Nassau Street Subdivision Slated For Final Planning Board Hearing

Matthew Hersh

A plan to build four homes on 1.42 acres of land behind a property at 302 Nassau Street will be addressed by the Princeton Regional Planning Board tomorrow evening at 7 p.m. at Township Hall.

The hearing is the extension of the February 3 session that was cut short due to the late hour. At that meeting, some public comment was heard, but several residents against the application were not recognized.

The development proposal is the project of the Barsky Brothers Holdings Corp., a developer whose principals, Igor and Roman Barsky, have designed and built several projects in Princeton Borough and Township. One notable recent completion of the developer is Barsky Homes, the condominium complex on Torrey Lane off Witherspoon Street in the Borough.

Calling the subdivision proposal for the property behind 302 Nassau Street "out of character" with the rest of the neighborhood, several residents from adjacent Queenston Place and Linden Lane worried that the ratio of house size to lot size was too large. Residents also worried that the four houses would crowd the property, preferring that, at most, two new homes be built on-site.

Residents specifically 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 are all around 4,500 square feet, but tend to be significantly larger than the surrounding homes on Queenston and Linden.

The Borough's R-3 zone, where the proposed subdivision would be built, allows single-family homes on lots with a minimum size of 7,200 square feet.

Steve Gubser, who spoke on behalf of residents opposed to the possible development, said the Barsky's plans suffered from "excessive density" and that the style of the homes are too "boxy," and would clash with the existing buildings.

Mr. Gubser also objected to the proposed road, Barsky Court, that would create access to the homes in the rear of the current structure. He did say, however, that he and his neighbors had anticipated some development on that land.

But architect David Minno, from the Lambertville-based firm Minno & Wasko, said he felt the Barskys' plan was in tune with the character of the neighborhood, known as Jugtown.

Tomorrow evening's hearing will include further testimonial from attorneys for both the developer and residents as well as public comment.