To the Editor:
As a weekly reader of Town Topics’ Mailbox, I am thrilled to see the shared concern over the proposed Herring development.
There are a number of common concerns voiced by many of the contributors, least of which is the effect of a development of the density proposed. The renowned historians’ advertisement last month has gotten residents motivated to speak up, but from my perspective we needed to be more direct in our mutual outrage over this issue. First, the Council’s approval of the PILOT tax benefits for the developer is not an exclusive one-time gift to this developer coming into Princeton. Avalon on Witherspoon was also gifted this as well as gifting Avalon a 30-year abatement on any form of rent controls allowing the developer to raise rents at whatever rates they choose. And you can be assured with the two additional Avalon developments on either side of Princeton Shopping Center they have been given the same gifts.
Yes, all the other issues raised by the contributors to Mailbox are also of great concern. Luxury apartments with only 20 percent affordable rentals? The 20 percent magic number is a state mandate to all communities in New Jersey, but does that mean it’s the correct percentage of units needed? The density of this development with a 250-vehicle underground garage adds another very significant issues. Traffic on Stockton Street and surrounding streets is already congested at certain times of the day now. What’s the impact when you add the additional traffic caused by residents coming and going into the new development? More noise, more fumes, more traffic.
I could go on about all the reasons this development should not be allowed to go forward, but I think the real question that the Council needs to answer now is why? Why give away the real estate tax income that supports the schools as well as the infrastructure needs of the town? The added student enrollment is significant, the schools are not located near this development, which means school busses in and out of the area will increase.
This development’s approval by the Council is just the tip of the iceberg of the questionable decisions this Council and its predecessors have made that need to be looked at and held accountable for. Who pays for all their decisions? Them? The consultants they hire who recommend many of the plans the Council approves? No, it’s the residents and local businesses who foot the bill.
As I said at the beginning, as residents we have a right to hold our local government accountable for their decisions and it appears some of their decisions are in need of real scrutiny.
What kind of town does Princeton want to be? Growth at all costs? Or well planned, executed to assure the town’s heritage is not only maintained but enhanced. And the ability for all residents to afford to live and thrive in this very wonderfully diverse community.