Tenafly City Zoning Code
§ 35-807.7
Designation of Landmarks and Historic District.
[Ord. No. 97-29 § 807F]
a.
Preparation of Survey. Based on the survey or upon recommendation of concerned citizens, the Historic Preservation Commission shall document the importance and historical significance to the Borough, State and Nation of each landmark designation in terms of the purpose and criteria set forth in this section. Thereafter, the Historic Preservation Commission, by certified mail, shall:
b.
Public Hearings. The Historic Preservation Commission shall, as soon as practicable, make public a complete list and map of the nominated designated landmarks specifying the locations, boundaries and popular names thereof. In designating any landmark the Historic Preservation Committee may determine and so specifically designate certain buildings or structures as noncontributing to the landmark. The tentative list and map shall thereafter be submitted at a public hearing to the examination and criticism of the public. Interested persons shall be entitled to present their opinions, suggestions, and objections at this public hearing. A list and map showing proposed historic landmarks shall be published, together with a notice of the hearing on same, in the official newspaper not less than 10 days prior to such hearing.
c.
Final Decision by Commission. After full consideration of the evidence brought forth at the special hearing, the Historic Preservation Commission shall make its final decisions on the designations and shall issue its final report to the public stating reasons in support of its actions with respect to each landmark designation.
d.
Submission of List to Borough Clerk and Planning Board. The list of landmarks shall be submitted thereafter to the Secretary of the Planning Board and to the Borough Clerk. Prior to adoption of the ordinance adopting the designation list, the Governing Body shall refer same to the Planning Board for recommendations. The Governing Body shall then consider whether to adopt the designation list and zoning map by ordinance. Once adopted, the designation list and zoning map may be amended in the same manner in which it was initially adopted.
e.
Distribution of Designation List and Zoning Map. Copies of the landmarks designation list and zoning map, as adopted, shall be made public and distributed to all municipal agencies reviewing development applications and all building and housing permits. A certificate of designation shall be served by certified mail upon the owner of each site included in the final list.
f.
Placement of Plaques. Each designated landmark may be marked by an appropriate plaque which shall be in such form as the Historic Preservation Commission shall promulgate by regulation.
g.
Criteria for Designation of a Landmark. In considering an individual site, building or structure or district that is of particular historical, archaeological, scenic or architectural significance to the Borough of Tenafly, the County of Bergen, the State of New Jersey or to the Nation which reflects or exemplifies the board cultural, political, scenic, economic or social history of the Nation, State or locality, the Historic Preservation Commission shall give consideration to the following criteria:
1.
That it is associated with events that have made a significant contribution to the broad patterns of history and/or that it is associated with the lives of persons significant in our past; and/or
2.
That it embodies the distinctive characteristics of a type, period, or method of construction or that it represents the work of a master; or that it possesses high artistic values; or that it represents a significant and distinguishable entity whose components may lack individual distinction; and/or
3.
That it has yielded, or may be likely to yield, information important in pre-history or history.
4.
Ordinarily cemeteries, birthplaces or graves of historical figures, properties owned by religious institutions or used for religious purposes, structures that have been moved from their original locations, reconstructed historic buildings, properties primarily commemorative in nature, and properties that have achieved significance within the past 50 years shall not be considered eligible for designation as a landmark. However, such properties will qualify if they are integral parts of landmarks that do meet the criteria or if they fall within the following categories:
(a)
A religious property deriving primary significance from architectural or artistic distinction or historical importance; or
(b)
A building or structure removed from its original location but which is significant primarily for architectural value, or which is the surviving structure most importantly associated with a historic person or event; or
(c)
A birthplace or grave of an historical figure of outstanding importance if there is no other appropriate site or building associated with his productive life; or
(d)
A cemetery that derives its primary significance from graves of persons of transcendent importance, from age, from distinctive design features, or from association with historic events; or
(e)
A reconstructed building when accurately executed in a suitable environment and presented in a dignified manner as part of the restoration master plan; and when no other building or structure with the same association has survived; or
(f)
A property primarily commemorative in intent if design, age, tradition, or symbolic value has invested it with its own historical significance; or
(g)
A property achieving significance within the past 50 years if it is of exceptional importance.