Subdivision Plan for Nassau Street Receives Complaints From Neighbors

Matthew Hersh

A plan to subdivide a property behind a landmark building near Queenston Place on Nassau Street had neighbors arguing that the proposed development would impose "over-intense" usage of the land.

The residents, mainly from Queenston Place, but also including representatives from Linden Lane, appeared before the Princeton Regional Planning Board Thursday night under the umbrella of a neighborhood group to argue that the developer, Barsky Brothers, wants to build something that is "out of character" with the rest of the neighborhood.

The front of the examined property is at 302 Nassau Street, on the northern side of the street directly across from the corner of Princeton Avenue and wedged between a New Orleans-style three-tiered home and a home listed as a historic landmark.

The Barskys, who have built several homes in Princeton Borough and Township, including the new condominiums on Torrey Lane off Witherspoon Street, purchased the 1.42-acre property in December 2002 and hope to build a five-home subdivision that includes a restoration of the home that fronts the site. That building, built around 1830 and reportedly in "disrepair," was most recently used as a multi-resident dwelling.

In addition, there will be an access drive, Barsky Court, which will be an extension of the current horseshoe drive that currently fronts the site and that would also service the four lots in the rear.

Residents objected to the size of the proposed four lots in the rear, which range from 8,794 square feet to 10,837 square feet. The homes themselves hover around 4,500 square feet, notably larger than the neighboring homes on Queenston and Linden.

Steve Gubser, a Queenston Place resident who spoke on behalf of several neighbors in opposition, worried about the "excessive density" of the Barsky proposal, while pointing out that several of the surrounding residences lie on lots that are larger than the Barskys', but contain smaller homes. Mr. Gubser used his own 10,000 square-foot property as an example, saying that his own house, about a fifth of the square-footage of his lot, clashes with the Barsky homes, which are about half the size of their lots.

"The style of the [Barsky] houses is too boxy," Mr. Gubser said. "Most of us have less monolithic homes that are more varied.

"We certainly deplore the establishment of a new road in this historic district." Mr. Gubser added that he and most of his neighbors knew when they purchased their properties that this area would be subject to development at some point and that the neighborhood group would support a two-home subdivision.

Mr. Gubser and his neighbors also complained of potential landscaping detail in the proposal, as well as the removal of several large trees on the northern end of the site, near Quarry Park.

One factor that could hold up any development is the high lead level that contaminates the property. The site was home to a carriage painting factory in the early 19th century, according to planning board chair Wanda Gunning. The factory, which used lead paint, was largely destroyed in 1886.

The New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection is examining the site.