Historic Commission Rejects Single-Garage-Door Request at 378 Forest Avenue

The commission voted 5-0 to deny a garage-conversion and addition proposal at 378 Forest Avenue for owner John Zucco. Architect Erik Baker had presented plans for a 3.5-foot garage extension and 4-foot first-floor addition to create a master bedroom suite, but the commission objected to combining the garage into one large door instead of keeping the existing two-door configuration, citing the borough's design guidelines. Zucco argued a single door was needed to fit two cars, and the commission suggested he explore pushing the addition back or adjusting the setback instead; when he asked for a vote rather than withdrawing, the commission voted to deny the application as presented, with Vice Chair Yewaisis making the motion.

A separate roof-redesign application for an accessory structure at 63 Hawthorne Street, for owner Jason McKenzie, was withdrawn by the project's architect after the commission asked him to lower the structure's height from 18 feet to 16 feet, use two garage doors instead of one, and adjust the dormer pitch; no vote was held.

Four other applications were approved 5-0 with conditions: facade changes and a small addition to house a relocated fireplace at 164 Carteret Street, contingent on aligning the new addition's roofline with the existing rear facade; a deck demolition and rear addition at 31 Oakwood Avenue, contingent on door cut sheets being provided; a connecting addition between a detached garage and the main house at 514 Ridgewood Avenue, contingent on revised drawings removing rafter tails, elongating the new windows, adjusting a bay window to match existing detailing, and changing the proposed roof color from green to something closer to the house's existing slate color; and a second-floor addition with a relocated bathroom at 18 Lincoln Street, contingent on matching existing window trim and roof proportions.

The commission's consultant also reported three active code-enforcement cases: an unpermitted pergola and deck at 332 Ridgewood Avenue, along with cases at 28 Oakwood and 259 Ridgewood. Separately, a subcommittee -- without a full commission vote -- approved a two-story addition at 146 Sherman Avenue and a kitchen addition at 150 Ridgewood Avenue.

What to watch

• Whether the commission moves forward with new subcommittee procedures, including a planned online portal for minor historic-preservation applications.
• Resolution of the three open code-enforcement cases at 332 Ridgewood Avenue, 28 Oakwood, and 259 Ridgewood.