Stacked Parking Given Tentative Nod By Planning Board for In-town Garages

Matthew Hersh

The Princeton Regional Planning Board recommended an ordinance that, if approved by Princeton Borough Council, would facilitate "stacked" parking in downtown garages. The parking would be in the style of a typical New York City garage where a valet would ask how long the driver needs to be parked and then place the car accordingly. If approved, the ordinance would apply to both Palmer Square garages and the new municipal garage, and could be used to create designated stacked parking areas within those facilities, according to Councilman Andrew Koontz.

"The ordinance we drafted basically said that stacked parking is legal in Princeton; it doesn't describe what stacked parking is, and is very limited," he said.

The ordinance will now go back to Council where it can be introduced and subjected to further review by the planning board.

The draft ordinance was discussed three times by the Zoning Amendment Review Committee of the Princeton Regional Planning Board (ZARC). Those meetings included discussions on quality of life, on whether stacked parking should be included in all non-residential zones, and about the potential impact it may have on traffic circulation, according to Lee Solow, planning board director. He also said those discussions involved questions as to whether more development would occur if the ordinance created more parking. ZARC ultimately decided that it did not want to facilitate additional development.

ZARC has recommended a "go slow" approach, according to Mr. Solow.

Planning board member Marvin Reed, the former Borough mayor who helped establish an agreement with Palmer Square regarding the development of townhomes on Hulfish North, emphasized that the ordinance could free up parking without creating a loophole that would allow Palmer Square Management to expand their development plans.

"Palmer Square is already authorized for the 97 additional units to be built on Hulfish North and is also already authorized to expand the Nassau Inn and in both cases, [the planning board] determined that there is adequate parking capacity in the Palmer Square garages to handle the 97 units, the expansion of the inn, as well as additional parking from the Arts Council," he said.

Mr. Reed was referring to the planning board's approval of a resolution to accept the findings of fact for the Arts Council of Princeton's plans for expansion. An administrative action, the resolution effectively rubber stamps what was already unanimously approved on June 17.

"It may provide additional spaces, but [the ordinance] won't permit Palmer Square to do more than what has been authorized," Mr. Reed added.

If ultimately passed by Borough Council, the ordinance would expire at the end of 2009, whereupon it will be subjected to further review.