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Council votes to introduce ordinance converting historic preservation commission to advisory committee; critics say HPC not consulted
Summary
Ordinance 26-13 would replace the borough's Historic Preservation Commission with an advisory committee and shift some development‑application review responsibilities to the planning and zoning boards. Several council members said the Historic Preservation Commission (HPC) was not given notice and urged the council to hear the HPC before proceeding.
Council introduced Ordinance 26-13 to eliminate the historic preservation commission as a separate entity and form a historic preservation advisory committee, transferring development‑application review responsibilities to the planning board and board of adjustment. Council members noted this would remove the commission's current role issuing certificates of appropriateness and make the body advisory rather than binding on development applications.
Several councilors objected to proceeding without input from the Historic Preservation Commission. "I think this is a mistake," one member said, calling the lack of notice to the HPC "disrespectful" given the commission's years of work, archives and local expertise. Another councilor asked for the HPC to be invited to speak at the second reading; staff said the item would return for further public hearing and the commission could provide comment prior to adoption.
The ordinance was introduced and scheduled for public hearing on March 24, 2026. Staff said the change preserves the commission's role in surveying and recommending properties for designation, but shifts quasi‑judicial development review to the planning and zoning boards.
