October 11, 2006

Dear Neighbors:

I am writing to you to respond to the Radburn Bulletin’s analysis of the recent draft of Fair Lawn’s Historic Preservation Ordinance entitled, “Your Radburn Houses Threatened,” which associated my name with what it characterized as “a threat to your property rights.” I am speaking only for myself and not on behalf of the Fair Lawn Historic Preservation Committee.

The Bulletin stated that the Historic Preservation Commission had “submitted to the Council for adoption a new “Historic Preservation Ordinance.” The Bulletin did not mention that what the manager had received in the mail was a “proposed draft of an ordinance,” as clearly stated in the cover letter accompanying it. Local ordinances routinely go through several drafts presented at work sessions before they are proposed to the council for adoption. The Commission had sent out the proposed draft to the Radburn manager and other individuals in Fair Lawn for feedback.

Radburn has its own architectural guidelines to preserve its history, and therefore no need for any outside borough approval. The Commission never intended to impose “Draconian” standards on anyone’s home.

Historic Preservation Commissions are only advisory; they can not enforce fines or initiate lawsuits. They can only empower a council, planning board or zoning board to regulate historic sites regarding preservation and protection from demolition. For example, a commission could advise the Planning Board that certain standards presented in an ordinance are met to preserve the historic character of a site, but it would have no enforcement power.

I would also like to thank the residents who came out to the borough work session to express their concerns. I wholeheartedly support community input, and look forward to more discussion as additional drafts are proposed.

Sincerely,
Maureen Moriarty