By Anne Levin

In the first step of a process that would enable Princeton Theological Seminary to add more housing to its Tennent campus, Princeton Council voted unanimously Monday night to direct the town’s Planning Board to study whether the campus should be designated as an area in need of redevelopment.

This tool would allow the town to be more proactive in planning, in turn giving the public a greater ability to provide input and be more involved in the process. The seminary could also contribute financially to affordable housing, not necessarily on the site but in areas across town. Mayor Liz Lempert recused herself from the discussion because her husband is a professor at Princeton University, which has connections to the affordable housing issue.

Properties included in the resolution are on Stockton Street, Hibben Road, Library Place, and Edgehill Street, all within the Mercer Hill Historic District. Municipal planner Jim Constantine told Council that the redevelopment process would be more effective than the one used when the seminary replaced its Speer Library, which opened in 2014.

“It took years,” he said. “It was prolonged, and arduous on all involved, because it was a reactive process. So that process is what we have if we do nothing. But if you move forward with what is proposed, it is an opportunity to have a more proactive planning approach.”

The town would be better able to regulate layout and design, and could require that improvements be phased and completed within a significant period, Constantine added. The municipality could also designate a qualified redeveloper. The process dates from mid-20th century urban renewal, but an area doesn’t have to be blighted or condemned to qualify.

Neighbors of the seminary expressed concerns about historic properties that they said the seminary has failed to protect over the years, leading to significant deterioration. “This should not be rushed through,” said area resident Elizabeth Brown, who added she does not blame the institution’s current administration but hopes the current one will address the problem.

Shane Berg, the seminary’s executive vice president, stressed that the institution values historic properties, which include houses built by Charles Steadman. “The seminary would never dream of doing anything other than preserving those homes,” he said “We’re able to give the town a guarantee that those historic homes won’t be altered in any way.”

Berg added that the Hibben athletic field would be preserved as open space as part of the plan for 40 to 50 years, and could open up to Marquand Park.

“We live in this neighborhood and the president lives in this neighborhood,” he said, using Springdale, the president’s house, as an example of the seminary’s stewardship. “We care about the charm, we care about the walkability. We think [the neighborhood] is a national treasure.”

Municipal attorney Trishka Cecil stressed that approval of the resolution is the very beginning of the process, and the Planning Board would be required to hold a public hearing on the report they develop. Once the report comes back to Council, the governing body must decide whether to act on whatever the Planning Board recommends.

“If the Council determines to designate, then a redevelopment plan is prepared and has to be adopted by ordinance,” she said, “which goes through a public hearing process. That’s the level at which you start to design the site. Once that gets approved, specific site plan applications have to come back. So tonight is just the first kicking-off process.”