WEST CAPE MAY – Borough Commission is considering extending West Cape May’s historic district beyond its current boundaries.
At Tue., Sept 21 meeting, borough commission discussed a request by the borough’s Historic Preservation Commission (HPC) to extend the historic district northward on Broadway from Leaming Avenue to Stimpson Lane and the border with Lower Township and including the first block of Central Avenue and both sides of Grant Avenue.
In addition, HPC is seeking to include both sides of Stevens Streets into the historic district where a significant concentration of architecturally important homes are located.
Mayor Pamela Kaithern asked borough commissioners to look at a survey of historic structures. Historic Preservationists Joan Berkey and Michael Conley prepared the survey of historic buildings and presented it as a gift to the borough in 2007.
The survey puts homes into the categories of key, contributing or non-contributing to the historic district.
Kaithern asked Borough Solicitor Christine Cote if it was possible to designate specific locations rather than stretches of a street. Cote said it may be easier to designate sites but she would further research the matter.
Deputy Mayor Peter Burke said HPC wanted to move the boundary on Broadway to its original location, beginning at Stimpson Lane, where the National Register Historic District was marked when Cape May’s historic district was designated.
HPC Chairman Elan Zingman-Leith told the Herald there was a stretch of 18th century homes on Stevens Street. He said HPC had though of extending the district to Stevens Street rather than marking specific homes because in New Jersey it is more difficult to designate individual landmarks.
“People can appeal on the grounds of spot zoning,” said Zingman-Leith. “You are not allowed to make one person do something and not his neighbor.”
He said it would be easier to administer an historic district and to defend if a homeowner filed an appeal rather individual sites.
New construction in an historic district must be found to be an appropriate neighbor to the historic buildings, he said.
Zingman-Leith said it doesn’t affect the size or the placement or the setback but the design should match the neighborhood. He said HPC approved a modern looking building in the historic district because it matched the size and massing of old buildings in the neighborhood.
“The strictures are very easy for a new building but it does get reviewed,” said Zingman-Leith.
Borough Commission will discuss the extension of the historic district next month.
Cape May – Governor Murphy says he doesn't know anything about the drones and doesn't know what they are doing but he does know that they are not dangerous. Does anyone feel better now?
