By Anne Levin

As of Tuesday afternoon, 688 people had signed a petition started by the Princeton Coalition for Responsible Development (PCRD) urging the Princeton Planning Board to pause the approval of the Community Master Plan.

The plan, which has not been updated since 1996, was presented by the town’s Planning Board last month, and was the subject of a public hearing on November 9. Because time ran out before all of those signed up had a chance to comment, the Planning Board has continued the hearing to its meeting this Thursday, November 30 at 7 p.m. on Zoom.

Municipal staff and consultants have been working on the plan for the past year and a half. Surveys, interviews, open house events, and special listening sessions were included in the process. But the petition calls for more public input.

“As residents of Princeton, New Jersey, we are deeply concerned about the proposed Draft Master Plan, which up-zones many properties to allow for increased density on each lot,” the petition begins. “This proposed plan could have serious unintended consequences due to proposed changes to the land use plans. It appears that there has been a failure to take into account the impact on our environment, existing infrastructure, schools, property taxes, traffic and parking conditions, and even our mature trees. Princeton is known for its beautiful green spaces and historic charm. The current up-zoning proposal threatens the very characteristics that attract residents and visitors to Princeton.”

Assisted by members of the Planning Board, the town’s Planning Office issued a lengthy FAQ (Frequently Asked Questions) document last week. The FAQ, which is available on the municipal website, addresses the need for an updated plan, the process involved, zoning, the “missing middle,” engagement with the community, up-zoning, and whether the Historic Preservation Commission has been considered, among other points that have raised questions.

Regarding what the plan envisions, the FAQ states, “Princeton will be a vibrant, growing, and welcoming community with a diverse mix of land uses that accommodate a broad variety of needs, housing ample and diverse enough to accommodate all who want to live here, a robust

transportation system that de-prioritizes cars, ample open space and recreation opportunities, first-class community facilities that serve and protect all stakeholders, a diverse and growing local economy that leverages but is not solely dependent on Princeton University, and an unrivaled quality of life for all residents.”

The petition urges the Planning Board, which votes on the plan, to pause the approval process “to address and evaluate the impact of the proposal to increase housing density on Princeton.”

Addressing whether a pause can happen, the FAQ states, “The master plan update is long overdue. Most of the old plan is outdated and/or no longer factual or relevant. Princeton urgently needs an updated master plan in order to successfully respond to climate change and the housing crisis, and to ensure that our planning goals are equitable, sustainable, and compliant with current state statutes…. Pausing or changing course would not only undermine the integrity of the process, but would require an additional infusion of taxpayer dollars.”

Regarding whether the plan up-zones to allow four homes on each lot, the FAQ states that it does not. “The Land Use Plan map lists 10 general land use categories,” it reads. “These categories are not synonymous with the nearly 70 zoning districts and overlays that comprise Princeton’s current zoning. The zoning districts will not be changed by this plan; only Council has the power to change zoning through the public ordinance process.”

At the November 9 meeting, some members of the public said the town’s historical commission was not as involved in the creation of the plan as it should have been. The FAQ reads that members of the Historic Preservation Commission (HPC) were consulted between October 2022 and August 2023 “to share information, pose questions, and to ask for input. A subcommittee of the HPC chose to write a separate element. The Municipal Land Use Law and Princeton’s municipal ordinance are clear that the Planning Board is responsible for creating a master plan, while a Historic Preservation Commission does not create a master plan or any elements within it, but advises on it. HPC has now provided specific recommendations, many of which likely will be incorporated into the plan.”

To get the link for the November 30 Zoom meeting, or access the FAQ, visit princetonnj.gov. The PCRD petition is available on change.org.