Category Archives: planning

Princeton Council Agrees To Fully Fund Future Sidewalks

Princeton Council has approved a change to how the town builds sidewalks. Up till now, half of the cost of constructing sidewalks has been charged to the owner of the abutting property. In future, the town will fund 100% of the cost of … Continue reading

Posted in Complete Streets, planning, Princeton, Sustainability, Walking | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment

Princeton To Redraft Housing Element; May Need Many More Affordable Homes

Shirley Bishop, an expert in affordable housing, advised Princeton Council last week that the town was not in imminent danger of a “builder’s remedy” law suit. She was speaking in light of a NJ Supreme Court ruling that gave the Superior Court … Continue reading

Posted in Affordability, planning, Zoning | Tagged , , | Leave a comment

TBT: When Princeton Nearly Said “No” To Michael Graves

This week has seen many tributes to local architect Michael Graves, who died last Thursday at the age of 80. An internationally recognized force in the post-modern architectural movement, Graves was a true legend. The local media are full of … Continue reading

Posted in architecture, Downtown Vibrancy, People, Placemaking, planning, Princeton, The Parking Question, Zoning | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment

Princeton-Area Municipalities Face Scramble To Prove Affordable Housing Compliance

In a historic ruling today, the New Jersey Supreme Court gave a unanimous judgement that the State’s key affordable housing task force, the Council on Affordable Housing, has become dysfunctional and is no longer fit for its purpose. The Supreme … Continue reading

Posted in Affordability, Local, planning, Princeton, Smart Growth, Zoning | Tagged , , , | 1 Comment

Princeton’s Affordable Housing Task Force Checks In

At Princeton Council last week, Council President Bernie Miller presented an interim report on the work of the ‘Affordable Housing Task Force’. This task force was set up in September 2014, as the town was considering whether to use two … Continue reading

Posted in Affordability, People, planning, Princeton | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment

Will Princeton Build Bike Lanes? And If So, Where?

An interesting debate is underway in Princeton about whether the town should add bike lanes. Around a dozen people showed up to Council in January to support the introduction of an ordinance to repurpose on-street parking for bike lanes on part … Continue reading

Posted in Alternative Transportation, Complete Streets, planning, Sustainability, The Parking Question | Tagged , , , , | 3 Comments

A Walkable Community At Hopewell’s Scotch Road Offers Many Advantages

In December, the Planning Board of Hopewell Township put off making a decision about a proposed amendment to the community Masterplan that would permit extensive development of the area on either side of Scotch Road, between I-95 and CR-546. The … Continue reading

Posted in Affordability, Alternative Transportation, Density, Downtown Vibrancy, Local, planning, Smart Growth, Sustainability, Traffic | Tagged , , | 20 Comments

Green Design In Princeton Means More Than Solar Panels

Recent debates over redevelopment in Princeton have focused on how ‘green’ new buildings might be. This is an appropriate question in a town that prides itself on being a sustainability leader in New Jersey. But what does ‘green’ look like? Recently, NRG … Continue reading

Posted in architecture, planning, Princeton, Sustainability, Zoning | Tagged , , , , , | 1 Comment

Some Thoughts On Zoning Reform On Witherspoon Street

Princeton Council is considering amending the zoning along Witherspoon Street, one of Princeton’s major thoroughfares, which runs from Nassau Hall in the south to Valley Road in the north. Almost every form of activity in Princeton happens on Witherspoon Street, and right now, … Continue reading

Posted in Affordability, Alternative Transportation, Community, Complete Streets, Density, Downtown Vibrancy, how-to-add-density, Local, Placemaking, planning, Princeton, Real estate, Smart Growth, The Parking Question, Zoning | Tagged , , , | 1 Comment

True Sustainability On Linden Lane In Princeton

Earlier this week, local architect Kirsten Thoft was awarded LEED-Platinum designation for her new home on Linden Lane. Linden Lane looks set to become the LEED capital of Princeton, because just up the street, another home is set to achieve … Continue reading

Posted in architecture, how-to-add-density, People, planning, Princeton, Real estate, Smart Growth, Sustainability | Tagged , | Leave a comment