By Anne Levin

Princeton Council introduced an ordinance at its Monday, December 9 meeting that approves an application for a tax exemption and PILOT (payment in lieu of taxes) agreement with the redeveloper of the former Princeton Seminary property on Stockton Street at Hibben Road.

Herring Properties, formally known as HP 108 Stockton Urban Renewal LLC, plans to build a multi-family residential development of 240 units, 48 of which would be designated as affordable housing. The plan, which has been controversial, also includes public open space, 262 parking spots, and the renovation of an existing historic house.

According to a memo by Mayor Mark Freda recommending the agreement to members of Council, the project “will result in significant benefits for the health, welfare, and financial well-being of the municipality and its citizens.” In addition to the 20 percent affordable housing set-aside, Freda notes a $200,000 contribution by the redeveloper to the town’s Sustainable Transportation Fund, the enhancement of the gateway into town, and the creation of jobs during the project.

“However, the redeveloper has identified certain costs associated with the project, including the provision of the affordable housing units, that are beyond those customarily confronted by a developer,” the memo continues. Herring Properties submitted the application for a tax exemption under the Tax Exemption Law from the municipality.

A public hearing for the ordinance is set for Thursday, December 19, at 7 p.m.

Another topic that has sparked some recent controversy is the removal of the informational kiosks on Nassau Street; one at Vandeventer Avenue and the other at Witherspoon Street. Councilwoman Michelle Pirone Lambros reported that the municipality is working on replacing them, and more details will be available in January or February.

“There will be something there,” she said. “There are some really good options. So wait, please, and we’ll get there.”

Councilman Leighton Newlin spoke briefly about a recent procurement disparity report by the State of New Jersey revealing that less than five percent of procurement spending goes to minority-owned and women-owned businesses, despite their significant presence in the marketplace.

“As we approach 2025, I want to put us all on notice that we must take a hard look at how we spend taxpayer money,” he said. “It’s not just a problem of disparity. It’s a violation of fairness and equity. I want us, in the coming year, to commit to being accountable to equitable spending. Because as I understand it, it is the law.”

During the public comment portion of the meeting, William Shields, president of the Princeton Fire Department’s Engine Company 1, urged Council to further explore its recently approved resolution to fund a study of the fire department’s headquarters at 363 Witherspoon Street. The study includes the possible consolidation of all elements of the fire department under one roof, which could affect the future use of the old firehouse on Chestnut Street.

The building currently fills several uses, including storage of two active fire police vehicles, a kitchen area used for Mercer County’s senior lunch program, and the storage of memorabilia including Currier & Ives prints, Shields said. The firehouse is also used regularly as a staging area for various events, and as a polling place, among other functions.

Shields, a past chief of the Princeton Fire Department, recommended that a committee made up of community members, as well as past and present firefighters, be formed to look toward the possible uses of the Chestnut Street firehouse, which has flex state capabilities.

“Chestnut Street has been home to a firehouse from the early 1800s to the present day,” Shields said. “To consider moving this property from the town rolls in an effort to acquire quick funds to address renovations [at 363 Witherspoon Street] could result in major regrets. Once the Chestnut Street firehouse is gone, it may be impossible to duplicate a location like this, in the center of town, without high cost to the community and the municipality of Princeton.”

Council approved an ordinance that removes a restriction related to outdoor dining, updating local regulations to align with state and county guidelines. Approval is expected from the New Jersey Department of Transportation, and the town wants to be prepared to issue permits once that approval comes in, said Princeton’s Assistant Municipal Engineer Jim Purcell.

Among other actions were a $1.5 million contract awarded to Earle Asphalt Company for the Cherry Hill Road bike path, and approval of a Memorandum of Understanding with Mercer County regarding the installation of school zone flash equipment on Rosedale Road for Johnson Park Elementary School.