About the Commission
In accordance with the Municipal Land Use Law, the 11 member board, appointed by the Mayor, is responsible for preparing and maintaining a survey of more than 300 historic sites, recommending the designation of historic sites to the Council and reviewing permit applications for designated structures. The Mahwah Historic Preservation Commission (MHPC) also advises the Planning and Zoning Boards on all applications for development, including historic sites designated in the Master Plan and the Bergen County Historic Sites Survey (BCHSS).
The MHPC is appointed by the Township to safeguard the community's architectural, archaeological, scenic and cultural heritage by preserving, protecting, and conserving historic:
- Cemeteries
- Objects
- Roads
- Sites
- Structures
The Township of Mahwah Historic Preservation Commission is governed by a Historic Preservation Ordinance. The Mahwah Historic Sites Committee (HSC) introduced the first Ordinance in 1978, and in 1981 several homes were designated as local historic sites. In 1990, the HSC was renamed the Mahwah Historic Preservation Commission (MHPC), and the Ordinance was amended to conform to the Municipal Land Use Law. Nine years later, the Ordinance was amended again, resulting in several changes to the list of designated sites. In October 2001, the New Jersey State Historic Preservation Office recognized the MHPC as a Certified Local Government.