Historic Commission Splits 4-3 on Appleton Place Window, Weighs Cross-Town Subdivision Fight
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The Glen Ridge Historic Preservation Commission divided on one of five renovation applications at its May 5, 2021 meeting. Owners Sean and Susan Lee's plan to enlarge a second-floor bathroom window at 34 Appleton Place passed only after a contested 4-3 vote, with commissioners Geoffrey Darby, Gregory Switzer, and Dan McMahon voting no. The dissenters argued the new window, sized to match taller windows on the front of the house, would look out of proportion on the side elevation where it was going; the project architect countered that lowering the head height was possible but the commission approved the design as submitted regardless.
The commission also grappled with a subdivision dispute that crosses municipal lines. At 14 Douglas Road, a house that sits mostly in Montclair but is listed in the Glen Ridge Historic District, the owners are seeking to subdivide the lot. The parcel meets Glen Ridge's minimum lot frontage requirements but not Montclair's, meaning approval is needed from both towns. Neighbors have raised concerns that a new house built on the subdivided lot would not match the character of the historic district. The commission agreed to send a letter to the planning boards of both Glen Ridge and Montclair asking that any new construction be reviewed by Glen Ridge's Historic Preservation Commission.
Four other applications were approved unanimously with conditions: a new brick-and-bluestone front stoop for Edward and Christina O'Connor at 354 Washington Street; window and siding corrections to match as-built conditions at 69 Highland Avenue for Mary Manning; restoration of an enclosed porch back to a screened porch at 497 Ridgewood Avenue for William and Ashley Rose; and a rear addition converting a sunporch to year-round living space at 43 Ridgewood Avenue for Conan and Irene Ward, which will require the owners to separately seek a rear-yard setback variance.
In other business, the commission announced a presentation on solar panel technology, including Tesla's systems, scheduled for 6:30 p.m. on Wednesday, July 7, 2021, as part of ongoing work on integrating solar into the historic district. Vice Chair Sarah Githens also told the commission she is selling her house and moving out of Glen Ridge, meaning the board will need to find a replacement for her seat.
What to watch
- A solar panel technology presentation is scheduled for 6:30 p.m. on July 7, 2021.
- The commission plans to send a joint letter to the Glen Ridge and Montclair planning boards regarding the 14 Douglas Road subdivision.
- The commission will need to find a replacement for Vice Chair Sarah Githens, who announced she is moving out of town.