Council Revisits Historic Preservation Design Standards

CAPE MAY – At its Oct. 4 work session, Cape May Council discussed four proposed addendums to the city’s Historic Preservation Design Standards. 
The standards were formally adopted in 2003 and have not been amended since that time. The standards are considered key to protecting Cape May’s National Historic Landmark status.
Cape May Historic Preservation Commission (HPC) Chairman Warren Coupland brought before council four proposed additions to the standards. Three dealt with materials and technologies that were not at issue when the initial standards were adopted over a decade ago and the fourth represented what Coupland described as a clarification of a component in the existing standards.
Coupland pointed to the many benefits that accrue to the city, its businesses, and individual property owners due to the historic landmark designation. He touched on improved property values, tourism, grant availability for the city, and the general benefit to the business community.
Preserving that historic status is a paramount goal of the HPC. Although HPC generally deals with the historic district and with what is known as key or contributing structures, Coupland’s proposed addendums would impact properties that are not contributing structures in the district due to the need to preserve the overall sense of the historic context of properties.
The first concern was the potential use of solar panels. The most common locations for such panels, on roofs, make them highly visible.  The nature of the technology makes them incongruous with the historic-era architecture and ambiance of the city.
Coupland did say that there were three approved installations currently in the city, but in those circumstances, the properties allowed the panels to be hidden from direct view from the sidewalk or other walkways.
Coupland’s recommendation is that solar panels are generally inappropriate but he said the HPC remains willing to consider reasonable exceptions.
The second item on his list of new materials and technologies was what he termed windmills or wind turbines. Again, the conflict between such a visible and anomalous technology within the context of the city’s Victorian-era image made the installation and use of such windmills inappropriate according to the proposed standards.
The third item was the satellite dish. With satellite communications an increasing alternative to cable, the HPC felt the need to include an addendum on this technology.
Coupland proposed treating it in a similar way to the solar panels. Generally, the satellite dish will be considered inappropriate but individual exceptions can be made depending on location and visibility.
In his last proposed addition to the standards, Coupland was looking to resolve some confusion concerning replacement windows on properties that contribute to the city’s historic status.
The bottom line of his proposed addition is that the standards would “seek an obvious effort to repair the existing windows.” In a case where that was not possible, the addendum would require the use of solid wood replacements consistent with the overall design of the property.
The addendums now must be properly codified and formatted for formal consideration and approval by council. 
Mayor Edward Mahaney asked Council members Terri Swain and Roger Furlin to serve as a committee of council to work with the HPC to accomplish that task.
To contact Vince Conti, email vconti@cmcherald.com.