Villadom Times Weekly Newpaper Online-September 30, 2009 Issue

ALLENDALE Festival Day 2009 (left page) September 30, 2009 THE VILLADOM TIMES I • Page 15 SATURDAY, OCTOBER 3RD (right page) by John Koster �� Borough council adopts historic preservation ordinance The Allendale Borough Council has adopted the historic preservation ordinance designed to help preserve sites in Allendale that could be of interest to historians, archaeologists, or people who cherish the borough’s heritage. Council members voted unanimously among those present to adopt the ordinance after several meetings at which page) (left the proposed ordinance was carried for finetuning byxthe council members, notably Ari Bernstein 2col 3/4” and Jim Strauch, with the advice of Borough Attorney David Bole. At last week’s meeting, William Ferara, a resident, asked why the council had dropped the $5,000 tax credit originally proposed for anyone who purchased a designated historical house. “By getting the property deduction out of the equation, it eliminated the detractors who didn’t like it,” Strauch said. “People who buy and restore historic homes are doing it for the love, not for the money.” Ferara also asked what would theoretically happen if a historical home, protected to some degree from remodeling that marred its appearance, were destroyed by fire. ALLENDALE Festival Day 2009 9-30-09----AllendaleFestBanner---VillHouse Ads/Allendale Karen...from Nancy Rev: Janine “If the house burned down to the ground, it wouldn’t be historic anymore and the person would be free to rebuild whatever they want,” Mayor Vince Barra said. “If they attempted to demolish it, that would be something else again.” Mayor Barra, who is an attorney, asked for Borough Attorney Bole and Councilman Bernstein, also an attorney, if he had understood the thrust of the ordinance, and they both substantially concurred. The ordinance had originally been proposed after the 1750s John Fell House had been the subject of a strong preservation effort by residents who did not want to see the building razed to make way for 11 more condominiums Many residents said they were shocked to learn that the John Fell House, both a valuable architectural site and a house linked to a member of the Continental Congress, could be razed to make way for development despite its historical importance – and the fact that excessive roofing and paving in the area is already blamed for downhill flooding during heavy rains. The ordinance as adopted last week provides that the construction code official will be the administrative officer, and that the Allendale Historic Preservation Commission will have five regular members: Y/Banners & Covers a Class A member knowledgeable about building design, architecture and architectural history and who may reside outside the borough; a Class B member who is knowledgeable about local history and may also reside outside the borough; and Class C members who are citizens of the borough who hold no other local offices. The mayor will appoint the members, and possibly two alternates who will also be Class C members. The group will appoint a chairman and vice chairman from among the membership and stagger the terms so that not all members leave or arrive in the same year. Tom Robbins had been appointed as chairman. The group may employ experts with the approval of the council to study matters of special concern. The Allendale Historic Preservation Commission will report on all applications for planning or zoning changes in the historical district, and will perform a survey of Allendale to locate sites worthy of designation. Designations would be based on notable residents, builders, or building style. Certificates of historic review and compliance would be required before any buildings in the historic district or any building on the inventory of the Allendale Historic Places could be demolished. ��