Stop-Work Order Issued at Ridgewood Avenue Property After Unpermitted Construction

The Glen Ridge Historic Preservation Commission's August 12, 2020 meeting included word that Glen Ridge's Construction Code Official had issued a stop-work order at 498 Ridgewood Avenue after the general contractor proceeded with work there without permits or the required subcommittee review; the contractor was notified of the violations, and the commission's consultant reported the site remained slow-moving as of the meeting. Separately, commissioners noted ongoing issues with a wrong brick color and muntin problems on new windows at 164 Carteret Street and improperly framed dormers at 67 Midland Avenue, both being worked out with contractors.

The commission approved six applications that night, all unanimously. Notable among them: a side-entrance and family room addition at 15 Hamilton Road for Laura and George Buchmann, approved with a lengthy list of conditions including a redesigned gable roof and a false transom over a new door to align mismatched header heights; and a three-bay garage expansion at 20 Hillcrest Road for Marc and Polly Murphy, which commissioners called "a beautiful modification" in keeping with the main house. Also approved: a lighting upgrade at the Bank of America drive-thru on Bloomfield Avenue; a shifted window at 63 Hawthorne Avenue for Elizabeth McKenzie; a deck expansion at 2 Brooklawn Road for James Roarty; and a rear kitchen expansion at 270 Ridgewood Avenue for Christie and Andrew McNelly. A patio and pergola application at 268 Forest Avenue for Richard Law was continued without a vote so the applicant could add missing details before returning.

In new business, Councilman Murphy raised the question of whether the commission's authority should be expanded to cover fences in the historic district, prompting debate among members with no resolution reached.

What to watch

• A grant kickoff meeting for the commission's design guidelines project with the state historic preservation office and the Borough is scheduled for September 18, 2020.
• The 268 Forest Avenue patio and pergola application is expected to return with revised details in September.
• Whether the commission's authority should expand to cover fences remains an open question raised by a Borough councilman.