Redevelopment of Seminary Site, Renovations of Historic Homes Headline Princeton's Municipal Agenda

Princeton, NJ – A half dozen properties in the western section of town are in the municipal spotlight this week.

On Monday, July 22, Princeton Council will hold its public hearing on the ordinance to adopt a redevelopment plan for nearly five-acre site at the corner of Stockton Street and Hibben Road that formerly housed Princeton Theological Seminary housing and offices. The plan calls for as many as 238 units on the site, with 20 percent set aside as affordable units, as well as up to two more single-family detached houses to be located on the lot where the existing house at 92 Stockton Street is located. The maximum height of the new buildings would be set at 56 feet.

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The Historic Preservation Commission, meanwhile, will continue its hearing on applications for renovations on properties at 19, 25-27, 29 and 31 Alexander Street in the Mercer Hill Historic District. The owner, the Princeton Theological Seminary, is proposing to replace the existing cedar siding and windows on the Steadman-designed housing and replace them with Hardie Plank, a composite material, and with modern double-glazed Marvin windows. Some of the existing shutters will be retained.

The application, which began its review last Monday, July 15, was opposed by a number of neighbors and by members of the Mercer Hill Historic District Association. Click here to read an account of the meeting from a member of the Mercer Hill group.

A continuation of the July 15 meeting is listed as the agenda for an HPC meeting on Monday, July 22, at 4 p.m. That meeting, however, is expected to deal with other issues before the commission. Another meeting is scheduled this week -- on Tuesday, July 23, also at 4 p.m., and that meeting will review the Alexander Street applications. Formal action is expected at that time.

Some of the same neighbors speaking out against the renovations of the Alexander Street houses have also voiced concerns about the redevelopment plan being considered several blocks away, at Stockton and Hibben.

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The Planning Board reviewed the redevelopment plan last Thursday, July 18, to determine if it was consistent with the Community Master Plan. A dozen residents showed up on Zoom to comment on he plan. Ten voiced various levels of concern, citing issues that have been heard by the Planning Board and other town officials at previous meetings and open houses. Two residents were strongly in favor.

The Planning Board came to a quick resolution, affirming by a unanimous vote that it is consistent with the Master Plan.

Council is highly likely to adopt the ordinance on July 22. Once the redevelopment plan is adopted, the municipality must strike a redevelopment agreement with the owner of the property, or in this case the contract purchaser, the Witherspoon Street-based developer, Herring Properties.

Below are details of upcoming events on the municipal calendar. Zoom links to meetings are included when available as of Sunday, January 21. Check the municipal calendar for more recent information regarding access via Zoom.

Monday, July 22

4 p.m.: Historic Preservation Commission, in person, Municipal Building, 400 Witherspoon Street.

7 p.m. Princeton Council, in person at 400 Witherspoon Street, and via Zoom .

Click here to access the agenda and packet materials.

Tuesday, July 23

4 p.m.: Historic Preservation Commission, in person, Municipal Building, 400 Witherspoon Street.

5 p.m.: Shade Tree Commission, via Zoom.

Wednesday, July 24

11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.: Leighton Listens, Godfrey Fitzgerald Salon, 15 Witherspoon Street. Informal meet-up with Princeton Council member Leighton Newlin.

7 p.m.: Princeton Environmental Commission, via Zoom.

7:30 p.m.: Zoning Board of Adjustment, via Zoom .

Two applications are on the agenda:

98 Bayard Lane, Janet Giles, Owner/Applicant, variance relief to permit reconstruction of a non-complying garage that has been structurally damaged by a fallen tree.

300 Ewing Street;300 Ewing Street LLC, Owners/Applicant, variance to permit the construction of a home on a lot that does not meet the minimum lot area requirement. Real estate records show a 700-square foot house on the property was sold recently for $600,000. The application suggests a tear-down is imminent.

Monday, July 29

Recycling Day

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