By Anne Levin
An ordinance to limit parking on Hun Road to the even side of the street was approved by Princeton Council at its meeting on Monday evening, August 24. The agenda also included a presentation on public signage, which tackles some regulations that date back to 1977 in the former Borough, and 1989 in the former Township.
Four probationary police officers: Angelina Moench, Joseph Horn, Eliza Ford, and Justin Tisdale, were sworn in by Mayor Mark Freda. Maria O’Connell, longtime executive assistant to the chief of police, was honored with a proclamation on the occasion of her retirement after 26 years.
Police Chief Matthew Solovay, who delivered a presentation praising O’Connell, also gave the July report, focusing on recent community policing efforts. On Thursday morning, August 27, members of the public can “walk and talk” with police officers from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Farmers Market on Hinds Plaza to ask questions and meet in person. The walk will begin at 11 a.m.
The Hun Road ordinance was introduced on July 27 in response to complaints from some residents about vehicles parking on both sides — making it possibly unsafe or impassable by large trucks or rescue vehicles. The Municipality responded by proposing to prohibit parking on the odd-numbered side of the road. But calls and emails from residents requested otherwise.
“Based on feedback we had from the community, a motion was made to change the restriction to the even-numbered side for the entire length of the roadway,” said Deputy Administrator/Municipal Engineer Deanna Stockton.
During public comment, Hun Road resident Kevin Cunningham asked Council not to pass the ordinance. Another resident spoke, via Zoom, in favor of the ordinance.
Stockton said it was a safety issue. “It’s needed because we have a narrower roadway,” she said. “With the on-street parking, if we had it on both sides of the road, it would not be sufficient width for everyday vehicles like trash trucks, let along emergency services like fire trucks. The bulk of the residents we heard from were in favor of this.”
Councilman David Cohen agreed. “My primary concern as a member of Council is emergency vehicles getting through,” he said. “This is absolutely commonplace throughout the town. Where we do allow on-street parking, we tend to allow it on one side of the street. So it’s not like Hun Road is being picked on. In the event there is an emergency, which God willing never happens, we want them getting through.”
Councilman Leighton Newlin said he’d like to see Council spend more time on parking relief in the two densest neighborhoods in town: Witherspoon-Jackson and the tree streets.
Planning Director Justin Lesko gave the update on the efforts to harmonize and modernize signage regulations in town. The overhaul was a goal of Council in 2024, when consultant LRK Architecture, Planning & Design was hired to develop a plan.
In addition to harmonizing rules from the former Borough and Township, the plan is also to make the regulations more predictable and slightly more permissive in sizes and graphics.
“These are a particular challenge because we have to pay attention to first amendment and case laws,” Lesko said.
Lesko said that a draft ordinance should be ready by the end of this week. The presentation is available in the agenda packet from the meeting, at princetonnj.gov.
The next meeting of Council is September 14 at 7 p.m.