Bayonne Historic Preservation Commission supports church steeple repairs
A repair plan would straighten the historic church’s north-tilting steeple while retaining as much original material as possible.
Two hosts walk through the week’s edition in conversation — support for proposed steeple repairs at, board finds citywide data center ban, and what’s coming next. Generated by Aware, from this week’s verified summaries.
The commission supported the steeple plan, but the church still needs building division approval and plans from a state-licensed engineer.
A historic church’s steeple is tilting north, and repairs are taking shape. On September 22, the Bayonne Historic Preservation Commission adopted a resolution supporting a plan to straighten and restore it. Church representatives told the commission that a resident had noticed the lean months earlier. The church then received notice from the building department, hired engineers to assess the condition and obtained a proposal from a steeple repair specialist.
The Bayonne Historic Preservation Commission asked how much of the existing wood could stay. Church representatives said the goal was to reuse as much original material as possible and replace only what was necessary. They described a plan to jack the steeple back to level, use rust-resistant fasteners and seal and paint the repaired areas. The finish would remain white semi-gloss. Commissioners also discussed how water can rust older iron nails and contribute to damage.
The Bayonne Historic Preservation Commission’s resolution describes the church as a designated local historic structure listed on state and national historic registers. It calls the steeple a prominent feature of the building, which dates to 1866. The resolution passed with no objections stated, but the vote did not authorize construction. The work still requires approval from the building division. Church representatives said a state-licensed engineer would prepare the specific plans and submit the building permit.
Board finds citywide data center ban inconsistent with master plan
The Bayonne Planning Board found a proposed citywide ban on data centers substantially inconsistent with the city’s master plan. Six members voted for that finding, with one abstention and one recusal. The ordinance would define data centers and prohibit them in every zoning district. The Planning Board was reviewing the proposal for master-plan consistency, not deciding whether to enact it.
A professional presenting to the Bayonne Planning Board reached the opposite conclusion. The presenter said the master plan, adopted in August 2000, does not address data centers and contains nothing that would contradict a ban. The proposed definition would cover facilities used for servers, data storage and other high-density digital infrastructure, regardless of the name or business model used.
Residents asked the Bayonne Planning Board what the ordinance could mean for existing facilities and earlier approvals. Members discussed the possibility that an existing data center could become a legal nonconforming use. They said redevelopment plans and approvals could raise separate questions if applications come before the Planning Board. The consistency finding is a recommendation; it does not itself put the ban in place.
Resident says lighthouse plaque is easier to read
A speaker told the Bayonne Historic Preservation Commission that its lighthouse plaque near a waterfront memorial is now angled where visitors can read it easily. The speaker said visitors sometimes mistake the lighthouse’s location and pointed to the memorial as a place to view it.
A readable plaque helps visitors identify the lighthouse and find a place to see it.
Fire museum reports visitors and school plans
The fire museum’s director told the Bayonne Historic Preservation Commission that the museum had hosted 120 guests since May 2. The director said it opens to the public Saturdays at 10:00 and expects to host fourth-grade social studies classes in October.
Residents have a regular time to visit, while fourth graders may soon use the museum for class.
Historic Preservation Commission sets October meeting date
The Bayonne Historic Preservation Commission announced that its next meeting will be October 20 at 7:00 p.m. in council chambers. No agenda preview or other scheduling details were provided.
Residents interested in historic preservation now have the date, time and location of the next meeting.
Commission considers sign for former bus site
A Bayonne Historic Preservation Commission member proposed a sign recognizing the former tour bus company at a site now used for storage. Members discussed contacting the current owners or someone associated with the former business. The commission took no formal vote.
A sign could identify the site’s earlier use without designating the property as a landmark.
- Bayonne Historic Preservation Commission. A member of the public commented on the Robbins Reef Lighthouse plaque near the Teardrop Memorial, stating it is now prominent and readable. The speaker described common misconceptions about the lighthouse’s location and shared historical anecdotes about the lighthouse keeper’s children traveling to school.
What we didn’t fit in this Sundays edition
Bayonne had 22 more items this week. Here are sixfour — the rest are on Aware.
- GOVERNANCEDiscussion: St. Andrew’s Church status. Commissioners discussed the status of St. Andrew’s Church, noting they had not heard new information and that the building remained standing. They referenced prior meetings and an understanding that decommissioning approval had been granted by Rome, leaving next steps to the archdiocese.
- GOVERNANCEPlaque program status and tabling to next meeting. The commission discussed the plaque program, noting it ended in May and that some members had submitted ideas. The chair proposed tabling the list to the October meeting, and members agreed without a formal vote.
- GOVERNANCEUpdates on historic properties. A commissioner reported that work on two historic properties was pending due to being away over the summer and stated an intention to resume work now that they were back.
- GOVERNANCERequests for comments on Zoning Board of Adjustment / Planning Board matters. The chair asked whether there were any new requests for comments related to the Zoning Board of Adjustment or Planning Board; none were reported.
- GOVERNANCECorrespondence: resignation of alternate commissioner and telecom equipment notice at 1225 Kennedy Boulevard. The commission reviewed correspondence including an emailed resignation from an alternate commissioner and a request for commission comment related to proposed telecommunications equipment at 1225 Kennedy Boulevard, with references to planning/zoning approvals and federal notice filings.
- GOVERNANCEThree projects receive one-year extensions. The board approved one-year extensions for Luxury Quarter Walk LLC at 219 West Fifth Street, QoZ Prospect Property Urban Renewal LLC at 33 Prospect Avenue, and AMS Equities LLC at four Avenue locations. Each motion passed unanimously.
- GOVERNANCEApproval of Planning Board attorney. The Board voted to approve the Planning Board attorney (identified in the meeting as Attorney Solomon). The motion carried with all members voting in favor as recorded.
- GOVERNANCEPeninsula View hearing examines 164-unit project and site impacts. The board continued Peninsula View Urban Renewal LLC’s application for an eight-story, 164-unit building at 75–87 East 31st Street, with parking and requested deviations and waivers. The applicant’s engineer described access, retaining walls, stormwater, lighting, landscaping, and utilities; board members and residents raised questions about traffic, flooding, Route 440 frontage, the pocket park, and reliance on future approvals.
- GOVERNANCEBoard approves two-family conversion at 33 East 2nd Street with conditions. The board approved 177 3rd Street LLC’s proposal to convert the single-family home at 33 East 2nd Street into two units with a two-story addition and bulk variances. Applicant testimony covered the building design, parking, and stormwater; the board cited impervious coverage, maneuvering, and lighting concerns and required updated plans and other conditions. No members of the public spoke during the comment period.
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