By Anne Levin
Despite the weekend blizzard, Princeton Council went ahead with its meeting on Monday evening, February 23, approving several ordinances that move the town forward toward meeting its Fourth Round affordable housing obligation.
The meeting also included the presentation of a proposed open space project regarding improvements at Princeton Ridge East for submittal of a Green Acres Stewardship Grant application, which the Council approved; and the monthly police report by Princeton Police Department Captain Thomas Lagomarsino, which focused partly on efforts to make sure residents are shoveling their sidewalks following the weekend’s storm.
The ordinances related to affordable housing that were approved by Council included properties at 86-88 and 92-94 Spruce Street, 245-247 and 354-360 Nassau Street, 145 Witherspoon Street, 11 and 457 North Harrison Street, 40-42 North Tulane Street, 32 Spring Street, 13 Chestnut Street, and 26 lots in the norther part of Princeton off of Route 206 or Herrontown Road.
The buildings on Spruce Street are inclusionary developments that will be alongside existing residential buildings. Councilwoman Mia Sacks pointed out that the developer has agreed to create a multi-use bike and pedestrian path that will go from the center of town to the former Westminster Choir College property. The townhouses to be built will follow the pattern of existing houses on the street.
“This was a late inclusion to the Fourth Round, and I think it’s a real gem in the former Borough,” Sacks said. “This was an under-utilized surface parking lot, and we’re so pleased to have it be walkable and full-density.”
The lot at 457 North Harrison Street is an empty office building being converted to residential development, known as a “stranded asset.” The approval of an amended ordinance regarding the lots on Route 206 and Herrontown Road, near the Montgomery border, includes removal of a requirement for storage outside the dwelling units, and a slight increase in building height.
Councilman David Cohen said the amendment “makes this ordinance consistent with other affordable housing. Hopefully, this will encourage developers to take advantage.” Council President Michelle Pirone Lambros added, “There are a lot of possibilities there, and it’s really under-utilized, so hopefully this will help.”
The Green Acres Stewardship Grant that Council approved for submission is a two-year matching grant for $300,000. The project will clear approximately five acres of invasive species, plant 4,200 native trees, and 1,000 native shrubs, said the town’s Open Space Manager Inge Reich. It will also provide habitat and food sources for local wildlife, and increase resiliency to storms and droughts.
Three buildings on the site are being demolished, which makes this an ideal time to undertake the project.
“If we wouldn’t do this work now, the invasive species already dominating the entire area would only get worse over time,” said Reich. “Controlling them at a later stage would only cost more money and more effort.”
Local environmentalist Steve Hiltner commented that two of those buildings are barns, one of which is in good condition. “I think it’s unfortunate that they cannot be saved and the demolition will bring in a lot of heavy machinery and removal of rubble, and of course that could impact the wildlife while it is happening.”
Sacks pointed out that the demolition is a condition of the funding. Overall, Hiltner praised the project, describing the property has having “a top of the world feeling. I’m looking forward to it being habitable by people and not just invasive species.”
The next meeting of Council is scheduled for March 9 at 7 p.m.