The New Jersey Historic Sites Council on Wednesday morning voted unanimously to recommend approval of the Mayo Performing Arts Center’s proposed five-story addition.

This 31,000-square-foot expansion, which would include a two-level parking deck for staff and VIPs, now goes to state Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) Commissioner Shawn LaTourette for his blessing.

The project also needs variances from the Morristown zoning board. A second hearing before that board, set for Wednesday evening, has been postponed because of a lawyer’s scheduling conflict until May 1, 2024, according to the town zoning office.

Rendering of proposed MPAC expansion, as viewed from corner of King Place and Pine Street, April 2024.

In January, the state Historic Preservation Office (HPO) raised concerns about MPAC’s potential “encroachment upon the Morristown Historic District,” citing the scale of the proposed expansion and the planned demolition of three houses on Pine Street and King Place.

The structures date roughly to the turn of the 20th century and were purchased by MPAC in 2017. Lately, they have housed studios, small businesses and MPAC offices and classes.

Wednesday’s approval requires MPAC to hire an architectural historian to create a photographic record of these houses prior to demolition. MPAC also must monitor for anything of archaeological significance during the work, as outlined in a January study by Hunter Research Inc.

Additionally, MPAC must submit its final plans, including materials and colors, for state review prior to construction, to ensure compatibility with the historic theater and the town Historic District.

And MPAC must create and showcase an “interpretive display” depicting the history of the neighborhood and the Community Theater, which was erected in 1937 as a posh cinema and rescued from ruin by volunteers in 1994.

Historic Sites Council Chairman Robert Preston, Vice Chair Sophia Jones-Bradford and members Flavia Alaya and Lu Ann De Cunzo voted without commenting, after hearing detailed virtual presentations from Jennifer Leynes of the DEP (which oversees the governor-appointed HPO and the Historic Sites Council), Marysue DePaola of MPAC, and MPAC architect Jeff Rawding.

MPAC President and CEO Allison Larena and Chairman Greg Supron logged into the approximately 75-minute session but did not speak.

The nonprofit theater, which operates as South Street Theater Co. Inc., contends the expansion will enable it to roughly double the number of young students in its performing arts school and provide more classroom space, accommodate larger touring shows, add staff, increase community programming, and better serve the town’s growing minority population.

With a $14 million budget, MPAC says it hosts 300 performances and educational events annually and aims to do more, post-expansion. It calculates its activities generate $18 million annually for local businesses.

MPAC has raised more than $10.8 million so far for the expansion, and the state Legislature has allocated another $500,000, according to testimony presented on Wednesday.

MPAC weighed six options before settling on its final expansion choice. Options ranged from doing nothing, to renovating the houses at 11 and 13 Pine Street and 7-9 King Place, to erecting a smaller addition, to building at a new location.