like to call to order the special meeting of the historic preservation commission of the city of Kate May. It is April the 2nd, 2026. It is now 602. In compliance with the Open Public Meetings Act of 1975, adequate notice of this meeting has been
provided. If any member has reason to believe that this meeting is being held in violation of this act, they should state so at this time hearing none, everyone would please join us in the pledge of allegiance. I aliance to the flag of the United
States of America and to the republic for it stands one nation under God indivisible with liberty and justice for all. >> Mr. Secretary, could we have a roll call, please? >> Mr. Becker. >> Yes. >> Mr. Ta,
>> present. >> Mr. Carol, Miss Bagno, Miss Wilson, Mr. Stevenson >> here, >> Miss Decker here, Mr. Hamaran >> here, >> Mr. Curts. >> Thank you.
As we have made it our custom about a year ago, we at the commission all of us aligned around a statement about the purpose of our work here. So, I'd like to read that to all of us to establish the energy in the room tonight if possible. The purpose of our work at HPC
is to serve as a catalyst for guiding and valuing Kate May's historical, cultural, and natural resources in ways that inspire and unite our community. to steward these resources for the benefit of all so that present and future
generations continue to express the unique quality of life we share in this place we love. So, um, as my fellow commissioners, I believe, are aware, the one applicant we have before us this evening, the Eastland Theater Company,
came before us at our Tuesday morning review committee, and I would like to ask Kevin if he would be willing to state a few words to let us know what has transpired. >> Sure. So, um, first of all, representatives from Eastland Theater Company came to see us on Tuesday
morning. Um they had a proposal to us to add a trailer in the in the back of the of the structure. Um and they were there were I think two uh factors that were important to them in in making this proposal. One was uh they badly needed
to add some additional space um particularly for dressing rooms, things like that that were obviously important to the theater. Um two that they were emphasizing it was a temporary structure. Um and it was really temporary dependent on their ability to fund raise to replace the
structure with something more permanent. So that was the basis of the presentation to us. I think um uh we took issue with a couple of parts of this. One was um the location of the of the trailer. Um it was clearly visible from Franklin Street at the time we saw
the presentation from them. Um and the second part was uh it was it was hard to um really I I really look at the structure and not com you know question the the temporary nature of it. I think you know we wanted to understand really how how temporary this thing was and and
you know what whether it could be easily removed. Um so u they'll make I'm sure the presentation today to to address those concerns. Um you know I think the the one thing to add to this was uh it was it was clearly our feeling that um
we could not act on this as a small group. This was you know clearly something where you might set precedents or you might have you know a challenge and maybe a a vote that would be different than our own. So we we said this thing really had to go to the full
commission. Um and that posed another problem for them. um they really are under a very serious time constraint in order to get the theater ready for their season opening. Um and as they put it, you know, if we can't get something like this, either this or or some some
proposal similar and get acting on it very quickly, um we could potentially not have a season. So that really is what caused us to quickly say, you know, can we consider a special meeting? And that was the genesis of tonight. >> Great. >> Mr. Chairman, before we get into the
merits of the application, I'm going to recuse myself to avoid the appearance of a conflict of interest. >> Thank you, Mr. Ta. So, with all that said, would members of the Eastland Theater Company please join us here if you could come and and uh state your name, your
role in the project, and the floor is yours to make the presentation of your application. If just push the button, it'll turn green. There you go. >> Susan Tishler. I'm the president, board president of Eastland Theater Company.
>> JS Woodcock, architect for Eastland Theater Company. >> Mark David Bober, executive director of Eastland Theater Company. >> Welcome folks. The floor is yours. >> First of all, I can't tell you how thankful we are that you would do a special meeting for this. Can you hear me? Okay.
>> Um, and I also want to thank you for the time that you gave us uh last week to give us some feedback. After we received your feedback, we did relocate the trailer so that it's less visible from Franklin Street. We also took to heart the idea that our our connector, we
thought we should make it look like the building, but it did in fact have the effect of looking like it would be there forever. Uh, so we did uh redesign it so that it looks more like the trailer. And in fact, it had been insulated so that the actors wouldn't have any exposure to
the elements, but seeing as most of the programming is in the summer, uh we just made it a a canopy instead so that it it wouldn't look less permanent. I think you'll see those changes in the package that we sent to you. Uh, and I'd be happy to answer any questions and also
if there's anything more that you'd like to know about the operations of the theater, I know that you are um we have the right people here to answer your questions. >> So, first of all, I want to thank you for the submission you gave us. It's um
extraordinarily well put together, quite comprehensive and very clear. So, thank you. So, let's go around the room and ask for comments. Miss Decker. >> Hi. >> So, I I I'm aware that uh I remember
that you guys had asked to put an addition on the building at some point in the future. Is that still your plan? >> It is still the plan. >> It is still the plan. Okay. 3 years seems like a pretty long time for a temporary structure. Um I think I like
where you've located it. It's definitely the best spot. Um, I would suggest that it be gray so that it doesn't stick out. This is a key contributing building for us and still a visible.
I think if it was gray, it would blend with the building a little more. Do you intend to put skirting on the bottom to try? Yes, that is what the drawing show. Um, other than that, I um I think it's fine. I It's a temporary structure. I I
would like to ask that the any approval that we consider uh be conditional upon >> review in three years. >> Thank you, Mr. Stevenson. >> I would agree, Mr. Decker. uh the uh the if it was possible, I know it may only
come in white, but I felt the same if it was the same color as the theater building, it would work better. And I mean, I I appreciate that you've moved this place, so now it's less visible. And when it comes to streetscape, that's always a big deal for us. So, I
appreciate that. A and I mean I don't know whether any consideration has been given to uh any kind of screening like landscaping screening lattice where you know just potted vertical shrubs just something to help soften it may be an
idea as well. >> Yeah we have discussed that. >> Yeah. >> Yeah. >> Mr. Cameron, >> first of all, can you speak to the question of two years versus three years and your ability to fund raise to replace this?
>> Sure. I think we're fairly confident it'll be less than three years. First of all, there's a $750,000 grant the city has which will we feel accelerate our ability to free up the funds we already have and get more funds. Uh next year we'll be
applying for new a New Jersey historic trust fund grant um with the help of Bob Russell and some of the other members of our building team that would be that would take it kick in the let's see 26 27 2028 we would get the funding for that
if approved. We feel we have a good chance at it and uh and our fundraising has been pretty promising. So, and nor do we want to be there for three years, by the way, in a trailer. So, it behooves us to move as quickly as we can, and we have been.
>> I I know it's a challenging time for nonprofits, and it is, you know, theater, arts, and humanities are are particularly seem to be under fire right now. So, I just I just want to understand if two years is is, you know, reasonably likely. You know, three years
is what you've asked for. I'm >> I think your assessment is correct. >> Shiftable. Yes. >> One thing we did not want to do is ask for two and then come back after two years and ask for another because then we wouldn't have been straightforward about the possibility that it could take a while to construct the addition.
>> When the trailer is removed, there's nothing that's left on the back of the building that you know would would still have to remain. You can >> we have actually >> the back of the building. >> I'm sorry. Did I interrupt you? I pardon. Um it doesn't touch the building now. So we left a little gap. Therefore,
there's no restoration required for the um the building itself. >> Okay. >> And I just wanted to comment also that um you know, failure to get that approval now may result in you guys losing a season which inevitably will
push it back to three years or even more. That's correct. That's right. >> So there is some you know needs to be expeditated. >> That's correct. We're a union. I just want to explain for those who may not know we're union which is equity is the union and there are There are rules regarding I mean we
muddled through by the skin of our teeth last year because of certain circumstances but in order to get the quality actors that we need to get in to put equity performance on we need that those facilities. >> The last comment I would just make is I
I actually would echo um Mr. Stevenson's approach. I think you can do something with sort of tall potted plants with a lattice behind it, you know, at the edges of the two buildings that you're screening it even further from public view. >> Well, let me just say that our executive director is also an interior designer
and owns a floral place called Pedals. So, I think we're in good hands there. >> Thank you. >> Okay, so I've only heard three comments worth asking you folks about. So, I'll ask the first one to my fellow commissioners. Go ahead, Judy.
on page 101 it says exterior finish uh I don't think that should have said or I think to be clear what the intent of the application is is that the trailer itself is aluminum that's what it comes in uh and then the for the connector we tried to find a material
that you could readily uh purchase so we specified um it's a wood sighting that has a ridge in it and you can You can buy it at Home Depot and it's paintable. So that's what the skirt is that is in the on the connector between the trailer and and the building.
>> So I just want to make sure I heard that that the the trailer itself comes faced with aluminum or wood. I didn't >> It's aluminum. >> It is aluminum. Okay. So the first question I have is for our fellow commissioners. >> The issue of of two versus three years has arisen. If we're going to make a
motion, are we all willing to approve a three-year temporary period? >> I am. >> I am too. >> Okay. Um, the other two questions are just for you folks. Then the idea of painting this gray, what is what would
be your response to that? >> This is a a leased U trailer. We will see if we can find one in the gray, but if it comes in white, if we painted it, we would it would be like if you leased a car and painted it. I don't >> I think it would end up being a violation of the lease.
>> Then the buffering is important. >> I'm sorry. The what? >> The buffering. >> Yeah. >> Visual buffering because it just looks like a big white ice cube. So, but let me let me ask Mike, now that you've responded, ask my fellow commissioners. Um, given the the white trim that is
pretty predominant on this structure, if there is a prohibition of painting it gray due to their lease agreement, would that raise uh an issue for us in terms of not being able to approve this application? >> No, I'd accept it.
>> I think I would as well. >> Okay. So that would not be a condition of the application that it must be painted gray. Is that correct? >> Suggestion but not a condition. >> Fair enough. >> Third issue is the idea of landscaping. Would you want to respond to that?
>> Yeah, I think that it would be important for us to make it as beautiful as possible. >> Of course. >> Um it's uh and I think it could be done in a lot of ways. It's definitely, you know, potted uh shrubbery, some screening, um whatever we need to do to
sort of, you know, fool the eye a little bit. >> Okay. So, now back to my fellow commissioners. >> I would make that a condition. >> So, it's would would it I'm thinking that that could happen at the review level at the review committee level. >> Yeah. So when you folks have some sort
of plan for how you would want to incorporate either commissioning and or screening bring that before us on a Tuesday morning we can there therefore approve it in review and you wouldn't have to come back before the full commission. Okay. So I'd like to entertain a motion for >> my logic is that's completely under their control. It's not where you know
the manufacturer insists that it must be white or gray. >> Landscaping and screening is is under there. >> Okay. So therefore, I actually would like to propose the motion that we approve this application with one condition. Um, and that is that
any proposed landscaping simply be be brought before our review committee for approval and just a suggestion that if possible that it be painted gray. Do a second to this motion. >> Wait a bit. What about the three years? It's conditional upon three years. I >> I believe that that is in the
application already. Is that correct? It is. >> Yes. >> Sorry. >> That's fine. >> It's in the document. >> It is. So, uh, do I hear a second? >> Do we just want to think about Do we just want to think about the duration and how we want that to line up? So, if this is approved tonight, there's the
potential that a resolution could be on for this month's meeting incorporating this. Do you want to say end of April and three years? And that might provide a good bookend for where are we at in
three years and it's just before the summer. So maybe end of April. I I'm just trying to think of >> so we're not missing a meeting and that kind of thing. >> And the other thing, you know, would it be more important for you guys to have it where you know it's three seasons so
you can generate income or three calendar years to date? Oh, >> so if we made it three years to 2029, >> yeah, >> that would be the 2026, 27, and 28 seasons. So, it is three seasons, >> right?
>> Okay. Okay. So, I would uh thereby amend my um motion that we approve this application with the one condition that landscaping be brought before our review committee with a suggestion that it be painted gray and that this is a
temporary approval up until the 30th of April, 2029. >> Right. >> Do I hear a second? >> I'll second that. >> Okay. So, moved by Mr. Becker, seconded by Miss Ms. Decker. Roll call vote, please. >> Mr. Stevenson, >> yes.
>> Miss Decker, yes. Mr. Hammer, >> yes. >> Mr. Becker, >> yes. This the motion has passed. Thank you for joining us. >> So much so much everybody. >> You're very welcome. >> And thank you for your kindness at the the review meeting. I mean, we're really and tonight and making an exception. I
mean, you've been very generous. Thank you. We really appreciate it. >> You're very welcome. Thanks for that. >> That is a that is a new feature in terms of the way the commission operates now. The I'd say >> generosity. >> Well, no, no, we're not generous at all,
but we but we actually do take more time in a preliminary sense screening stuff that >> Well, it made a difference. >> Yeah, it has. Um before the review committee just passed on um easier, smaller, simpler applications, but now it's a kind of a
>> really helpful >> suggestions and counseling as part of the >> Yeah, I think it's uh it's much more um trying to be co-creators and partners because of our purpose that this is the place we all live and love. And also for those of us that aren't familiar with
HPC, you know, the manner in which you do things, it was an initiation so that we weren't coming in blind and then possibly facing rejection because of that. >> Exactly. So I I must apologize because what I I neglected to do was ask if this
vast audience we have before us would like to make any public comment. My only >> Oh, Jim, could you please go to the microphone? My only comment is to thank you as a supporter.
They've done so much good work and people like you and city council their Thanks a lot. >> You're welcome. Thank you. Okay. So, um are there any other issues for discussion this even? >> Not for discussion, but I did want to amplify a little bit on the fact that um
we we all recognize city council has recognized and we recognize how important your institution is. And it is a remarkable thing as as you know that a town as small as this should be as rich um in terms of performance venues and
companies that do that as Kate May. So um you know we're we're really pleased we that could be moved along. >> Thank you. >> Can I bribe you with free tickets though? >> I've already got we've already got our season tickets. as a commission, we're also um appreciative of the adaptive reuse of
the building, >> which is a wonderful thing. >> So, thank you. >> Thank you. >> So, any other discussion items for us this evening? >> Hearing none. Do I hear a a motion to >> motion to adjurnn, Mr. Chairman? >> So, adjourn. Thank you. >> Thank you so much.
>> Thank you. Let me introduce you