Borough Historic District Welcomes New Properties

By Nancy K. Crevier

Newtown Borough Historic District Chairperson Stephanie Gaston said Tuesday, January 20, that the Board of Burgesses was pleased to have recently added two key pieces of property to the Borough Historic District, as well as eight private residences.

Ballots sent out to various eligible property owners and returned to the burgesses were voted on and passed at the meeting of January 13, said Ms Gaston, ending a six-month process.

The two large pieces are the Ram Pasture, an 8.5-acre parcel including Hawley Pond, and the Newtown Savings Bank properties located on Main Street.

The process actually started two years ago, said Ms Gaston, when letters were issued to all eligible properties not yet included in the Borough Historic District. After reviewing the interest generated by the mailing, a new study report was prepared and presented to the state historical commission for review, a six-month course of action. A series of public hearing followed, prior to the January 13 vote.

“It is beneficial to the Historic District to have eligible properties join,” said Ms Gaston, especially commercial properties that could be subject to inappropriate changes if the properties were to one day change hands. Belonging to the Historic District means that property owners are concerned about the future of the historic aspect of the borough.

“What the Historic District tries to do is to keep an historic integrity to an area,” Ms Gaston explained. “We do not regulate things like paint color, but when any kind of change to a property that can be viewed from a main street is desired, a property in the Historic District must submit an application of appropriateness. We also regulate any kind of dramatic change in exterior materials,” she said.

“Ram Pasture and the NSB properties are large pieces of property, so we’re very happy those two are in, and we are pleased that the eight private residences have joined, as well,” Ms Gaston said. “You think everything will always stay the same, but you never know. The wonderful thing is that once a property is designated part of the Historic District, that is not affected by future ownership.”