Homeowners Say “No” To Possible Planning Board Recommendation

The Historical Advisory Committee was established in 1994. The appointed members are Norman Davis, Dustin Griffin, Robert Griffin, David Maron, Will Lee, Gerry Wolfe, Leroy McCloud, Beverly Mitchell and Stephen Weinstein. Hillary Ballon Kramer was an appointee as well for several years but resigned from that position some time ago. Ballon Kramer is a member of the Panning Board. This advisory committee wants to obtain governmental power to dictate to private property owners (on the basis of their taste preferences or fragile historical connections with the past) without compensation, in ways that interfere with lawful decisions made by property owners regarding changes to their properties.

On Thursday, April 5, 2001 and Monday, April 23, 2001 the Planning Board heard numerous homeowners’ opinions on this issue. The vast majority of the witnesses spoke against having a new governmental body that will restrict their properties. Homeowners represented other homeowners who were unable to attend the meetings.

In Englewood, only the City Council has the power to condemn, confiscate or restrict properties. During the first meeting on April 23, before the public could speak, the Planning Board heard a witness from Tenafly. His testimony had no meaning for Englewood homeowners because in Tenafly only the local elected members of the government have the power to condemn, confiscate or restrict private properties. At the second hearing, which was 45 minutes long, the appointees to the Planning Board heard a witness from South Jersey who compared Englewood to Nantucket and Richmond, Virginia. However, he clarified that the State of New Jersey does not offer tax abatements or financial compensation for those property owners whose property is declared a historical landmark. He also testified that in his town in South Jersey the Planning Board could declare only commercial properties a historical landmark. Both witnesses were strongly in favor of the land marking of private property. The Planning Board did not call any witnesses who did not support land marking private properties without compensation. We consider this unfair.

Mayor Fader who is also a Planning Board member and appoints most of its members, showed great interest when the witness mentioned that the Planning Board could declare commercial properties historical. In our research we found out the reason why a Planning Board can landmark commercial properties is because the elected members of the government have passed an ordinance giving the Planning Board that power. In Englewood, the Mayor has no vote in the City Council and we doubt that our councilmen will give the Planning Board that power.

Most unfortunately, David Maron and Gerry Wolfe who are appointed to the Planning Board as well as the Historical Advisory Committee did not recuse themselves from these hearings. Although they were asked twice to do so by Eugenia Vogel. Mr. Wolfe was chairman of the task force to discuss "the need for preservation", and he made very clear on different occasions to the volunteers that formed the task force he was in favor of more preservation. Mr. Maron and Mr. Wolfe as members of the EHPC agree after 21 months of study on September 21, 2000 with the rest of the members on their final version of this proposed ordinance. How can they make an independent recommendation to the City Council? Did Mr. Wolfe forget that he is a public servant and that public service is an honor? What about Mr. Maron, did he forget too? The homeowners of Englewood rely upon the independent thinking of the appointees that are serving on about 10 different boards. We applaud George Feintuch for recusing himself at the Board of Adjustment hearing on April 18th where our public school representatives were asking for a variance. Mr. Feintuch, at the time was an appointee of the Board of Education.

To make things worse, the task force for preservation only had two meetings. The third and fourth were cancelled. Why? Because the Chairman, Mr. Wolfe saw that things were not going his way. We do not believe that the Planning Board, after hearing the negative response of the homeowners can honestly recommend to the City Council any mandatory landmarking. However, lets not forget, that they can do as they please.

The EHOA Board believes in voluntary preservation of private property. If any homeowner chooses to seek the advice of the Historical Advisory Committee to know if his/her home is qualified to be historic, they can do so today. Some homeowners voluntarily have their properties in the national registry including one that is a EHOA Board member.

Englewood’s richness lies in the diversity of its population and the individual style of many private properties. We are a unique multicultural City with residents of many backgrounds. This is what makes our City a progressive community.

It was not sheer luck that we were able to obtain a copy of the proposed ordinance that was handed to the Planning Board some months ago. Fortunately, it became public information. The EHOA is always represented at Board meetings. We studied the ordinance word for word, and we realized the intentions of the Historical Advisory Committee. This is not about preservation. This is about a small group of people who want the Planning Board to recommend to the City Council that they be given dictatorial governmental power over private property. The hearings on preservation and the Planning Board are over, but our work and efforts must continue to protect our freedom.

Finally, do not think this ordinance cannot affect you. Write, call or fax your Councilman: Michael Wildes (2nd Ward) at 250 Alison Court - fax # 212-753-3866, Wayne Hamer (4th Ward) at 6 Mevan Avenue, Douglas Bern (1st Ward) at fax # 947-2402 or call 567-6053, Mitchell Rosenberg (3rd Ward and Planning Board Member) at 48 Tenafly Road or call 894-3870, and Jack Drakeford (4th Ward) at 173 Lafayette Place. Do not let a small group of people on a proposed "commission" dramatically reduce the value of your property with the stroke of a pen.

Homeowners in Englewood do not need to be dictated by the creation of a commission of seven individuals who crave arbitrary power over 805 of our city‘s best private properties (over 90% in the first and second wards) and this number could be only the beginning!

If you wish to have a copy of the proposed ordinance please let us know. The EHOA will be happy to mail it to members in good standing.

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