Morven Museum Master Plan Proposal Undergoes Scrutiny of Planning Board

Matthew Hersh

Historic Morven Museum and Gardens is getting prepped for what promises to be an extensive makeover, state officials said last week.

During a non-mandatory "courtesy review" presentation before the Regional Planning Board of Princeton Thursday, Morven officials outlined their goals for the construction of a new visitors center, administrative quarters, and the restoration of the carriage house, according to Morven attorney Christopher DeGrezia, of the West Windsor-based firm Drinker Biddle & Reath.

The Planning Board does not have jurisdiction over the state-owned, 4.5-acre plot at 55 Stockton Street. As such, Thursday's review was largely for the benefit of neighboring residents and to keep the Planning Board informed. However, under state law, even exempt applications need to undergo a review for comment.

The project, which will employ the design of noted architect Raphael Vignoly, is, according to Mr. DeGrezia, still in flux.

The most visible change will be the so-called "palladium" solution for the visitors center, according to Morven officials. An early conceptual view of that plan was introduced in May 2004 to the Princeton Task Force on Community Resources when Morven Executive Director Martha Wolf outlined some of the long-term goals for the museum, which, at the time, was getting ready to re-open its newly refurbished main house.

The visitors center, according to Ms. Wolf, could accommodate between 75 and 100 people and about six events a year. The center would also include an exhibition space.

In the Morven plan, the visitors center and administrative building would connect to Morven through enclosed glass walkways.

Teal Usher, a project manager for Raphael Vignoly Architects PC, outlined other elements of the Morven master plan that would "preserve and enhance" the museum's gardens and other historic landscape features, while creating a wooded area at the perimeter of the property.

"It's kind of a living fence," Ms. Usher said.

In addition to Stockton Street, the Morven property is abutted by Boudinot Street to the north and Library Place to the west.

A portion of the new gardens would impinge on the surface lot at the northwest section of the property. The parking situation has been analyzed, Ms. Usher said, and in the Morven plan, the area would be reconfigured, with the entry widened so that buses could turn around and unload guests.

Planning Board attorney Alan Porter recommended that Morven work with the Borough on parking solutions without necessarily increasing the parking area around the property.

Planning Board member Bill Enslin said additional parking should be avoided, noting that a plan to do so would likely provoke a municipal backlash.

"I would be surprised if the Historic Preservation people looked kindly on any sort of parking," he said, adding that other options should be explored.

Jane Faggen, vice chair of the Borough Historic Preservation Review Committee, asked Morven officials to include HPRC as the project moves forward. She criticized Morven for not having brought the concepts for the master plan to the municipality earlier.

"I think such a review would be helpful to the state and the Regional Planning Board," she said.

Laura Todd, of neighboring Boudinot Street, said she would "applaud" the visitors center, but wondered how high the structure would be. Ms. Usher said that detail was not addressed in drawing up a master plan.

Princeton Township Mayor Phyllis Marchand said she "liked" the idea of the glass walkways but was concerned about the placement of a modern structure in the historic area. Princeton Borough Mayor Joe O'Neill agreed, saying the "classical" façade of the mansion should be preserved as much as possible, and suggested placing the connectors behind the building.

While Mr. DeGrezia said Morven would be willing to continue working with the Planning Board and the Borough on the master plan, he was not able to establish a date as to when Morven officials would re-appear in front of the board, nor was he able to offer a starting date for construction, which would begin with the carriage house restoration.