By Anne Levin

After hearing from more than 30 of the approximately 160 people who signed on to the November 9 public hearing held over Zoom about the proposed Master Plan, the Princeton Planning Board opted to continue the hearing to its next meeting on November 30 before making a decision on whether to vote in favor of the plan.

In the meantime, the Master Plan is the focus of a meeting on Saturday, November 18 of the non-governmental community group Princeton Future, being held from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. in the Community Room of Princeton Public Library. The meeting, also available virtually at princetonlibrary.libnet.info/event/9547479, is billed as a conversation rather than an opportunity for comments limited to three minutes, as is the format at municipal meetings.

The topics include the issues cited frequently at the November 9 meeting. The housing crisis — specifically affordable and missing middle housing — is key. Questions to be explored involve housing types, teardowns, maintaining the high caliber of Princeton schools, parking issues, and protecting green spaces.

New Jersey’s Municipal Land Use Law requires the adoption of a Master Plan, and Princeton’s has not been updated since 1996. The draft of the new document was 18 months in the making and was formally shared with the public at the end of October.

Comments from the public at the November 9 meeting of the Planning Board ranged from favorable to unfavorable, with some offering constructive criticism. Nearly all who spoke acknowledged the work that went into the plan, and thanked those involved for their efforts. But some serious concerns were aired.

Hibben Road resident Jo Butler, a former member of Princeton Council who is active in the Princeton Coalition for Responsible Development, said the meeting was “something less than democratic. We can’t see who is in attendance, and we have no way of connecting with people. None of us have the ability to read the room, including the planners. I have heard from a number of speakers I wish I could have applauded. As the former liaison to the Historic Preservation Commission (HPC), I am appalled at the lack of their active participation

in this process.”

Butler wasn’t the only person to express concerns about historic preservation. Resident Roger Shatzkin, who is on the HPC, commented that the proposed plan’s list of historic sites as priorities for preservation differs from the HPC’s list. “We would have greatly appreciated having this discussion prior to tonight,” he said. “We did not have the opportunity, and it’s something we think we could resolve quickly had we had such a discussion.”

Emily Escott, a resident of the Jugtown neighborhood, said she bought her house because of the district’s charm. While the goal of affordable housing is well-intentioned, “I feel as though the historic preservation aspect is being brushed aside, which is very concerning,” she said.

Experience Princeton president Aubrey Haines praised the plan for its efforts “to bring about positive changes which will encourage innovation, experiential retail, expanded outdoor dining, affordable housing for the employees of local businesses, and new parking opportunities, including the utilization of underused lots and preservation of the unique character of Princeton.”

He added, though, that the plan’s intention to avoid adding new parking capacity is not realistic and needs to be amended. “Current capacity does not meet current need, and given the plan’s ambitions for growth, current capacity will certainly not meet future need.”

Architect/developer Joshua Zinder praised the plan, but added, “I do believe you are missing one element under the economic development section based on the current ordinances, overlays, and plans. And that is the encouragement of Witherspoon Street as a secondary commercial corridor within town.”

Builder Tom Pinneo called the plan “breathtaking in its scope and vision” in its depiction of the competing interests in Princeton. “Look, if you don’t want more density, this is not your Master Plan,” he said. “But if we’re going to successfully navigate the complex challenges ahead of us, I believe this nearly 300-page document provides us with broad contours of what we need to keep top of mind to begin the long work of implementation.”

Resident A.J. Smith commented that houses on his street, where several famous architects once lived, have been torn down. “When I look at our neighborhood, and what the caption says today, it says eight houses per acre on a one-block street that has nothing like that now. So I just want to understand what that really means. One of the things that makes Princeton unique is that all of the neighborhoods have their own character. And this zoning is going to destroy them.”

A video of the four-hour meeting is available on the town’s YouTube channel. To read the proposed plan, visit princetonnj.gov/339/Master-Plan or engage.princetonmasterplan.org.