Residents Have Misgivings About Ewing Street Walkway

Matthew Hersh

Township Committee allowed for numerous sidewalk repairs at last week's meeting, but one plan for a walkway on Ewing Street did not sit well with some residents.

The $43,500 construction plan, approved unanimously by Committee, allows for sidewalks on both sides of Ewing Street between Valley Road and Guyot Avenue. Some residents, however, turned out in opposition, saying a sidewalk was not necessary on that part of the roadway. They also worried that any subsequent road-widening would speed up traffic.

Speaking for her son, who owns a residence on Ewing Street, Julie Miller said that many neighbors did not want two sidewalks. "I haven't talked to anybody who wants sidewalks on both sides of the street," she said, adding that Ewing residents have been "forced" into coming to terms with the Township plan.

Ms. Miller also worried that the sidewalk installation would "deface" the properties affected by the plan.

Ewing Street resident Donna Pilenza said she would have rethought an -"extensive" addition to her home had she known sidewalks were going to abut the add-on. However, while she said she ultimately supported the sidewalks ("I have two young children"), she disagreed with the road-widening.

"I'm really against widening the road: parents are rushing to get their children to John Witherspoon School or Princeton High School," she said. "It's really dangerous."

Township Mayor Phyllis Marchand pointed out that a vote resulting from two meetings of residents on the street had concluded that they were in agreement on the current plan. Township Engineer Robert Kiser said that no large trees would have to be removed, although some shrubs would have to make way for the sidewalks.

Committee approved the measure, with the condition that the proposal could be amended in line with the concerns put forth by the residents.

Additional sidewalk installations approved by Committee include: a $25,000 plan for sidewalk installation/repair on Sycamore Road with 50 percent of the cost assessed to residents; a $35,000 plan for sidewalk installation/repair on the north side of Clearview Avenue between Grover Avenue and Harrison Street with 50 percent of the cost assessed to residents; and a $33,625 plan to install, repair, or replace sidewalks on Grover Avenue with 50 percent of the cost assessed to residents.

Finally, the Princeton Sewer Operating Committee (PSOC) was given the go-ahead for a $26,175 project to repair sewer laterals along Sycamore Road. Residents will be assessed for the entire cost. That plan is part of a six-year, $13 million project aiming to improve sewer laterals throughout the Township and Borough, said PSOC's Robert Hough.