The council Princeton council meeting of May 11th, 2026. Madame clerk, can we have the notice the meeting statement, please? Notice of this meeting was provided in accordance with the requirements of the Open Public Meetings Act and state
regulations governing public meetings, including the time, date, and location of the meeting and clear and concise con instructions to the public for accessing the meeting and making comments. In addition, the agenda and all related materials were posted electronically and
made available to the public on Princeton's meeting portal in advance of the meeting. >> Thank you. Leticia, may we have the land acknowledgement, please? >> Sure. We gather today on the land of the Lenny Lab. As members of the Princeton
community, we aspire to show appreciation, respect, and concern for all peoples and our environment. We honor the Lape and other indigenous caretakers of these lands and waters. The elders who lived here before, the
indigenous today, and the generations to come. >> Mr. McDonald >> here, >> Mr. Cohen >> here, >> Miss Peron Lamrose >> here, >> Miss Saxs not here yet, Miss Frogga >> here,
>> Mr. Nuland >> here >> and Mayor Freda is absent. >> Thank you. Uh if you could please join us and stand if you can to uh the pledge of allegiance. >> Pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the
republic for which it stands. One nation under God, indivisible with liberty and justice for all. Okay, >> we have any announcements, council announcements or reports. Leighton,
>> just encouraging everyone uh wherever you are in Princeton and neighboring communities to do your best to shop and dine locally. Thank you. >> Thank you, Leon. Brian.
>> Uh, yes. I just wanted to offer thanks to the Shade Tree Commission after getting rained out on Porchfest. Um, they made an arrangement with the Princeton Farmers Market who were very generous in welcoming them to Hines
Plaza this past week and now all 200 seedlings have been distributed and will find good homes. >> Thank you for that, Darn It. I missed it. Any any staff reports, announcements?
>> No. Okay. So, we have a proclamation. David, thank you. This is a proclamation designating May 2026 as National Bike Month in Princeton.
Whereas National Bike Month was established in 1956 as an annual recognition of bicycling bicycling as a convenient, fun, popular, and healthy form of transportation in the United States. And whereas a lack of physical
activity plays a leading role in rising rates of obesity, diabetes, and other health problems, and being able to bicycle offers an opportunity to build activity into daily routine. And whereas bic bicycling is an integral
commute mode in the multimodal transportation network which alleviates traffic congestion, reduces air pollution and decreases fuel consumption. And whereas Princeton is committed to vision zero and complete streets by
actively working to build out its biking infrastructure to enable safer travel by people of all ages and abilities. And whereas Princeton's safe routes to school program encourages children to walk and bicycle to school to develop
lifelong skills and independence. And whereas the Princeton Police Department is hosting its annual wheels rodeo on May 16th, 2026 to educate and encourage young bicycle riders while promoting that bicycling is a fun,
healthy, and safe form of transportation. And whereas this commemoration shall provide an opportunity for students and residents in Princeton to walk and bicycle with a strong effort to promote and encourage healthy and active
lifestyles and create safe environmental conditions for students and residents to walk and bike to school and around town. Now therefore, I, David Cohen, on behalf of Mark Frereda, mayor of the municipality of Princeton, and the
council of Princeton, County of Mercer, state of New Jersey, do hereby proclaim and celebrate May 2026 as bike month and May 15, 2026 as bike to work day in Princeton, New Jersey, and urge all
residents and employees in Princeton to participate in walking and biking events and to consider the safety and health of bicyclists this day and every day given under Mark's hand and seal this 11th day of May 2026.
>> Thank you, David. So, now we have um two ordinance public hearings. So, anyone wishing um to comment on or ask a question about an ordinance listed uh that we're going to um list uh for public hearing, you may um speak uh
either in person or on Zoom. So um so we'll proceed forward with the first ordinance and that's ordinance 26-18 an ordinance of the municipality of Princeton pertaining to allowable business uses throughout the municipality and amending various
provisions of the code of bureau of Princeton, New Jersey 1968. Accordingly, we have a motion. Thank you, David. And a second. Um Brian has the second. Thank you. Um Justin, do you have a summary
for us, please? Thank you. >> Yes, I do. Thank you, Council President. Uh happy to speak on this ordinance. Um it came together collaboratively with Experience Princeton and a consultant they hired a few years back to look into allowable uses in our municipal zoning code. Uh this topic actually predates
Experience Princeton. Um and has been one that I've heard about basically since I started here in 2020. Uh and I'm sure before that as well. Once experience uh Princeton's work got underway, the municipality zoning code rewrite process started to be a reality,
too. So, the changes uh proposed in this ordinance um to uh uses allowed in certain business zones are probably more modest than some would like um you know, by doing something alternatively like completely changing the way we process or define certain business uh uses and
what's allowed. Um, but we as staff recommended holding off on making those major changes until the full code harmonization and modernization process takes shape over the next two years. Uh, with that preamble, I'll summarize what is actually being changed here to the allowable uses. Uh, in the packet that
was included alongside the ordinance online, you'll see two memos that summarize the ordinance in different ways. Uh, the first one I wrote prior to introduction and it shows the proposed allowable use changes by zone. Uh the second one was written by the assistant director of planner Nathan Foot uh and
myself uh and directed to the planning board. But that one shows the changes by categories of use. So kind of two different ways of looking at the same thing um because it is a lengthy ordinance. Um I'll take a little bit from each and summarize the changes this ordinance um would allow by category. Uh
first it calls out explicitly a category of crafting in certain zones near Nassau Street. I've been calling this Etsy like crafts. Um, as listed in the ordinance, these are things like home decoration, jewelry, flowers, and art uh work. Um,
next, the ordinance clarifies that certain uses are in, uh, fall within the existing list of permanent uses. Um, and these are things like spas, tutoring, uh, and gyms that you already see throughout town. Um, but it clarifies for the property owners and potential
business owners, um, with certainty that the use is allowed. Uh, and it's important to business owners, as we've heard, looking to come to Princeton, that the use is allowed and that they won't get a surprise, uh, after they've already poured time and money into opening a business here. Um, I would
imagine if they had to choose between Princeton and a town like Redbank or Somerville or Monontlair to open, uh, and they see uh, their use listed in another town, but not exactly in Princeton's code, um, they'll take the certainty of the other town and open up
there instead of here. Um, and we obviously don't want that. Um, next up, we also clarify that museums and similar cultural uses are permitted alongside theaters in the CB zone in the center of town. Uh, and then after that, the ordinance would modify where medical and
dental offices in certain zones are allowed, uh, with certain limitations like being associated with a retail component. Allah Warby Parker uh which sells eyeglasses and also has eye doctors on staff. The office use uh to prescribe them. Uh but that use
specifically required a use variance a few years back at the zoning board. Um similarly, this ordinance extends where office uses on the first floor in the SB zone uh on the east end of Nassau Street uh where they are currently prohibited on the first floor. Um however they
can't occupy more than onethird of the floor space where existing uses would be expected to remain. Uh the ordinance also clarifies that offices for research and development in science and technology uh are allowed in certain zones with certain size limitations like that they can only be on upper floors in
the CB zone. And this is to build off of some of the smart people associated with the university and just generally in town uh that want to do this work in town um while also not sacrificing first floor spaces that uh might be more conducive to other active uses.
Uh lastly, in the professional office retail district across from the Princeton shopping center on one site and at the corner of Franklin and North Harrison streets, uh we expand the permitted uses to include barber shops, beauty polars, tutoring, fitness instruction, and the like. Um in
addition to the professional and medical offices that are currently allowed. Uh and this is something that we as staff had heard from property owners uh there about trouble filling these spaces um with just the professional and medical offices um particularly since the hospital left town about 15 years ago.
Uh the planning board reviewed this ordinance for master plan consistency last Thursday night. uh they found it to be substantially consistent with the master plan and as you see in the memo from Nathan and myself uh staff noted several goals in the land use and economic development elements of the master plan that supported this
ordinance. Uh I'm happy to go into more detail if you'd like, council president, or answer any questions that you and your colleagues might have. Thanks. >> Thank you, Justin. Um questions, comments? Anyone? Leighton, please.
Thank Thank you, Madame President. Yeah, you know, I I thought about this, you know, as as I read through it over the past week or so, and and I'm I'm still in favor that
we we need to address uh some issues with regard to businesses and zoning in Princeton. But I would be remiss if I didn't say there are a few things about this that uh
sort of concern me because we lean into uh uh tutoring medical facilities, doctors, and dentists in places that we
really don't have them now. And I'm just wondering if over time this doesn't have an impact on our central business district and on what Princeton looks and feels like when people come here.
Um, you know, I think the ordinance expands many high turnover or appointmentbased uses, but but there's relatively little discussion in the ordinance itself about parking demand, delivery demand, curb
management, ride share activity, bike share infrastructure, or pedestrian loading conflicts. And that's not and I'm still in favor of. But what I'm also saying is that I think that Princeton itself needs to really make a decision on what type of downtown
that we want. Is it civic oriented? Is it is it for the people here in Princeton? Is it is it going to be geared for the elite and for the people that have much much money to spend when they come here?
You know, it it has some amenities here like arts and humanities and boutique stuff, but it's also a real lean, let's be clear, into the medical offices, uh, tutorial services, educationalbench
services. But the good news is we're going to do our zoning in two years anyway. So whatever we do here today, we can take a look at. But I think that you know what we see two years from now is
one thing. What we could see with this and even though you know J Justin made a good uh commentary about you know like this doesn't go far enough. Okay. So my point is
I would like to have the community at some point weigh in on what we the people in Princeton want our downtown to be cuz I don't think that we've done that great of a job at asking that question. I mean that's all I'm
saying. Thank you. >> Thank you Leighton. Uh before I open up, are there any other questions or comments? Go ahead, Brian. >> Uh, yeah, I just wanted to say that I know that this has been a lot of work.
Um, that experience Princeton has focused a lot of time, energy, and attention on doing this. Um, so has our code review committee, and I appreciate that the planning board also um carefully reviewed this. I definitely
support this. uh think it's uh maybe the beginning of the uh code harmonization if that's what we still call it and appreciate everybody's work. >> Thank you Brian. Anyone else?
Go ahead. M ditto. Um, okay. Before I open it up, I just want to thank uh Justin and uh Derek and now Taylor and the staff, Nathan, everyone for working on this um working collaboratively with Experience
Princeton and um I I know that they have some comments. Um but I just want to address what Leighton had to say as well and just say this is the beginning. This is a step in the right direction. um couldn't agree more that we need more input um more you know stakeholder input
and um and and and more planning uh but this has been um you know a big undertaking and I think a learning experience so I thank you all for for helping and and David and me as well and the code committee um so if no other comments or questions I'm going to open
it up to the general public um so if you want to come forward to the podium uh state your name and um and where you're from. Thank you. >> Hi, my name is Bill Hair and I'm um live over on Jefferson Road. I'm the the chair of the economic development team
of Experience Princeton and I'd like to give you a brief overview, not the whole thing of the process we followed to get to the point we are on the allowable uses ordinance. Over the past two plus years, the ED team has worked to understand the issues that prevent
businesses from opening in Princeton. Uh our committees and has changed over the last few years and includes or has included uh Lori Raven, Jamie Herring, Marina Rabbina, Josh Cinder, Gregory Peek, Michelle Pron Lambo, Caleb Ferin, Helena May, and Andrew Seagull.
And this listing includes residents, business owners, architects, property owners, property developers, property managers, an elected official, and our executive director, Robin Leitis over here. We consulted with residents, business owners, property owners, and
real estate professionals, and identified the need to update and clarify the allowable uses ordinance. We heard from these groups that businesses interested in opening in Princeton need clarity on whether their proposed use would need to go through the variance process. We heard that too often
businesses were unsure and rather than have an extended period of uncertainty, they decide to open elsewhere. After consulting with these groups, we developed a wish list of allowable uses that if added would make a difference. At this point, we retain BFJ Associates,
a well-known and respected planning firm that works regionally and in Princeton to help us identify and improve our wish list. BFJ consulted with us, the staff, and elected officials to evolve that wish list into the proposed ordinance
you have today. Our team and BFJ worked with the planning and zoning professionals to get their input and perspectives. Our team and BFJ also consulted with the code harmonization committee to ensure we had input from both the professional staff and elected officials. Based on more than two years
in this process, we we believe this ordinance will make a difference and are excited to see it passed. For residents of Princeton, we should see fewer empty storefronts throughout Princeton because it will be easier to get a new business to open. If
a resident decides to open a business in Princeton, the time and costs between deciding to open and actually opening should be reduced. Finally, going through the process over the past two to three years, we've learned how to better work with the town staff and elected
officials. So, while this ordinance will make a positive difference going forward, we now better understand the process for updating the allowable uses and believe this will reduce the time and cost needed to update the allowable uses in the future as needs evolve. And
council person, to your point, the economic development committee could use more people like you. So, if you're interested, talk to Robin and me and we'd be happy to have your input. >> Thank you. Thank you, sir.
>> I have a frog in my throat and on the loop, but um Robin Leitis, uh director of um Experience Princeton, I second everything that Bill just laid out and
that was really well done. Uh, you know, we really support a healthy mix and that is what every great town has. Um, a healthy mix where everyone finds what they're looking for and uh, you know,
feels feels welcome. And I think we have a great start here. I think we have a lot of work to do and a lot of conversations to have. But I like your perspective of letting this settle for two years and uh then having a better
opportunity to have more conversations and really meet with uh people in all of our business districts that are part of the special improvement district and find out what what assets each one of our business districts have and how we
come up create a healthy mix and a dialogue between different areas. So, so thank you. We we absolutely support this and we really appreciate your fine work and everyone's input on this process. Thank you.
I think there was a hand up online if there's no one else in person, which I don't think there is. Um, Adam, can you bring u Micah firing over please? Thank you. Hello,
>> we can hear you. >> Okay, surprise. It's actually Caleb firing. Common misconception. We are not the same person, but close. Good evening everybody. My name is Caleb Firing. I live at 463 Jefferson Road. And I, like
others who have spoken tonight from the public, support this ordinance. As someone who grew up and continues to live and work here as a member of Experience Princeton, I have witnessed wonderful small businesses ranging from hat makers to art galleries be turned
away from our town because they are not allowed usage. Princeton zoning code should make it easier for small local creative businesses to open, not harder because they do not fit into outdated categories. As Vincent Van Go said,
"Great things are done by a series of small things brought together." And that is what makes a place like Princeton special, a mix of uses, service, and studio, shops, and people on the street. This ordinance is a modest but important
step toward a more diverse, lively, and walkable system. Thank you everybody. >> Thank you, Caleb. Not Micah. And I think uh we had Aubrey Haynes next. Go ahead, Aubrey.
>> Hello everybody. Uh thank you for u listening. I just wanted to say thank you very much to the professionals at uh Princeton uh Deanna and Jim and Justin. They've been terrific to work with. And I think that the most important element
of this um ordinance is that it is a beginning. Uh we we've worked long and hard to try to create something that was beneficial for all the members of the community, not just the business community, but also for the residents to have a greater variety of uh successful
businesses in town, paying more taxes uh and to support the finances of the town. And I think the the key is that um the business community and the residents um can work together uh through the representatives in government and
through the um the folks that work in the town to work together to try to create something where we have uh a more successful business environment. There are a lot of uh times where there are um rules and rags that cause a business to not be able to open as quickly as it
might otherwise. And without really much benefit to the town, by removing some of those rules and rags that allow a business to get open sooner, um it it it can cost tens of thousands of dollars less to that business. and um and it
makes it more possible for smaller and minority owned businesses to open uh because Prince is an expensive town to operate in and um and we all want uh diversity of businesses and uh successful diversity of businesses. I
think especially the the Etsy oriented businesses um uh that that might operate on a more of a shoestring budget uh are now more able to to get up and running because they don't have to go through a variance process. So, I want to thank
everybody who was involved in this and I look forward to more successful uh collaboration between the experienced Princeton and the um and the folks that that uh work in the town uh over the next several months and years as we look
to improve upon this and add to it. So, thank you very much. >> Thank you. I don't think there's anyone else with their hand up, but just give it a second. Okay, I don't see any other hands up, so
we'll close the public hearing and go to roll call. Oh, one more comment. Go ahead. >> Sorry. Yeah, I just wanted to make one more comment that was suggested by some of the public comment and uh as chair of the code review committee. Uh I want to
really thank Experience Princeton for hiring such a great consultant to work with us. uh BFJ were super professional and they did a ton of work. Uh I know there was a sense that some of that work um didn't get
implemented at this time, but I tried to send the message all along it was not wasted work because we have this ongoing reasonzoning effort going on. And I think some of their work product was just too too heavy a lift at this moment
in time, but it's going to um really help inform what we do going forward. So, thanks to Experience Princeton, >> David. Okay. >> Mr. McDonald, >> yes. >> Mr. Cohen, >> yes.
>> Miss Saxs, >> yes. >> Miss Frogga, >> yes. >> Mr. Nulan, >> yes. Thank you. Okay. The next ordinance hearing is 26-9, an ordinance of the municipality of Princeton authorizing the conveyance of
a term deed of con conservation easement to the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection in connection with the Community Park North reforestation project. Do we have a motion from Brian? A second from Mia.
Any questions, comments? Um, do we want to do a summary of a little bit of background on this, please? Thank you. >> Yes. Thank you, council president. This ordinance, if adopted, would authorize the conveyance of a term deed of
conservation restriction to the new New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection in connection with Princeton's reforestation project at Community Park North. The purpose of the conservation restriction is to ensure
the preservation, protection, repair, maintenance, and monitoring of the grant project area for a set term and to further ensure the viability and receipt of the full environmental benefit of the
project. If approved, the full terms, conditions, and requirements of the deed restriction would be in effect for a period of five years from the date of completion of the project, which is anticipated to be October 2027,
and no development would be allowed within the project area until 2050. Community Park North is already encumbered under the Green Acres program and the restrictions listed in the deed restriction will not result in any
change to the public's use of the public property. >> Thank you. Questions, comments? >> Brian? >> Uh, yes. This is a really great project that's going to result in significant reforestation
of uh areas that have been um seen seen tree loss and have been overwhelmed with invasive species. Um, it's one of many strategies that need to be employed to attempt to achieve our 5-year goal of
restoring the tree canopy from 59% to 65% as outlined in the community forestry management plan. And uh, this is a really really good project. >> Thank you. Any other comments,
questions? Just want to also say in addition to the forestry, it's good for the birds and the animals. So it's not just for the you know forestry. Everything benefits from this. >> Yeah. Thank you.
>> Okay. I'll open up any public questions. Any I don't see any hands up. All right. We'll close the public comment section and go to roll call vote, please. >> Mr. McDonald? >> Yes. >> Mr. Cohen? Yes, >> Miss Saxs. >> Yes,
>> Miss Frogga. >> Yes, >> Mr. Nulan. >> Yes. >> Okay. The first resolution is R26-143, resolution of the Maring Council of Princeton authorizing release of a performance guarantee in the amount of 100,6,898
to 166 to 168 John Street LLC for the 166 to 168 John Street Major site plan development block 45-01, lot 101. Do I have a motion? Leighton and David has a second. Any
questions, comments? >> Okay. All in favor? >> I >> Thank you. The next resolution is R26-144 resolution of the mayor and council of Princeton approving the 2026 through
2028 collective bargaining agreement with Princeton firefighters mutual bene benevolent association local number 72 FMA local 72. Do I have a motion?
Uh, Leighton and Leticia has a second. Any questions or comments? All in favor? >> I >> I. >> Thank you. And the next resolution is R26-1414
455 resolution of the Marin Council of Princeton authorizing the award of a contract to SHI for the annual Barracuda backup server and web security gateway appliances subscription for $73,132.80 utilizing the New Jersey Cooperative
Purchasing Alliance contract number CO424-38. Do I have a motion, David, and a second? Brian, any questions or comments? >> Okay. All in favor? >> I.
>> Thank you. Next resolution is R26-146 resolution of the Mar and Council of Princeton authorizing an increase of $16,000 to the not to exceed amount for the professional services agreement with
preservation design partnership LLC for continuation of services in furtherance of design guidelines for historic districts for a new not to exceed amount of $115,584. $4. Do we have a motion, David? And a
second, Leighton. Thank you. Any questions, David? >> Not a question, but I just want to again praise um Dominique and the um profession the um sorry, pre preservation design partnership. They
have really gone above and beyond the call of duty working. I've been on the committee working with them and um you know I would have approved a change order for twice this much without blinking based on how much work they've done. So um thanks to them and I hope
everybody supports it. >> Thank you David. Any other questions or comments? >> Just want to second what David just said. It's been a fantastic experience working on design guidelines you know for the historic districts. you know, all 20 or 21 of them in Princeton. It
has been extraordinary. And again, under any circumstances, we would be happy to approve this amount. So, um, job well done. Thanks to the design department and to, um, Deanna and her group for helping us with all this. Thanks, David. >> Thank you.
>> Hi. Um, all in favor? >> I >> I thank you. The next resolution R26-147 resolution of the Maring Council of Princeton accepting donation of cleaning services for the Princeton Wars Memorial
from the Garden Club of Princeton. Do we have a motion? >> David in a second. Leighton. Uh any questions or comments? Go ahead, Brian. Uh, you know, it's always uh
great to be able to thank people and um, you know, we're very grateful uh for the donation um, and for what it will mean to, you know, get the the memorial uh, you know, in tip-top shape. So, thank
you to the Garden Club of Princeton. >> Thank you. And I believe we have someone here. Uh, there's no other questions or comments here. um if you'd like to come forward and speak. Thank you.
>> Thank you. I'm Jillian Shock Reer, the president of the Garden Club of Princeton. Um we the the Garden Club of Princeton has been involved with the memorial, I think, since it was founded, and we're honored to continue that um
partnership and to um support the cleaning. Thank you. Thank you so much. >> Thank you. >> Okay. All in favor? >> I I >> Thank you. Okay. Last resolution, uh, R26-148,
resolution of the mayor and council, Prince Princeton, adopting the municipal emergency management basic plan. Uh, do I have a motion, Brian? And a second, Mia. Um, is there any questions,
comments? Okay. All in favor? >> I I >> Thank you. Next is the consent agenda. And if there's no uh changes, if anyone would like to move the consent agenda in its entirety,
>> do I have a motion? David? And Brian has a second. All in favor? >> I. >> Okay. Now, it's time for public comments for items not on the agenda. Uh if there's anyone here in the room that would like to come forward and speak can
come to the podium or I don't see anyone. Um so if anyone online would like to speak and I don't see anyone there either. So we'll close public comments and um David, do you have a motion for us? >> Yes, I move to adjourn.
>> Thank you. And do we have a second? >> Leighton. All in favor? >> I >> I thank you. All right.