Historic Preservation Commission

old boonton map

About the Commission

The Boonton Historic Preservation Commission is a volunteer, deliberative body of the municipal government. In recognition of the contributions Boonton has made to and the influence Boonton has had on the development of the region, the Town of Boonton strives to maintain the visual character of the periods of Boonton’s historical significance, when the Boonton

Iron Works and the Morris Canal were vital aspects of the region’s commerce.The preservation of Boonton’s historical character is not only a source of pride for all of us who live or work in Boonton, it directly contributes to the vitality of the local economy. The Boonton Historic Preservation Commission has been charged with the responsibility of maintaining Boonton’s historical character as specified in the Ordinances of the Town of Boonton (Article VII).

Duties of the Commission

Specific duties of the Commission include:

  • Maintaining an Inventory of historic sites
  • Making recommendations on the historic preservation element of the master plan
  • Recommending historic sites for capital improvements
  • Reviewing applications for signage development within the historic districts (see instructions below)
  • Generally, to promote historic preservation and educate the public about Boonton’s unique history

Meetings - 7:30PM at Town Hall on the 1st Wednesday of the month

Historic Preservation Commission Public Meeting Dates 2022:

  • January 5th
  • February 2nd
  • March 2nd
  • April 6th
  • May 4th
  • June 1st
  • July 6th
  • August 3rd
  • September 7th
  • October 5th
  • November 2nd
  • December 7th
approved stamp in red

Signage & Development Review

All development applications and any renovations to a building’s façade (if it requires a building permit), within Boonton’s historic districts, must be  reviewed by the Commission and be approved for consistency with historic preservation provisions of the Zoning Ordinance.

Process

The Commission is guided by the Secretary of the Interior’s Standards for Historic Preservation in its review. Also, within the Main Street Historic District, the Commission must approve all commercial signage after the applicant has been approved by the Building Department for meeting the technical requirements of the ordinances (Ordinance 300-31).  For complete instructions on the signage process, please download the required application & checklist here:

  1. BHPC Signage Info Guide & Checklist

  2. Zoning Application

In cooperation with the Historic Preservation Commission, Boonton Main Street, Inc. has prepared a helpful booklet for Main Street building owners and their tenants on design standards specific to the historical character of Main Street. The Boonton Main Street Design Guide Book explains the permit requirements for building alterations and signage. It has: 

  • Useful information on the important architectural features of Main Street
  • Design ideas
  • Examples of acceptable options

We highly recommend anyone intending to open a business on Main Street, or contemplating a change in signage, or an alteration to a building's facade, read this booklet first. Knowing the recommendations and the requirements before you start a project can save you the cost of having to redesign, or re-fabricate, design elements that are found to be inconsistent with Boonton Historic Preservation code ordinances.

Helpful Documents

HPC Members

Name Title Term Expiration
Elliott Ruga Chairman 12/31/2024
Jeff Smith Vice- Chair 12/31/2022
(VACANT) Secretary 12/31/2018
Patti Bujtas Member 12/31/2022
Tamra Katcher Member 12/31/2022
Adriane Eoga Member 12/31/2021
Zeke Brian Member 12/31/2024
Lindsey Weisman Member 12/31/2024
Dave Vasa Alternate Member 1 12/31/2022
Kate Ackerly Alternate Member 2 12/31/2023
Council Member Mike Wade Governing Body Liason  

Public Involvement

Any member of the public interested in serving on the Commission is encouraged to apply by CLICKING HERE.