Bayard Lane Subdivision Approved, Despite Stormwater Concerns From Princeton Planning Board Members.

Posted on July 27, 2022 by walkableprinceton
Revised layout of new 3-home subdivision off Bayard Lane. The rear yard of the unit on the left has a large bio-retention basin. The rear yards of the other two properties include an area of protected wetlands.

The Princeton Planning Board approved an application for a three-home subdivision off Bayard Lane (aka Route 206) at their meeting on July 7. The meeting was a continuation of a hearing that began in February, and represents the latest attempt to develop this site, after a 2016 plan for duplex homes was withdrawn amid widespread neighborhood opposition. Neighbors who spoke at the hearing in February were also concerned by the latest plan. The issue of stormwater was raised over and over again, with nearby residents fearful that new homes would bring flooding after heavy rains. 

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Momo Brothers Propose New Pizzeria, Apartments On Witherspoon Street in Princeton

Posted on June 22, 2022 by walkableprinceton
The site at 70-74 Witherspoon St, as it exists currently in 2022 (image via Google Streetview)

Raoul and Carlo Momo, Princeton residents, and owners of restaurants including ‘Teresa Caffe‘ and ‘Eno Terra‘, have submitted an application to the town to redevelop the building that houses their ‘Terra Momo Bread Company’ on Witherspoon Street (map). The new building would be highly environmentally-sustainable, and would provide a new sit-down restaurant and homes at a highly-walkable location in downtown Princeton, but the proposal has already drawn criticism from preservationists who object to redevelopment of the existing building.

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Posted in architecture, Density, Downtown Vibrancy, People, Placemaking, planning, Princeton, Sustainability | Tagged , , , | 2 Comments

Multiple Companies Are Interested In Operating Self-Driving Transit in Trenton

Posted on June 13, 2022 by walkableprinceton
Self-driving delivery vehicle operated by Motional / Uber

In late 2021, New Jersey Department of Transportation launched the ‘Trenton MOVES‘ program, which is intended to bring a “safe, equitable, affordable, sustainable, and efficient on-demand automated vehicle mobility systems in and beyond Trenton, NJ.” Simply put, the idea is to have a fleet of self-driving taxis or transit shuttles that would complement the existing NJ Transit bus network, and extend high-quality transportation options to a city where many households have no access to a car. But does the technology even exist to provide self-driving transit? And would any companies be interested in serving a small city like Trenton? With the deadine for “expressions of interest” now past, we now know the answer. Yes, lots of companies are interested, and think it’s possible to operate self-driving taxis in Trenton.

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New ‘Concept Plan’ Presented For Proposed Linden Lane Townhomes

Posted on May 12, 2022 by walkableprinceton
New design for proposed townhouse development at 39 Linden Lane, Princeton.

The would-be developer of a three-unit townhouse project at 39 Linden Lane has presented a new ‘concept plan’ to the Princeton Planning Board. The new concept comes after an earlier proposal raised several concerns from the Site Plan Review Advisory Board and Historic Preservation Office. The new design is intended to respond to these concerns, and provide improved management of stormwater.

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Princeton Planning Board Approves 125-unit ‘The Alice’ Apartment Development On Terhune Road

Posted on May 6, 2022 by walkableprinceton
Newly-approved apartment development at North Harrison St and Terhune Rd in Princeton

On Tuesday night, the Princeton Planning Board approved another key part of the town’s affordable housing plan, a 125-unit mixed-income apartment community at the intersection of North Harrison St and Terhune Road. The development includes a number of advanced ecological features, improved bike and walking amenities, and community benefits including a new playground and a public dog park.

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Posted in Alternative Transportation, architecture, Complete Streets, Density, People, Placemaking, Princeton, Real estate, Smart Growth, Sustainability, The Parking Question, Traffic, Walking | Tagged , , , , , , , | 7 Comments

Petition calls for Princeton U. to Donate ‘Butler Tract’ for Affordable Housing

Posted on April 26, 2022 by walkableprinceton
The ‘Butler Tract’ off South Harrison St in Princeton. One of the largest pieces of undeveloped land in central Princeton, it is currently being used as a temporary surface parking lot.

Seven years ago, Princeton University demolished graduate student accommodation at the ‘Butler Tract’, off South Harrison St (map). Since then, the large site has sat empty, with occasional use as a surface parking lot. A petition initiated recently by local resident Matt Mleczko aims to change that. The petition, which has been signed by over 100 people, calls on Princeton University to donate the land at the Butler Tract to a new ‘Community Land Trust‘, which would construct permanently-affordable housing on the site. This housing would be prioritized for Black residents, and for University staff who are struggling to afford housing. Mr. Mleczko has written two columns for ‘The Daily Princetonian’ (linked below), which further expand on his vision for the Butler Tract. We caught up with him to discuss the idea some more…

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To Address Flooding Concerns, Princeton Council Advances Study of New Stormwater Runoff Fee

Posted on April 22, 2022 by walkableprinceton
Flooding in Princeton after spring rainfall, April 8, 2022

Princeton Concil has awarded a contract to a consultancy firm to investigate whether the town should set up a ‘stormwater utility‘. If so, every local property owner would be required to pay a new fee, which would be dependent on the amount of stormwater runoff generated at their site. The revenues would fund local improvements to manage stormwater. The decision to fund the study was made after a short discussion at the end of the April 11 Council meeting.

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Princeton Council Rejects Another Bike Lane Proposal

Posted on April 15, 2022 by walkableprinceton
Council decided that this section of Witherspoon Street will not be getting any bike lanes.

At their meeting on Monday night, Princeton Council held a work session to identify final design alternatives for the ‘Witherspoon Street Phase II’ engineering project. This is a major engineering project for the part of the street between Green Street and Frankin Avenue, and the design selected is likely to define it for the coming decades. Advocates including former Princeton Borough Mayor Yina Moore had championed a bike lane on this section, which would improve the safety and comfort of cyclists, including the large population of low-income workers who live in the area around Witherspooon St. Based on staff recommendations, however, Council decided to reject the bike lane concept. Cyclists will instead have to share the road with car, bus, and truck traffic. The saga is a good illustration of why the town of Princeton keeps failing to install high-quality facilities for bike users.

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Posted in Alternative Transportation, Biking, Complete Streets, planning, Princeton, Sustainability, The Parking Question | Tagged , , | 4 Comments

Princeton Council Approves New Survey of Park Place Parking Lot, With A View To Redevelopment

Posted on March 31, 2022 by walkableprinceton
The Park Place parking lot, which will be the subject of an extensive survey funded by the town.

Parking has once again dominated Princeton Council’s agenda in 2022, with multiple meetings devoted to reviewing the findings of the ‘Permit Parking Task Force‘. Following substantial opposition, Council scaled back the original plan to expand resident permit parking, and, as discussed previously at walkableprinceton.com has rented parking at the former Westminster Choir College site for employee parking. However another Council action potentially affecting parking has seen little attention. At their meeting on Feb 14, Princeton Council awarded $38,470.00 to T&M Associates to prepare a detailed map of the surface parking lots between Nassau Street and Park Place. And at least one Council member sees it as a potential first step toward redevelopment of the site.

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NJ Transit Focuses On Two Options for Future Of Princeton ‘Dinky’ Rail Corridor

Posted on February 18, 2022 by walkableprinceton
Rendering of potential Princeton Dinky light rail / busway at proposed new Roszel Road Station under ‘Alternative 1’

A spokeswoman from NJ Transit announced on Thursday night that the agency has narrowed the field of potential options in its ‘Princeton Transitway’ study. The study aims to identify ways to improve transit along the Princeton ‘Dinky’ rail corridor. Whereas four potential options were being considered previously (see full story at walkableprinceton.com), NJ Transit is now focusing on ‘Alternative 1’ and ‘Alternative 4’.

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Posted in Alternative Transportation, Biking, planning, Princeton, Transit | Tagged , , , , , , | 3 Comments