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Commission approves reskin and landscaping for Stewart Road property, preserving a historic cottage
Summary
Owners of 6076 Stewart Road won approval to reskin a contemporary main house to better complement a preserved historic cottage, accepting a small set of variances and conditions on materials and fencing for the pool area.
The Short Hills Historic Preservation Commission voted to approve a renovation and reskinning plan for a property on Stewart Road that preserves a historic cottage while altering the main, later-period house to better fit the neighborhood.
Owners Tony and Lena Sakoli, joined by architect Robert Forbes, described an approach that retains the guest cottage, modifies the contemporary main house’s massing (hip roofs, one‑story wrap), and relocates interior program elements to create more cohesive, traditional rooflines. The design team acknowledged a set of variances — including a front-yard setback average, accessory-use calculations related to a pool and small increases to building coverage — and explained the lot’s unusual flag shape and mature landscaping informed the proposal.
Commissioners praised the effort to avoid demolition and to preserve landscaping, with several asking the applicants to provide final materials, color samples and a fence/planting plan that will screen pool equipment and maintain privacy. The motion to approve passed by roll call.
