South Orange has hired a planner, New Brunswick-based Heyer, Gruel & Associates, to undertake a study starting this month investigating the feasibility of forming a local Historic Commission.

The study is funded with a $20,000 matching grant from the state Department of Community Affairs' Office of Smart Growth to supplement the Village's contribution, and the fee paid to the consultant can't exceed $40,000, as per a December resolution passed by the Board of Trustees.

The purpose of the study is to determine the need, scope, powers and standards for establishing a historic commission, which would likely be comprised of a mix of residents and other property owners and have the ability to make recommendations on renovations to properties on the state and national historic registers. It would also determine historic districts and properties within South Orange and submit applications to the appropriate historic registers. 

The Village sent a request for proposals to 93 firms pre-approved by the New Jersey Historic Trust in October and received two proposals back, which were reviewed by the Historic Element Subcommittee.

Three community charities are scheduled at The Baird for the public to give input to Heyer, Gruel: April 20, 7:30 to 9:30 p.m.; April 25, 10 a.m. to noon; and April 28, 7:30 to 9:30 p.m. The planner will present its draft recommendations at two public workshops at The Baird: June 3, 7:30 to 9:30 p.m.; and June 30, 7:30 to 9:30 p.m.