University Can Proceed Cautiously With Expansion Plans, Says Borough

Candace Braun

Princeton University appeared before Borough Council last week to discuss the possibility of doubling from 100,000 to 200,000 square feet the amount of land it is now able to use for development expansion in the area surrounding the Engineering School on Olden Street.

Robert Durkee, the University's vice president and secretary, was told to proceed cautiously with plans for expansion by Borough Mayor Joe O'Neill, who added that an ongoing dialog would need to take place before anything was officially approved.

Emphasizing the University's desire to stay pedestrian friendly, Mr. Durkee told Council that the development expansion would help the school reach its ultimate goal of having all of its main buildings on the main campus.

"We want to grow and change over time in ways that sustain the community," he said. "We have a terrific engineering facility...but it needs to grow on this side of [Lake Carnegie]."

The University was scheduled to go before the Borough Zoning Board in December with a proposal to build a 27,071 square foot engineering building at the northwest corner of Olden and William streets, but the appointment was rescheduled for March. The application proposed tearing down two former student houses on Olden Street to construct a new building, which would have fallen outside the Borough's E-3 zoning district.

Mr. Durkee came before Council on Tuesday, February 1, to ask if the Borough would consider changing the development rights of areas east of Olden Street, between William Street and Murray Place. He said the University would withdraw its application to the zoning board if the Borough showed sufficient interest in approving the expansion.

The University has currently used 95,000 square feet of the allotted 100,000 square feet it has available in the E-3 zone. Along with asking for an additional 100,000 square feet for development in the E Quad, Mr. Durkee also asked that the Borough consider changing the setback line of Murray Place properties from 250 feet to 150 feet.

Councilman David Goldfarb said he was against additional development on Olden Street, as traffic patterns on the road already make it a dangerous area for pedestrians.

"By adding more development there, you're making the situation worse," he said, adding that he didn't anticipate Murray Place residents accepting a change in their property lines, as they were opposed to the idea in 1990 when the E-3 zone was first created.

Councilman Roger Martindell said he would like to see the University make a formal, long-term financial agreement with the Borough before Council proceeds with the expansion conversation. The University's donations toward the Borough's 2005 budget is an estimated $819,000.

"I think we've been very responsive...and we will continue to have those conversations," said Mr. Durkee.

Mr. Goldfarb said he felt a conversation on the University's contributions to the Borough could parallel one on expansion, rather than precede it.

Both Mr. Martindell and Mr. Goldfarb told the University that they see this as an ongoing conversation that could take up to six months to resolve completely. Council added, however, that it is open to negotiations.