CITY OF CAPE MAY Historic PRESERVATION Commission DESIGN STANDARDS CITY OF CAPE MAY Historic PRESERVATION Commission DESIGN STANDARDS Copyright © by the Cape May Historic Preservation Commission All rights reserved. Published Fall 2002 Printing by Standard Publishing, Inc. Table of Contents Introduction..................................................................................4 Historic Preservation Commission Legislative Authority of the HPC....................................5 Design Standards Definition of Key Terms........................................................7 Declaration of Purpose......................................................50 History of Cape May - Timeline.......................................8 Procedure.....................................................................................50 Overview .......................................................................................51 Architectural Styles in Cape May Secretary of the Interior’s Federal Architecture 1780-1820 ....................................14 Standards for Rehabilitation .........................................53 Romantic Houses - Early Victorian Standards Architecture 1820-1880.......................................................16 Roofs...............................................................................54 Gothic Revival................................................................18 Exterior Cladding...........................................................56 Romanesque Revival ......................................................21 Doors..............................................................................57 Renaissance Revival.......................................................22 Windows.........................................................................59 Italianate.........................................................................24 Porches ...........................................................................61 Exotic Revival.................................................................26 Streetscape ....................................................................63 Octagon.........................................................................27 New Construction..........................................................70 Post-Civil War Architecture - Late Victorian New Construction in East Cape May..........................72 Architecture 1860-1900.......................................................29 Second Empire ...............................................................30 Appropriate/Non-Appropriate Stick ................................................................................32 Treatments – Illustrations.................................................75 Queen Anne...................................................................34 Shingle ............................................................................36 Resources.....................................................................................79 Period Revivals - 1870-1940.............................................39 Bibliography...............................................................................80 Colonial Revival ............................................................40 Acknowledgements................................................................81 Tudor Revival..................................................................42 Spanish Revival..............................................................43 Bungalow Architecture - 1890-1930.....................45 TABLE OF CONTENTS 1 Introduction Cape May offers a rare, full-scale dictionary of architectural styles surveys of buildings and sites within the Historic District, spanning 250 years of development as a resort destination. From recommend the designation of Historic Districts, buildings and the rustic, mid-eighteenth century Cape Island, through the Queen sites and set design standards for exterior alterations, new of Seaside Resorts in the second half of the nineteenth century, construction and demolition. Furthermore, the New Jersey Historic to the current mix of high-style and vernacular architecture from Preservation Office designated Cape May as a Certified Local the eighteenth, nineteenth and twentieth centuries, Cape May is Government, opening the door for City Government to benefit the repository of a unique architectural history. It is home to much from grants from the Historic Preservation Fund federal grants more than one of the largest collections of nineteenth-century program. frame buildings in the United States; it is a palpable architectural record of the evolution of an inimitable seaside resort over two- Economic success has meant intensified traffic and pressure for and-a-half centuries. new construction, demands that are a challenge to the proper stewardship of the historic fabric of Cape May. Sustained In the past quarter-century, preservation efforts, combined with collaborative efforts from the public and private sectors will be the offering of cultural and historical activities and events, have required to allow for Cape May’s continued growth while increased visitation, and contributed to the economic prosperity preserving its rich architectural heritage. The Cape May Historic of the City of Cape May. The restoration of many high-profile Preservation Commission assists in this matter by issuing a nineteenth-century homes as Bed and Breakfast inns, guesthouses, Certificate of Appropriateness before a permit is issued or work restaurants and shops contributed to this success, but the visitor’s can commence within a Historic District or a Historic Site, if the experience of Cape May is not specific to these individual work involves demolition, exterior alterations to a building or site, structures. The Cape May Historic District is exceptional because additions or new construction. of its distinctive architectural character as a whole. It is a mix of individual commercial and residential buildings, simple or The design standards published in this book have been elaborate, all related by scale, proportion, building materials and developed to provide information and direction to property owners streetscape that weave a common thread through a heritage that and residents of Cape May who want to proceed with work that spans centuries and a vast array of styles and features. will be subject to review by the Historic Preservation Commission. This publication provides a summary inventory of the architectural The outstanding quality of Cape May’s architectural heritage was styles, and their significant features, prevalent in Cape May, recognized with its designation as a National Historic Landmark standards for appropriate and inappropriate treatments for the District on 11 May 1976 and its listing on both the National and more common exterior rehabilitation projects, and illustrations of State Registers of Historic Places. City Council echoed this the do’s and don’ts for such projects. The standards provide the recognition by designating a local Historic District overlay in framework on which property owners should base the design of the Cape May Zoning Ordinance and establishing the Cape proposed work, which will be evaluated on a case-by-case basis. May Historic Preservation Commission, with a mission to conduct 4 INTRODUCTION Historic Preservation Commission Legislative Authority The Historic Preservation Commission is established by Section applications for development. New construction, additions or 32-33.3 of Chapter 32 of the City of Cape May Zoning alterations to the exterior of structures in the Historic District or Ordinance. The City’s authority to do this is through the New Historic Sites require a Certificate of Appropriateness from the Jersey Municipal Land Use Law, specifically Section 107 of Title HPC. The decision of the HPC (as implemented by the 40:55D. This is the same law which establishes the City’s Planning Construction Official) is appealable to the Zoning Board. Board and Zoning Board. Among its responsibilities, the HPC Decisions of the Zoning Board are appealable to the Courts. provides advice to the Planning and Zoning Board on The Process FOR A CONSTRUCTION PERMIT PROPERTY CONSTRUCTION OWNER Applies for Permit OFFICIAL If necessary, refers to the HPC HPC Grants Certificate Denies Certificate of Appropriateness of Appropriateness CONSTRUCTION SEE OPTIONS OFFICIAL IN CHAPTER ISSUES PERMIT 32-33.5(E)(5) THE PROCESS 5 The Process FOR DEVELOPMENT REVIEW PROPERTY OWNER Submits Plan Submits Plan PLANNING BOARD ZONING BOARD Refers for Advice Refers for Advice HPC HPC Sends Advice Sends Advice PLANNING BOARD ZONING BOARD Makes Decision Makes Decision PROPERTY OWNER PROPERTY OWNER Applies for Permit CONSTRUCTION OFFICIAL 6 THE PROCESS Definition of Key Terms Historic District: review of any proposed work Contributing Historic Landmark Districts are An area that contains at a designated Historic Site Building: automatically registered in the contiguous properties under or on any property within a A building, site, structure or register when they are diverse ownership that, as a Historic District. Such review object that is an integral part designated. group, may: is based upon the application of the historic theme in a •Be significant to American and representations of the Historic District and enhances Non-Contributing or New Jersey history, applicant and the approved the Historic District’s Building: plans and documentation archeology, architecture