Neighbors Confront Bay Avenue Owner Over Unpermitted Siding and Fence

The Glen Ridge Historic Preservation Commission's November 4, 2020 meeting featured a contentious public airing of unpermitted work at 281 Bay Avenue. Owner Abe Litchfield told the commission that a window and door meant to be enclosed under his approved permit drawings were not clearly flagged for the building department, and in the end an aluminum-sided infill was installed that did not match the house's existing siding texture; new deck railings and vinyl garage siding were also installed without being shown on permit drawings. Neighbors Brian and Andrea Cretella and Nelson Hassinger spoke during public comment to say the mismatched siding was highly noticeable and that a recently installed chain-link fence was unsightly, though the commission noted it has no authority over fencing. After extensive discussion, including commissioners consulting old Google and Bing street-view images to see the house's prior appearance, no vote was taken on most of the application; the commission did unanimously approve, on a partial motion, removal of the vinyl garage siding and restoration of the original wood siding and window opening, with the rest of the case to return at a future meeting for revisions.

Five other applications were approved unanimously that night: a revised, narrower three-car garage design at 50 Douglas Road for Ian and Rebecca Peterson, returning from an October hearing; conversion of a garage into a garage-and-pool-house at 372 Ridgewood Avenue for Kevin and Anne Marie Bogle, despite commissioner Geoffrey Darby's disappointment that the building would lose its historic carriage-house character; a kitchen expansion and porch enclosure at 3 Roswell Terrace for Andrea and Brian Cretella, with commissioners Dan McMahon and Gregory Switzer recusing themselves; a rear deck and steps replacement at 273 Forest Avenue for Lorraine and Michael Deblis; and an open-porch restoration at 88 Essex Avenue for Vincent and Stephanie South.

What to watch

• The remainder of the 281 Bay Avenue application is expected to return at a future meeting with revised siding proposals.