Comments on: Princeton residents push back against draft master plan

By: Karen O

Karen O — Tue, 21 Nov 2023 21:02:47 +0000

This plan adoption needs to slow down, be taken seriously and brought to a public vote. Why were we given only 10 days to review it (and now, our collective comments about it told to be ignored)? Why was every meeting ‘more listening’ with no current status being given? The planning board says that the master plan is just a guide but we know it has far reaching impact and, as it recommends, WILL result in up-zoning throughout town. The town could be sued if they don’t create ordinances that are in alignment with it. We already have the ability to create ADUs, adding a second residence on many properties; let’s see how that plays out before throwing out all the zoning in town. Developers love this plan because they will profit from it, leading to tearing down homes and our beloved trees, and creating a lot more density. As a developer said in the meeting “If you are against more density this is not the master plan for you.” Let’s heed his words. Please attend (on Zoom) the planning board meeting on 11/30 and sign the petition on Change.org: Demand a Pause and Public Inclusion in Princeton’s Upzoning Plan

By: Jo Butler

Jo Butler — Tue, 21 Nov 2023 12:56:23 +0000

Olivia uses an interesting word in her comment of 11/13: experiment. Is there an example of a town that has zoned for “gentle infill” that is similar to Princeton in terms of population, existing public transportation, and economic vibrancy? We don’t have a vacant Lord & Taylor or huge surface parking lot in our CBD. We don’t have blighted neighborhoods or even blighted buildings/lots. Almost all “gentle infill” will be achieved through teardowns, a change in zoning to add multi-family apartments, or lifting height restrictions. It won’t be gentle at all. The goal seems to be to roll back any price appreciation in housing in the last 5 years? 10 years? That will be crushing to families who have invested in Princeton more recently, but oh well, someone had to top tick the market. But if it doesn’t reduce prices, if we need more school$, if population doesn’t create public transportation, or people won’t use it (See ridership in NYC), then what? We were told that the plan isn’t up-zoning, but if the experiment fails, what is the plan to correct course? Can we legally down-zone? And will we have elected officials with the courage to do it?

By: Olivia

Olivia — Sun, 19 Nov 2023 22:47:28 +0000

There is a petition out calling for the town to slow down approval of the new Master Plan, now that people have actually had the chance to see it:

https://www.change.org/p/demand-a-pause-and-public-inclusion-in-princeton-s-upzoning-plan

It’s good that the town had the listening sessions last month. But this is the first opportunity the public has actually had to see the massive 270-page draft – so it only makes sense that proper time is taken to receive and integrate real feedback from the community, not just cosmetic or minor tweaks.

Residents at the listening sessions I attended seemed a lot more concerned about schools, congestion, traffic, safe walking/biking, historic preservation, taxes, green/open space, and saving our tree canopy than they did about rezoning our neighborhoods.

The Master Plan is a legal document and is “our community’s blueprint for the future”… We have already waited many years for this update and will live with its contents for the decade to come, so shouldn’t we take the time to get it right and have it reflect our collective feedback?

By: LongTerm Princeton

LongTerm Princeton — Sat, 18 Nov 2023 16:28:27 +0000

I attended the Princeton Futures event at the library.

1. Borough residents want open space. They were told to go to the Emerald Ring. This is wrong. There should be open space THROUGHOUT our town.
2. A participant stated that we don’t have a housing crisis, but an economic crisis. This is true. There are many 2-3 bedroom homes in Princeton. Large McMansions are driving up property values making it difficult to afford these small houses.
3. Many people raised the need for a car in Princeton. The repeated response was that this plan reduces the need for a car, primarily by reducing parking. It doesn’t. We don’t have a viable public transit alternative. We can’t all walk everywhere though planners assume people will. Carrying groceries? Transporting children? And the elderly or less mobile … are they forgotten?
4. “What’s the rush?” Asked multiple times. “Why not a vote?” Asked multiple times. Democracy is precious. Put this to a vote!
5. People’s comments indicated a fear of growth; they attacked tear-downs and rapacious developers. They concluded that this plan will not deliver affordability. They said developers would maximize profit, not unreasonable under capitalism.
6. These participants, including those with knowledge of planning and real estate, offered negative comments regarding the master plan.

The event is being recorded so you can watch and make your own judgment. Please be an active participant in the future of Princeton. Your voice matters.

By: The Rev. McGillicuddy

The Rev. McGillicuddy — Fri, 17 Nov 2023 17:46:01 +0000

In reply to JGibson.

As anyone who was here when that horrific Burger King was on Nassau Street can attest…

I can’t decide if the poster above is serious.

By: Jenny Crumiller

Jenny Crumiller — Wed, 15 Nov 2023 20:51:32 +0000

If encouraging more market-rate housing is a moral imperative, then the outer areas should lose their exclusionary zoning (one acre and even higher) just as the inner neighborhoods would under the draft plan. Developers would jump at the opportunity to build out there. Yet the proposal preserves those areas — and only those areas — as “Greenway Neighborhoods,” which protect the economic benefits to the property owners but does little else for the environment or the community.

By: Take action NOW

Take action NOW — Wed, 15 Nov 2023 12:21:58 +0000

Everyone concerned above – Please, Please write to Town Topics, this publication, the Council, and others, show up at the 11/30 mtg…we need action as well as comments or this will go right through!

By: LongTerm Princeton

LongTerm Princeton — Tue, 14 Nov 2023 16:03:34 +0000

A Tale of Two Princetons. A ring of green filled with $2.5 million McMansions encircling a congested core of 4 units on small lots. That will highlight the “missing middle”.

Let’s open the western and former township neighborhoods to infill. Their greater acreage and less trafficked streets will soften the blow of the increased density. The whole town should contribute to this transformation.

But before any new development this master plan should be put to a referendum. Let democracy work. We are all invested in Princeton’s future.

I live in a neighborhood of small houses on small lots that is as close to the “middle” as you can get in Princeton. Our property taxes have soared. As long as these tax rates rise at these levels there is no hope for affordable housing. The infill in my neighborhood will increase property values, accelerate the rise in property taxes, and move people out of the very middle this draft purports to encourage.

We need to encourage smart development. This plan is not the answer