At the second of four Planning Board meetings last Thursday devoted to AvalonBay’s plan for a rental complex at the site of the former University Medical Center of Princeton, the developer presented the latest refinements to their proposal. The changes are in response to complaints from local residents and suggestions by environmental and zoning officials about the look and size of the buildings and openness to the public.

Following the presentations, several members of the public voiced their continued concerns about the project. A few others expressed support for the plan, urging the Planning Board, which voted to reject AvalonBay’s original plan last December, to vote in favor of it this time.

Bill Wolfe of the Site Plan Review Advisory Board (SPRAB) showed drawings detailing the roof lines of the two large buildings, using roof forms closer in size to the surrounding residences in the neighborhood. “I came to the conclusion that there was a real opportunity in these buildings to break up the masses,” he said. “I’m glad the applicant is still working on this, but would like them to think more about scale by changing the roof lines.”

AvalonBay’s architect Jonathan Metz, who is with the firm Perkins Eastman, said he tried to respond to Mr. Wolfe’s recommendations, showing fewer gables and dropped rooflines. “We feel we have addressed all of the [design] standards,” Mr. Metz said. The three most important requests from the public, he added, were for a range of styles and heights, avoiding a monolithic appearance, and permeability.

“We don’t believe it’s a gated community,” he said, adding that the only restricted area in the complex is a courtyard for residents only. “I think the rest of the site is completely open, more open than a private home would be.”

Tweaks to the plan also included more bicycle racks, and some alterations to the landscaping to reflect changes in the design. In addition, the 56 affordable housing units in the 280-unit development were redistributed among the two largest buildings of the complex.

Using a power point presentation, architect and local resident Areta Pawlinski expressed her disappointment with the plan during the public comment portion of the meeting. “Reading words in our local press, I was anticipating great changes from last fall’s AvalonBay Princeton Plan A to today’s Plan B,” she said. “Weeks after so many glowing words were released, looking carefully at the materials presented, I don’t see a submission that complies with the 2006 ordinance. Remember, it is all parts of this ordinance that govern the old hospital site …. It’s time to acknowledge the elephant in the room. The surrounding neighborhoods are being ignored.”

Resident and environmental attorney Vincent Giordano suggested keeping the number of affordable units while lowering the number of total units, in order to adhere to the design standards in the ordinance. Resident Marco Gottardis was another member of the public to say that the buildings are too big and do not comply with the site plan ordinance. “Our residents have been sold out,” he said. “This was a bait and switch and you’ve allowed the hospital to do the planning for you. It’s still a private gated community.”

Research physicist and climate scientist Steven Griffies, another local resident, urged more comprehensive testing for mercury at the site. AvalonBay proposes testing for contamination by scent. That won’t work, he said, because mercury is odorless. “We cannot risk the lives of Princeton residents by hiding our heads in the sand,” he concluded.

Local resident David Keddie spoke in favor of AvalonBay’s plan. “Princeton needs housing,” he said. “It needs apartment housing most of all. Density is not our enemy. I would also say that this development is good for the environment. If it’s not built here, it will be built somewhere else, maybe on a farm field.”

Also voicing support was former Princeton Borough Council member Barbara Trelstad. “Approve the plan,” she urged the Board. “This is much smaller than the current hospital building. This is not a private gated community. This is a residential place with a back yard. Let’s move forward and welcome this development into our community.”

The two remaining Planning Board hearings are Thursday, July 18 and July 25 at Witherspoon Hall. Both begin at 7:30 p.m.