By Anthony V. Coppola, Staff Writer
HIGHTSTOWN The Historic Preservation Commission has secured a portion of a $50,000 state grant awarded to Preservation New Jersey that will help the borough finalize its preservation ordinances and redraft the historic planning element of the Master Plan.
Commission member Dan Buriak said the undisclosed grant amount, from the state Department of Community Affairs, will allow the borough to work with Donna Ann Harris of Philadelphia-based Heritage Consulting Inc., an expert in strategic preservation planning.
”Her extensive expertise and experience is broad-ranging and will allow us to brainstorm ideas and strategies for the next steps toward implementing a historic preservation plan that yields true cultural and economic benefit to the borough while sustaining and promoting our heritage resources,” he added.
Part of that plan requires establishing the Stockton Street area as a local historic district and setting guidelines for the commission’s authority in terms of identifying and protecting borough landmarks. In March, commission members met with Borough Attorney Fred Raffetto and decided to begin work to draft two separate ordinances addressing those goals.
As for revisions in the historical element of the borough’s Master Plan, the commission is looking to spell out how the ideal historical community in Hightstown would appear 40 years from now and list potential historic structures and monuments in the borough.
At the May 15 commission meeting Mr. Buriak said he provided Ms. Harris with all language being discussed for both ordinances in addition to the current historical element of the Master Plan.
Ms. Harris is expected to take a tour of the borough in the coming weeks to familiarize herself with the area and appear at the commission’s June 19 meeting to launch the process, according to Mr. Buriak.
He cited the latest grant acquisition as a step in the right direction toward tapping all resources available to the borough.
”The HPC is exploring all opportunities to progress preservation planning and to develop a plan to ensure “Historic Hightstown” is more than just a moniker on the borough’s water tower or a sign on the railroad buttress in our downtown,” he said.
