By: Vic Monaco
HIGHTSTOWN Property owners in the state- and federally designated Stockton Street Historic District are being asked if they want their neighborhood designated as such locally.
A survey sent out last week by the Hightstown Historic Preservation Commission is accompanied by a cover letter explaining that the HPC and the Borough Council are "concerned with any drastic alterations and/or changes that would alter the character of the Historic District streetscape and present a lost educational and cultural resource within the community." But it also makes clear something the HPC has been saying of late it does not intend to get heavy handed.
"The HPC is considering creating a locally designated historic district which could place guidelines on changes made to any property in the Historic District," states the cover letter signed by the commission members. "The HPC intends to provide guiding principles rather than rigid rules to property owners."
The survey itself is very simple. It asks if the property owners would support an ordinance for a local historic designation and if so, why, and if not, why. It also asks for input from property owners who either don’t care or don’t know their position.
Commission Chairwoman Amy Aughenbaugh said the survey is purposely very open-ended.
"We wanted to be generic as possible," she said Monday. "We want to hear from the residents. We want to hear what they have to say."
"We really don’t know what to expect," she added. "This is all brand new. We don’t know other communities that have done surveys."
The survey was sent to 53 property owners, who are being asked to respond by April 30.
After that, Ms. Aughenbaugh said, the commission plans to analyze and organize the responses and then meet with a committee of the Planning Board and board Chairman Steve Misiura, and talk to Borough Attorney Fred Raffetto.
The Borough Council approved a resolution last year asking Mr. Raffetto, the Planning Board and HPC to review draft ordinances for a local historic designation of the district. It stated it was "deeply concerned about the potential negative effects that may result to this Historic District associated with residential subdivisions, multifamily conversions and commercialization within the district."
Mr. Fred Raffetto said at the time that a local designation is critical in protecting homeowners from demolitions and subdivisions.
In late December, former Borough Councilman Dan Buriak, who was integral in getting the state and federal designations in 2005, was very critical of the HPC for failing to act on a local designation.
Mr. Buriak has sued the Planning Board over its 2006 approvals of two subdivisions in the Historic District requested by board member Richard Pratt.
Ms. Aughenbaugh previously said a local designation would be "great," and acknowledged this week that it could bring increased funding to the district. But she said Monday that the HPC "really wants to see what they (the residents) say" before making any decision.
The district comprises about 14 acres including a portion of Rogers Avenue and is home to about 76 "historic resources," including homes and the First United Methodist Church.
