By Anne Levin
As 2025 comes to a close, Princeton Council and the town’s Planning Board are taking care of some end-of-year business.
At a public hearing last Thursday, December 18, the Planning Board voted that the tract owned by the municipality on Franklin Avenue, between Witherspoon Street and Jefferson Road, can be designated a non-condemnation redevelopment area. This means that the multi-family development that has been proposed for the site, a 50-50 mix of market rate and affordable units, may move up on the agenda. The issue has been in discussion for more than five years.
A focus of Princeton Council’s meeting on the evening of Monday, December 22 (after Town Topics’ press time) was a presentation by Taylor Sapudar, the town’s municipal arborist, on Princeton’s 2025-2029 Community Forestry Management Plan.
At 64 pages, the plan is focused on growing “a sustainable community forest that provides lasting aesthetic, social, cultural, economic, environmental, and health benefits while ensuring public safety for all who live and work in the community,” according to its mission statement. The core goals include strengthening disaster preparedness. The plan is posted on the agenda for the meeting at princetonnj.gov.
The plan was prepared by the Davey Resource Group and reviewed by the town’s Shade Tree Commission. The consultants did an inventory of public right-of-way and park trees in 2022, including over 200 species. Despite threats from invasive pests such as the spotted lanternfly, most of the trees are in fair or better condition, and have a strong likelihood of reaching full maturity despite some challenges, the report reads.
Also on the agenda was a presentation by Princeton High School senior Shawn Elwood, regarding his plans for a Princeton triathlon next year.
With special proclamations, Council was to recognize two longtime public servants who are retiring after many years. Elizabeth Kim has been the town’s historic preservation officer since 2014.
From 2000 to 2014, Kim worked in the former Princeton Township as a development review official.
Municipal Attorney Edwin W. Schmierer has served Princeton since 1980, in both the former Township and Borough, and in consolidated Princeton.
The proclamations in Kim’s and Schmierer’s honor praised each for having “served the community of Princeton with pride, and upon the occasion of her/his retirement, is deserving of recognition and the highest commendation.”
Ordinances to be given public hearings were related to tree removal permit requirements, lane use reservations on Harrison Street North at Valley and Terhune roads, and municipal salaries and compensation.
Resolutions to be voted upon included police promotions for 2025, and professional services agreements to USA Architects for design of various facilities including a new Public Works Department proposed for 298 River Road.
The next meeting of Council is scheduled for January 12 at 7 p.m. Visit princetonnj.gov for more information.