Housing Size Restrictions Receive Nod From Planning Board; 'McMansions' Targeted

The Planning Boad Recommends Restrictions Aimed to Prevent Visually Intrusive Buildings

Matthew Hersh

In an effort to preserve neighborhood character, the Princeton Regional Planning Board has recommended new rules that would prohibit residents from tearing down old properties to build larger homes on the same space.

These rules would require Borough zoning code changes, according to Board Planner Lee Solow. He added the new measures would develope standards to define and preserve "neighborhood character" in the Borough.

Borough Zoning Officer Frank Slimak said the measures, which are part of a proposed ordinance to be presented before Borough Council, would prevent "visually intrusive" buildings from sprouting up in neighborhoods.

The zoning recommendations were the result of studies conducted by the Princeton Borough and Township joint Zoning Amendment Review Committee.

The changes would set uniform building standards, density and intensity of property uses, and would require room for open space, and create a "streetscape," Mr. Solow said.

The restrictions, which address all four Borough residential zones, provide limitations to floor-area ratio, building height, front- and side-yard setback.

The Board planner added, however, that the restrictions are not intended to limit architectural styles, housing types, building additions, or growth. He stressed that the new zoning would not restrict property owners from demolishing and rebuilding on their own land.

The recommendations ask that the maximum size of a rebuilt property in the Borough's western residential section including Library Place, or R1 Zone, be reduced to 7,000 square feet from 15,000 square feet. The R2 zone, in the eastern part of the Borough, would be reduced to 3,600 square feet under the new regulations. The area currently permits a maximum 7,500 square-foot home to be built.

The Jugtown neighborhood, and parts of Alexander and Mercer Streets, or R3, would now be limited to 3,000 square feet for one-family homes and 2,000 square feet per unit for two-family homes. Current zoning mandates allow for a maximum 5,400 square-foot building.

The restrictions in the R4 zone, including parts of the John-Witherspoon neighborhood, would reduce housing size limits to 3,000 square feet for one-family homes, and 1,750 square feet for two-family homes from the current limit of 5,400 square feet.

The Board voted 10-0 to have the measure drafted as ordinance and appear before Borough Council.

"This is how you manage the trend of building too large – anticipate larger housing and prevent it," said Board member Marvin Reed.

However, Board member Phil Feig, while voting in favor of the measure, said the zoning restrictions need to undergo a "good healthy debate" before being passed into law. No public hearing date has been set for the proposed ordinance.