HPC approves five projects, denies oversized Sherman Avenue addition
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The Historic Preservation Commission worked through seven applications, with the biggest fight over a proposed two-story addition at 146 Sherman Avenue that would have more than doubled a roughly 1,000-square-foot historic house to about 4,000 square feet. Commissioners, including Chair Geoffrey Darby and Commissioner Joaquin Stearns, argued the addition was too large and overwhelming for the original structure and pushed for a smaller footprint, a different width ratio, and a reworked roofline; the commission voted unanimously, 7-0, to deny the application as submitted.
Most other applications were approved with conditions. A facade and entranceway renovation at 14 Stonehouse Road was approved 7-0 contingent on wood (not vinyl) windows and a finalized railing design. An addition at 480 Ridgewood Avenue, revised since a July submission to reduce its massing, was approved 7-0 pending a landscape plan and updated topographical survey. A dormer and window-replacement project at 38 Edgewood Road was approved 7-0 contingent on switching to wood windows and fiber-cement siding. Two votes were not unanimous: the entranceway and sidewalk changes at 251 Ridgewood Avenue passed 5 votes with Chair Darby voting No and Vice Chair Christine Yewaisis abstaining, and a balustrade-removal request at 311 Ridgewood Avenue passed 6 votes with Commissioner Dina Deshan abstaining. A new pergola proposed for 595 Ridgewood Avenue was withdrawn by the applicant for resubmission next month after concerns that its modern style clashed with the historic, mid-century-modern house.
In other business, the commission's consultants reported three active violations — an unpermitted pergola and deck at 332 Ridgewood, a column removal at 404 Ridgewood, and siding removal at 201 Hillside Avenue — and noted the Historic Ordinance revision remains stalled at the Borough Council level pending a vote after summer recess.
What to watch
- 595 Ridgewood Avenue pergola application to be resubmitted with new renderings next month
- 201 Hillside Avenue homeowner due to file an HPC application in September for the siding-removal violation
- 404 Ridgewood Avenue homeowner expected to complete garage work by early next year and remaining work by year's end
- Historic Ordinance revision awaiting a Borough Council vote after summer recess