By Anne Levin
Design guidelines drafted by the Princeton Historic Preservation Commission (HPC) are the subject of a presentation to be held on Wednesday, August 5, at 5:30 p.m. at Witherspoon Hall. Following the event, members of the public can share comments on the proposed guidelines through August 24 by visiting princeton
nj.gov/hpcdesign.
A review committee — made up of members of HPC, municipal staff, elected officials, and a consultant — has been working on the project, a tool to help protect the town’s architectural and historic resources, for the past year. Earlier this summer, HPC surveyed the public for their thoughts about how the town interprets, promotes, and preserves local history.
“The survey went well,” said Sara Quinlan, the town’s preservation officer. “We had close to 160 responses, and we are planning on releasing the results and some of the other comments in a newsletter article. The guidelines are now in draft form and we are looking to the public for feedback.”
The survey asked respondents what they think the goals of the HPC should be. Boxes to check ranged from protecting and maintaining historic buildings and streetscapes, to creating climate and flood adaptation, and sustainability guidelines for historic buildings. HPC also wanted to know how familiar members of the public are with Princeton’s 21 historic districts, and
how they are regulated.
“We saw a couple of concerns about demolition and the preservation of buildings,” Quinlan said. “The other common comments were about preserving trees and landscapes — not just buildings.”
Any kind of exterior change to a building in one of the town’s historic districts generally must be reviewed by the Office of Historic Preservation of the HPC to make sure it is compatible with its surroundings.
The HPC is a volunteer board appointed by the mayor and Council. The board holds public meetings and reviews certain applications that go beyond administrative review, and makes formal decisions on preservation plans. The Office of Historic Preservation is a staffed municipal department that manages the day-to-day review process, provides guidance to applicants, and supports historic preservation work across Princeton.
The August 5 gathering will begin with a brief presentation from consultant Dominique Hawkins, who will explain the guidelines and how people can use them. An open house will follow, with the opportunity for discussions and questions. Forms will be available for those who want to provide feedback at the event instead of online.
For more information, email HP@princetonnj.gov or call (609) 285-4151.