HISTORIC PRESERVATION RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, the Township Committee wishes to preserve the historic heritage of the Township of Long Hill;

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the Township Committee of the Township of Long Hill the County of Morris, State of New Jersey as follows:

Section 1. Creation.

There is hereby established an Historic Preservation Advisory Committee consisting of seven (7) regular members and two (2) alternate members.

a. The Historic Preservation Advisory Committee shall consist of at least one member of each of the following classes of members:

• Class A - a person who is knowledgeable in building design and construction or architectural history and who may reside outside the Township,
• Class B - a person who is knowledgeable or with a demonstrated interest in local history and who may reside outside the Township.
• Class C - Class C shall be those members who are not designated as Class A or Class B citizens of the municipality who shall hold no other municipal office, position or employment except for membership on the Planning Board or Board of Adjustment.

b. The Mayor shall appoint all members of the Committee and shall designate at the time of appointment the regular members by class and the alternate members as "alternate no. 1" and "alternate no. 2".  The terms of the members first appointed under this Resolution shall expire on December 31, 1996, except that these first appointees shall serve until their successors are appointed.  The terms of the members appointed in 1997 shall be so determined that to the greatest practicable extent, the expiration of the terms shall be distributed in the case of regular members, evenly over the first four years after their appointment, and in the case of alternate members, evenly over the first two years after their appointment; provided that the initial term of no regular term (member? ed.) shall exceed four years and that the initial term of no alternate member shall exceed two years.  Thereafter, the term of regular member shall be four years, and the term of an alternate member shall be two years.  A vacancy occurring otherwise than by expiration of term shall be filled for the Unexpired term only.

c. Alternate members shall meet the qualifications of Class C members.  Alternate members may participate in discussions of the proceedings but may not vote except in the absence or disqualification of a regular member.  A vote shall not be delayed in order that a regular member may vote instead of an alternate member.  In the event that a choice must be made as to which alternate member is to vote, alternate no. I shall vote.

d. The Historic Preservation Advisory Committee shall elect a Chair and and select a secretary, who shall be a member of the Historic Preservation Advisory Committee.  The Committee shall obtain its legal counsel from the Township Attorney.

e. No member of the Historic Preservation Advisory Committee shall be permitted to act on any matter in which he has, either directly or indirectly, any personal or financial interest

f. A member of the Historic Preservation Advisory Committee may, after public hearing if he requests it, be removed by the Township Committee for cause.

Section 2. Responsibilities

The Historic Preservation Advisory Committee shall have the responsibility to:

• a. Prepare a survey of historic sites in the Township;
• b. Make recommendations to the Planning Board on the historic preservation plan element of the master plan and on the implications for preservation of historic sites of any other master plan elements;
• c. Advise the Planning Board on the inclusion of historic sites in the recommended capital improvement program;
• d. Advise the Planning Board and Board of Adjustment on applications for development pursuant to Section 3 of this Resolution;
• f. (sic) Carry out such other advisory, educational and informational functions as will promote historic preservation in the Township.

Section 3. Referral of Board Applications.

The Planning Board and Board of Adjustment shall refer to the Historic Preservation Advisory Committee every-application for development submitted to either Board for development in historic preservation districts or on historic sites identified in any component element of the master plan.  This referral shall be made when the application for development is deemed complete or is scheduled for a hearing, whichever occurs sooner.  Failure to refer the application as required shall not invalidate any hearing or proceeding.  The Historic Preservation Advisory Committee may provide its advice, which shall be conveyed through its delegation of one (1) of its members or staff to testify orally at the hearing on the application and to explain any written report which may have been submitted.

Section 4. Referral of Permit Applications.

All applications for issuance of permits pertaining to historic sites shall be referred to the Historic Preservation Advisory Committee for an advisory report concerning historic preservation to any of those aspects of the change proposed, which aspects were not determined by approval of any application for development by a municipal agency pursuant to the MLUL.  The Historic Preservation Advisory Committee shall submit its advisory report to the Construction Official.

When time does not allow the submission of a permit application to the full Committee, the chair of the Historic Preservation Advisory Committee may act in the place of the full Committee for purposes of this Section.

Section 5. Standards.

The Historic Preservation Advisory Committee shall be guided by the following design standards in reviewing applications:

• (1) Every reasonable effort should be made to provide a compatible use for structures which will require minimum alteration to the building.
• (2) Rehabilitation should not destroy the distinguishing qualities or character of the structure.  The removal or alteration of any historic material or architectural features should be held to a minimum, consistent with the proposed use.
• (3) Deteriorated architectural features should be repaired rather than replaced, wherever possible. In the event replacement is necessary, the new material should match the material being replaced in composition, design, color, texture, and other visual qualities.  Repair or replacement of missing architectural features should be based on accurate duplication of original features.
• (4) Distinctive stylistic features or examples of skilled craftsmanship which characterize older structures and which often predate the mass production of building material should be retained wherever possible.
• (5) All structures should be recognized as products of their own time.  Authorization to create an appearance inconsistent with the original character of the structure should be discouraged.
• (6) Contemporary design for new structures in historic districts and additions to existing structures or landscaping should not be discouraged if such design is compatible with the size, scale, color, material and character of the historic district, building or environment.
• (7) Consideration shall be given to detrimental impact and the financial hardship on the applicant affected by the application of historic preservation standards, and promoting less expensive alternatives when undertaking an alteration, improvement, rehabilitation or restoration of a structure.
• (8) Most properties change over time; those changes that have acquired historic significance in their own right should be preserved.
• (9) The Committee shall be guided for further details by the "Secretary of Interior Standards for Historic Preservation Projects", prepared by the Office of Archeology in Historic Preservation, United States Department of the Interior, Washington, D.C., as amended and supplemented.