Board to review historic preservation ordinance
Planning Board will consider new rules at Sept. 18 meeting
BY CHRISTINE VARNO Staff Writer

LONG BRANCH

LONG BRANCH - - The Long Branch Planning Board is expected to review a proposed ordinance next week to establish regulations for preserving historic structures throughout the city.

The historic preservation ordinance was initiated by City Councilman Brian Unger last month and the proposal is scheduled to be discussed at the Sept. 18 Planning Board meeting at 8 p.m., according to Assistant Director of Planning and Zoning Carl Turner.

"I already sent every Planning Board member a copy of the proposed ordinance," said Turner last week. "I do not know what the recommendation will be from the board. My gut feeling is that they will recommend it to be approved."

Turner added, "My opinion is that it is a great ordinance and that it should have been passed a while ago."

The Planning Board is expected to review the ordinance and send it back to the City Council with recommendations, according to Unger.

Once council receives the recommendations, Unger said an informal discussion will be held by the governing body at a workshop meeting and a public hearing and vote will be scheduled.

"It is a very good ordinance," Turner said. "My recommendation is that the council adopt it."

Long Branch Historical Association President Joe Reale Jr. agrees.

"I commend Brian for starting this whole thing," Reale said. "Long Branch is so rich in history and we still have [historic] houses here. I just hope something comes of this."

The proposed ordinance calls for the City Council to designate and regulate historic sites within the city. It would allow for a historic preservation commission to be established to make proposals to the Planning Board to declare historic sites in Long Branch.

The ordinance was drafted by Unger, with the

help of his attorney, Jeff

Williams.

The ordinance gives the City Council the right to add or delete any structure or property for which it does not agree with the designation made by the historic preservation commission and the Planning Board, according to Unger.

"This could do nothing but better the city," Reale said. "Being the president of the historical association, I get calls from people telling me that they just bought a 100-year-old house and ask if they can tear it down.

"I have to hold my tongue. As long as they have the permits in order, sure they can," he said.

Some historic structures that both Reale and Unger said they would like to see preserved in the city include the Takanassee Beach Club and the Church of the Seven Presidents properties on Ocean Avenue.

"You can never replace these buildings," Reale said. "We had President [James A.] Garfield's cottage on the ocean that was torn down.

"We have to start somewhere. The association more or less agrees with this [proposed] ordinance.

"If we start putting too much in it, it will be overwhelming. We have to get step one," he said, adding that Unger's proposal is step one.

According to the draft of the ordinance, the historic preservation commission would be created to prepare a survey of historic landmarks in the city and review the potential effect of development on designated historic sites.

The duties of the commission include preparing and maintaining guidelines for the architectural designs applicable to the exterior appearance of new construction and for the renovation to the structures that have been designated historic.

The ordinance also calls for the commission to review recommendations on proposed design elements that call for the construction of new buildings and the improvement or demolition of existing buildings located on an historic site.

The commission would also advise the planning board and board of adjustment on applications for development, as well as recommend to the board the boundaries of historic sites, according to the proposal.

The ordinance also proposes that the city council make provisions in its budget and appropriate funds for the commission.

Another proposed responsibility calls for the commission to submit an updated list of all properties designated as historic landmarks and sites of historic interest.

The ordinance is in line with the city's master plan and with the land-use laws, Turner said.

The city's 1988 master plan calls for an historical preservation ordinance to be adopted in the city, Turner explained.

"This has been something of concern and it is something that needs to be added in the master plan," Turner said.

The city conducted a re-examination of it's master plan this year, according to Turner, who said the council is in the process of making funds available to bring the 1988 master plan up to a full revised master plan.

"All the re-examinations of the [master] plan, including the most recent one this year, say to have an historic preservation ordinance," Turner said. "This is in line with the city's plan."