Bank of America Roof-Safety Plan Splits Historic Commission; Library Roof, Clark Street Window Move Also Contested

At its May 6, 2020 meeting, the Historic Preservation Commission approved a plan to add fall-protection railings and a new roof-access ladder at the Bank of America branch at 227 Ridgewood Avenue, conditioned on capping the railing height at 39 inches, painting the railings and ladder black, and providing shop drawings for the ladder -- but the vote was not unanimous. Commissioners Dan McMahon, Greg Switzer, and alternate Grisafi all voted no.

Separately, Jonathan and Fatima Hertz's kitchen renovation at 117 Clark Street, which required relocating and enlarging two side windows, was accepted only "in concept" pending revised drawings, after Commissioner McMahon voted against the motion; other members had noted the change could throw the home's window alignment further out of sync with the rest of the house. At 240 Ridgewood Avenue, the commission approved re-roofing the Glen Ridge Public Library's clay tile roof -- needed because of active leaks -- with in-kind cornice and gutter repairs, but Commissioner Geoffrey Darby recused himself from that vote.

The bank's two other, separate lighting-upgrade applications -- for the Ridgewood Avenue branch and the drive-thru at 726 Bloomfield Avenue -- were continued to the following month after commissioners said the proposed fixtures were too bright and didn't match the historic district's character.

Several other applications were approved unanimously with routine conditions, including additions at 79 Oxford Street, 281 Linden Avenue, 283 Ridgewood Avenue, 7 Hawthorne Avenue, 13 Rudd Court, and 28 Douglas Road. A deck replacement at 70 Clark Street was withdrawn after the owner agreed to shrink the addition enough to avoid HPC review altogether. The commission also approved exterior and interior restoration work at the Glen Ridge Train Station (231 Ridgewood Avenue), including brick repointing, column and slate roof repairs, and a new kitchenette, with Darby absent for that vote.

What to watch

• Bank of America's lighting applications for both the Ridgewood Avenue branch and the Bloomfield Avenue drive-thru are expected to return for further review.
• A Certified Local Government grant application that would fund updated design guidelines remains pending.