Planning Board Denies Metropolitan Ventures' Bid to Keep Unapproved Deck Railings at 2 Brooklawn Road, Vice Chair Siegel Dissents

The Baldwin Street redevelopment study was dropped from the agenda on July 15, 2015 after the Mayor and Council withdrew their request for the Planning Board to examine the area. On the School of Nursing site, Secretary Zichelli reported the Montclair Planning Board had just adopted a resolution finding the site qualified for an "area in need" designation, with Montclair's Mayor and Council still needing to formally declare it before a redevelopment-plan RFP could go out.

The meeting's substantive item was an appeal by Joseph and Jodie Campbell of Metropolitan Ventures, LLC, owners of 2 Brooklawn Road, from a Historic Preservation Commission decision denying a new deck railing system installed during renovations the Commission had otherwise approved. The Campbells testified the original railings were unsafe and that the replacement was an improvement, but Peter Herrigel and Sarah Githens of the Historic Preservation Commission told the board the new railing's modern design was inconsistent with the house and streetscape. On a motion by Ms. Fields, seconded by Mr. Hegarty, the board denied the appeal and upheld the Commission's decision, with Vice Chair Siegel casting the lone dissenting vote.

During public comment, Deborah Dine of 6 Laurel Place asked the board to consider installing a cul-de-sac at the top of Laurel Place, at its intersection with Highland Avenue; Louis Alway of 26 Laurel Place said he was concerned a cul-de-sac could require taking part of his property. Engineer Rohal said the intersection would be studied as part of the School of Nursing redevelopment RFP.