Historic preservation on the table for discussion
Council plans to develop law to preserve historic structures in the city
BY CHRISTINE VARNO Staff Writer

LONG BRANCH - The City Council is expected to discuss recommendations made by the Planning Board on an historic preservation ordinance.

Aproposed ordinance drafted by Councilman Brian Unger was passed along to the Planning Board, and after receiving suggestions the council agreed that some legal aspects of the proposed law still need to be explored.

The proposed ordinance aims to restore and protect historic structures in the city by implementing regulations to prevent demolition of certain buildings and to control the preservation of the structures.

"It could be an imposition on homeowners," Councilman Michael DeStefano said at theApril 8 workshop meeting. "You are basically forcing them into a situation they don't want to be in."

Mayor Adam Schneider agreed.

"You buy a house and it has no designation," Schneider said. "Someone comes in and says you are designated.

"Unless you are going to provide money or an incentive, you are really tying someone's hands," he said, adding, "It is a form of a taking by a regulation."

The historic preservation ordinance would govern the alterations or additions to structures deemed historic in a manner preserving the integrity of their historical significance.

Council members questioned some aspects of the proposed ordinance, such as will residences and businesses have different guidelines and what tax incentives legally can be offered to homeowners complying with the regulations.

Another question asked is if the process be volunteer or mandatory.

City Attorney Mark Aikens, who is the appointed conflict counsel on the matter, agreed to research the questions and have answers for council to discuss at the April 22 meeting.

"I think we need to find out if tax breaks are legal," DeStefano said. "We need to look at the difference between residences and businesses."

Councilman Anthony Giordano added, "I think we need to explore residential versus commercial, nonprofits and what incentives we can offer."

City Assistant Director of Planning and Zoning Carl Turner said that the Planning Board unanimously approved the proposed historic preservation ordinance with recommendations.

"We are in favor of it," Turner said. "We are recommending creating historic areas in the city.

"At least explore the ideas the Planning Board was concerned about with Brian Unger's proposal," Turner said.

From 1980 to 1982,Monmouth County conducted an historic sites survey of Long Branch based on the federal standards for National Registry of Historic Places in place at that time, according to Unger.

The county government identified 62 potential locations for preservation, including St. James Chapel/Church of the Presidents, ElberonMemorial Church, St. James Episcopal Church, Long Branch Public Library, the Broadway School, the original Elberon rail station, Long Branch Main Post Office and U.S. Lifesaving station No. 5 at the Takanassee Beach Club.

"It is time that we had an historic preservation commission with members appointed separately and individually, both by the mayor and the City Council, in order to provide a professional and politically balanced body that will look out for the community's best interests," Unger said.

"I want to stress that the proposed ordinance does not require or prohibit any particular architectural style," he said. "It simply proposes that maintaining, preserving and rehabilitating important visual links to the past is an important function of governmental and cultural institutions, and it has been amply shown to increase and foster tourism and increased property values in many other New Jersey towns and villages.

"More than 100 cities and towns in New Jersey have adopted historic preservation ordinances as part of the zoning regime," Unger said, adding, "Historic preservation has served New Jersey cities well as property values have increased in areas where they are adopted."