Committee Debates 'Eliminating' Long Valley's Historic Preservation Commission

LONG VALLEY, NJ — The Washington Township Committee recently re-introduced an ordinance that would dissolve the Historic Preservation Commission as a separate organization.

At the township committee meeting on Tuesday night, the council discussed the passing of RO-02-24, which calls for eliminating the Historic Preservation Committee as a separate entity and authorizing its powers and authority to the newly formed Land Use Board.

According to the township, that idea was originally discussed in October 2022 and the township committee agreed to introduce the ordinance in November 2022.

However, the committee agreed to table the measure in December 2022, and more than a year later, they decided to revive it.

According to Washington Township Mayor Matthew Murello, the proposed ordinance does not repeal the historic preservation section of the municipal code. The ordinance would instead only delegate responsibility for application consideration under the municipal code's historic preservation clause to the Land Use Board.

It would also create the Historic Preservation Advisory Committee, which would allow the mayor to appoint two or more people to assist or collaborate with the Land Use Board in its duties regarding historic structures and areas throughout the township.

Members of the advisory committee, however, would be unable to vote or take part in other board-required activities and would serve at the mayor's discretion.

According to Murello, this ordinance also does not replace, delete, or increase the town's historic districts, nor does it affect the certificate of appropriateness standards.

"The Committee feels at this time that it would benefit the residents and make the best use of the township’s resources if all residential and commercial applicants in town were reviewed by one board," Murello said.

The mayor also claimed that recent remarks made by members of the community suggest that the Land Use Board lacks the expertise to assess historic applications, which he does not agree with.

"Land Use Board is made up of nine members and four alternates that have an average of 10–15 years each of expertise. Members of that board are developers, licensed engineers, architects and planners. As well as many who have been residents for decades. The land use board also has paid professionals to advise them and review all applications and will be able to add to the list of professionals a historic preservation architect," Murello said.

The Land Use Board, which was established by Washington Township following the November election, was created to improve efficiency and replace the planning and zoning boards.

According to officials, there aren't many properties in Long Valley that can be developed in compliance with the town's master plan. This has reduced the Planning Board's requirement, causing them to review applications at less than half of their scheduled meetings in recent years.

The Land Use Board is now in charge of creating and amending the township's master plan, as well as approving conditional use petitions as needed.

"I hope that people see this proposal as what it is, a better use of township resources and volunteers to have a consistent review of all applications for properties in town," Murello said.