.