Princeton Borough Council voted unanimously last week for a resolution expressing their opposition to legislation that would exempt private universities from following local land use laws. Two bills, which have been moving through the New Jersey Senate and Assembly, “would put neighborhoods and entire communities at risk” if passed, said Councilman Roger Martindell.

If the legislation is enacted, Princeton University, Rider University, and other private educational institutions of higher learning would no longer require approvals from Princeton to launch development projects. Councilwoman Heather Howard, who works for Princeton University, abstained from the vote.

“Developments could occur without any reviews from the Planning Board,” Mr. Martindell said. “Princeton University owns somewhere in the range of 40 percent of the land in the Borough. Add the three institutions of higher learning in Princeton together, and this would become a total company town. There would very little we could do to form the kind of community we want. These bills could be a disaster for Princeton.”

The Senate bill is sponsored by Senators Paul Sario (D-Passaic) and Robert Singer (R-Monmouth). In the Assembly, the bill is sponsored by Assemblywoman Celeste Riley (D-Salem) and Assemblyman Thomas Giblin (D-Passaic). The bills could be voted on as early as the end of June.

According to the bill in the Senate, private universities and colleges “are subject to local zoning controls by the municipalities in which they are located and must obtain approval from those local authorities for all campus development. The approval process often can be quite time consuming and expensive. This results in the delay of important educational programs and facilities for students attending the institutions as well as the diversion of critical funding away from educational purposes.”

The legislation has also been opposed by the state League of Municipalities.

In other action at the June 12 meeting, attorney Richard Goldman of Drinker Biddle & Reath, which represents Princeton University, spoke in response to comments made at the previous meeting criticizing a request for records in lawsuits related to the move of the Dinky station. Councilman Martindell had spoken out on June 6 about the law firm’s request for more than six years of records from the mayor, staff, members of governing bodies, and others, calling it “outrageous” and “overly broad and burdensome.”

Mr. Goldman spoke during the public comment section of last week’s meeting. “I feel compelled to at least respond in kind,” he said, saying he was surprised that the request had created such a furor because it followed standard procedure. “As lawyers, it is our obligation to find out as much information as we can,” he said. “We haven’t sued anyone. All we’ve done is in the ordinary cause of discovery.”

Mr. Martindell replied that the request was “a fishing expedition casting a very wide net.”

Residents from the neighborhood of Scott Lane and Bainbridge Street expressed varying opinions about the issue of whether to extend sidewalks on Scott Lane. After listening to several opinions, the Council voted 4-2 in favor of an ordinance to build the sidewalks.