By Anne Levin
The introduction of ordinances related to parking, and resolutions for improvements for the Terhune Road Safe Streets to Transit Pedestrian Improvement project, as well as the design of two replacement steam boilers in historic buildings on the Westminster Choir College campus, were among the actions taken at a meeting of Princeton Council on Monday night, July 27.
The Council also issued proclamations honoring three retiring members of municipal staff — Chief Financial Officer (CFO) Sandra Webb, and Department of Public Works members Brian Maher and Gregory Pfaff. Since the search to replace Webb is still underway, Council voted in favor of a resolution to appoint Phoenix Advisors as temporary CFO and director of the Department of Finance.
The parking ordinances that were introduced are for the updating of rates at metered spaces and the Spring Street Garage, and the regulation of parking on Hun Road, and on Walnut Lane and Guyot Avenue. Metered parking rates would increase for 30-minute, 90-minute, three-hour, all-day, Princeton train station, and bus parking zones. The hourly rate at Spring Street Garage would increase to $2 per hour, and the overnight rate would become a $5 flat fee. The holiday parking rate would be removed, and the monthly rate would be $225. Increases for metered spaces include from $1 to $1.25 for 30 minutes, and from $3 to $3.50 for 90-minute zones.
Public hearings for these ordinances will be held on August 10. The proposed effective date is September 14.
The Terhune Road Safe Streets to Transit Pedestrian Improvements project spans from Mount Lucas Road to North Harrison Street and includes replacing
and widening sidewalks, installing a five-foot-wide pervious concrete sidewalk with an underground water quality system, and replacement of curb ramps to be ADA-compliant. The profusion of large London plane trees along the corridor was taken into consideration, locating the sidewalks as far away from the trees as possible.
“There’s going to be a lot of working with the contractor to make sure we are protecting the root systems of the trees,” said Municipal Engineer Denna Stockton. “Taylor [Sapudar, the town’s municipal arborist] has done a great job going through and assessing the health of trees. If there are any already in decline, we can have those removed and do a subsequent planting.”
The boilers on the Westminster campus, which the Municipality acquired last year, service the Erdman, Taylor, and Williamson halls, as well as Bristol Chapel. All are connected underground. Stockton said that while separate systems were considered, the current system makes the most sense. The Municipality acquired the 22-acre campus from Rider University last year, and the future of the site is currently being studied by the town and consultants.
Councilwoman Mia Sacks commented, “It’s really critical to get this in place as soon as possible, because these are buildings that will be impacted if they are not kept at some degree of climate regulation.”
The next meeting of Council is on Monday, August 10, at 7 p.m.