Historic district measure assailed
Battle brewing in Shrewsbury
Posted by the Asbury Park Press on 01/18/07
BY KEITH BROWN \
COASTAL MONMOUTH BUREAU
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SHREWSBURY Close to 50 residents
state Assemblyman Michael
Panter among them
attended the Planning Board's first meeting of
the year Wednesday to blast a proposed ordinance that would create a
Historical Preservation Commission residents said would have too
much power over their homes.
"This is eminent domain lite,'' Bill Dodge of Sycamore Avenue
said. "It (the commission's power) tramples on the rights of
property owners.''
The 18-page ordinance
aimed at creating a historical district that
encompasses some 60 properties radiating out from the intersection
of Sycamore Avenue and Route 35
was introduced at the Borough
Council's Jan. 3 meeting. It is now under
consideration by the Planning Board and that panel has 35 days to
make recommendations and send it back to the council, which has
final say over its passage or defeat.
The ordinance calls for the creation of a seven-member commission.
Chief among the new panel's duties would be to review any
application before the Zoning Board of Adjustment or the Planning
Board that affects a historic site, according to the ordinance.
But a provision of the ordinance addressing "preventative
maintenance'' would allow borough officials to enter and assess a
property in the historic district and could require the owner to
make repairs based on that assessment.
That raised the ire of Panter, a Sycamore Avenue resident whose home
would be affected by the ordinance.
"In my opinion, these provisions are draconian and onerous,'' he
said. "They cross the line and infringe on the property rights of
those who own a historic home.''
Planning Board attorney Michele Donato defended the ordinance,
saying it was a "tremendous improvement'' that would bring the
borough into compliance with land use law. She also said the
proposal would streamline the process of repairing
historic homes and compared it to a similar ordinance already in
effect in Cape May that she said works well.
Currently, Donato said, any construction proposed to a historic site
has to come before the Planning Board. The ordinance under
consideration proposes to shift much of that responsibility to the
Historical Commission to expedite the
necessary approvals.
Homeowners not consulted
But none of the residents who spoke Wednesday seemed to believe that.
"I'm deeply concerned about the tenor of this ordinance and that not
a single one of the homeowners were asked for input,'' said Bill
Crome of Sycamore Avenue.
Board member Kevin Murphy said that "some of the language in there
is strong and maybe could be toned down.'' But, he said, there was
no "malicious intent'' on the part of the Planning Board.
Board Chairman John Madden said the board would not take a position
on the ordinance until the panel had heard from all residents who
wanted to speak. He said the board would take up the issue again at
its Feb. 21 meeting.
Dodge, in an interview outside the meeting, said residents were not
going to let the issue drop and vowed to continue fighting the
ordinance at the Planning Board and, later, the Borough Council.
"This is not going to go away,'' he said.
Keith Brown: (732) 643-4076 or [EMAIL PROTECTED]
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