Historic District Should Not Burden Business, Commission Says

Members of the Westwood Historic Commission said they did not want to put "an extra burden" on property owners in downtown Westwood with a proposed historic district on Westwood Avenue during their meeting Wednesday.

"We need to make it clear that we're not here to burden an applicant, and that we're actually here to help them," commission member Otokar Von Bradsky said.

At their previous meeting, Preservation Consultant Gregory Dietrich presented a report detailing the plan and the historic importance of the buildings' architecture in the proposed district.

Any change to the exterior of a building in a historic district must be reviewed by the commission and approved by either the planning board or zoning board, according to borough law.

Several property owners at the meeting , which they said would add "another layer of bureaucracy" to the sometimes-expensive process of presenting plans to planning or zoning boards.

The commission had been scheduled to vote on the proposal during their meeting this week, but for further discussion.

During their meeting this week, commission members discussed the possibility of not including buildings that are not historically noteworthy, or of letting property owners choose whether or not they bring their plans to the commission.

Councilman Robert Miller, who is the liason to the commission, suggested making a change to the ordinance.

"While I have heard some positives about the commission, I have heard more fear," Miller said.

Commission members agreed that they would invite planning board Chairman Jaymee Hodges, zoning board Chairman William Martin and borough attorney Russell Huntington to their next meeting to get their input on possible changes to the rules for historic districts.

The process may take some time, Miller said.

"It's not time-driven," Miller said. "We don't have to do anything until we think it's right."

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