Good evening and welcome. This is a regular meeting of the Princeton Planning Board on Thursday, February 5th, 2026. Pursuant to section 13 of the Open Public Meetings Act, adequate notice of the time and place of this meeting has been given by prominently posting the
resolution of regularly scheduled meetings of this planning board for February 2026 through January 2027. A copy was filed with the clerk of Princeton on January 14th, 2026. Legal notice on the adoption of said
resolution was published in the January 16, 2026 edition of the Princeton packet. Notice of this meeting also has been posted to the municipal website, Princetonj.gov/calendar. Notice that all regular and special meetings of the Princeton Planning Board
will be held electronically via Zoom was transmitted to the Princeton packet and the times and was filed with the clerk of Princeton on Tuesday, January 14, 2023, I think is the date was it is 2026 the updated new
date? I'm sorry, I'm reading the Okay, January 14, 2026. Please note that this meeting is being recorded during hearings on applications for development, which we don't have tonight. So, I'm going to skip that paragraph.
those. Um well, what we may take um uh comments if if people have them on the on the ordinances we're going to be um that have been referred by council to the planning board for master plan
consistency review. Um but these this is not the hearing for those ordinances. The hearing will take place uh before council uh at its next meeting, I believe. >> Excuse me, Madame Chair. I just noticed
Linda Schwimmer, our new member, is in the attendees. She should be brought over. >> I believe she might just be observing tonight because she only found out she was on the board about two hours ago. >> Okay. >> Yeah. So, she she may have a preference
Um, well, she's been brought over anyway. Hello, Linda Schwimmer and welcome. >> Welcome. >> Hi. Thank you. Nice to be here. I Yeah, I I just found out. So, that was great news. And uh but I didn't get a chance
to read anything, so I thought I would just observe for tonight and then start in uh >> some of us next. >> Some of us do that with from within the meetings. Lyn, you times are short. You probably haven't got Have you gotten the oath of
office and executed that? >> No, >> I don't think I've received I haven't received anything yet other than a nice uh welcome email from Justin. So, I'll Yes. >> Justin, you'll arrange for that? >> Yes, I will. Yeah. >> Yeah, that'll come probably from the clerk's office. You You'll probably get
it any day. And um um Yeah. So, we'll wait and and administer the oral oath of office uh once you've received the other one. Um or maybe you don't even need to wait for the other one actually because
I just got mine for a different commission a couple of days ago. Anyway, um would you prefer to stay in the in the panelist view here or would you rather be in the attendees
room so to speak or do you care? >> Yeah, it doesn't matter. Whatever works. Yeah. >> Um okay, great. I think that was the end the end of the opening statement. Um, when we do hear oral comments, they'll be taken in the order in which hands
were raised and we ask that people keep their comments to 3 minutes or less and a countdown clock will appear on the screen to help you keep track of time. Um, inappropriate public comment containing obscenity, hate speech, or relating to matters not before the board
will be muted. Justin, would you call the role, please? >> Yeah, I I think >> DAR I'm sorry. Uh it looked like Jerry wanted to say something. Uh was it about Miss Schwimmer's oath of office? >> Yes. And that I I think she should be an attendee at this point uh rather than a
member of the panel because she's not officially a member of the board yet because she hasn't taken the oath of office and been sworn in. >> Okay. See you soon, Linda. >> Thanks, Jerry. >> Yep. Yep. And madam chair, um I'll call
the role tonight. Um Deer is out sick. Oh, okay. Sorry to hear that. >> Uh, Mr. Bodakimer >> present. >> Councilman Cohen >> here. >> Mayor Freda. >> Mr. McGawan >> here.
>> Miss Na >> here. >> Mr. O'Donnell >> here. >> Miss Pearl Mutter >> here. >> Mr. Taylor >> here. Miss Wilson Anderson. >> Uh Claudia, you're on mute.
>> She might be frozen. >> Uh yes, I froze. I'm here. Okay. Okay. >> Thank you. And Chair Wilson >> here. >> You have a quorum. >> Okay. Um thank you. Are there any announcements tonight from staff or
board members? Okay. No, I don't believe so. None. Um, on to subcommittee reports. I believe we have none of those since no committees have committees were just appointed and none have met yet. Although I understand
the um site plan subcommittee has a meeting coming up maybe next week. No, week after next. >> That's correct. On the 19th there'll be a meeting to review a minor site plan application. >> Okay, great. Um, next we have four sets of minutes.
Um, three of them old, one of them recent. We are catching up. The first is from October 24th, 2024. Um, does anyone have any suggested edits or questions about those minutes? And if
not, would someone like to move them? >> Second. Moved by Councilman Cohen, seconded by >> I can second. >> Owen raised his hand. >> Oh. >> Oh, okay. Sorry, I didn't see that.
>> I had um Owen not in attendance at meeting. >> Okay. Seconded by Paula Vinuka. Um all in favor, please say I. >> I. >> Opposed. Okay. Next we have minutes from November
7, 2024. Any questions or edits? And if not, would someone like to move them? >> So moved. Second. >> Thanks, Mr. Bodenheimimer and Mr. McGawan. All in favor, please say I. >> I. >> I.
>> I. >> Any opposed? Okay. Next up, uh, the minutes of December 12, 2024, regular meeting. Questions, edits? >> I'll move.
>> Thanks, Mr. O'Donnell. And who would like to second? >> I can second again. >> Thanks, Miss Na. All in favor, please say I. >> I. >> Any opposed? Okay. And finally, uh, the minutes from
December 18th, 2025, edits, suggestions, motion. >> So moved. >> So moved. >> Okay. Second. >> Moved by Mr. McGow and seconded by Mr. Bodheimer. All in favor, please say I.
>> I. >> Opposed. Thank you. Next up, we have two ordinance referrals. Um the first is well Mr. Mueller do we need to speak to jurisdiction here uh at all for
ordinance referrals? Okay, thank you. Ordinance 2026-01, an ordinance of the municipality of Princeton amending chapter B17A entitled land use and zoning of the municipality of Princeton to create the
affordable housing district 10 AH10 in furtherance of the Fair Housing Act. Justin. >> Yes. Thank you, Madam Chair. Um just a little preamble before we get to these two ordinance referrals. Um, like the chair just stated, they are part of our
fourth round affordable housing plan. Uh, and this board will be reviewing fourth round ordinances tonight and for the next two meetings um as Princeton and and all towns in New Jersey with fourth round requirements um have a
March 15th deadline to adopt all ordinances to effectuate our fourth round housing plan element and fair share plan. So ultimately um uh these ordinances would be adopted by the board before that March 15th deadline uh for this meeting and the next two that
you're going to review. Um the fourth round housing plan element and fair share plan you may remember was adopted by this board um back in June into our master plan. Excuse me. The ordinances you will see tonight and over the next two meetings are for resonings and
overlay districts that allow for the realistic opportunity for the construction of affordable housing on the sites that are in the fourth round housing plan element from June. Um with all that being said, the board's task uh still is the same as it's always been um
when you are referred these ordinances. Um and that task is to re uh review the ordinances before you for consistency with the adopted master plan. Um turning to the first ordinance. Um I'm going to summarize the memo in your packet that
was written by Nathan Foot and myself, our assistant director, Nathan Foot. Um ordinance 20261 was introduced at council uh on January 27th and is scheduled for a public hearing next Monday uh February 9th. This ordinance establishes the
affordable housing district 10, AH10 on one lot at 245-247 Nassau Street. Um, and let me pull up the map that was included in your packet. Um, and this map is actually from appendix I
of the fourth round housing plan element and fair share plan. Um, so it's also on online in our fourth round plan. Um, to orient you to the site, J Cles is adjacent in this little cutout. Um, the site we're looking at is the one that's
highlighted in red here. Um, a Verizon building is to the west and a multif family apartment building is to the east. Um, and these are all in the service business uh, SB zone. Um there are a mix of uses across the street including food service businesses like
Hogi Haven and Pizza Den uh with residential apartments above in the neighborhood business zone. Um the IVN is is not technically across but um is across from the J Cles that's right next to the property. Um educational
buildings owned by Princeton University are located to the south in the E3 educational zone. I think that's generally the Equad buildings. Uh the lot to be re reszoned is currently in the service business zone of the former burrow. Uh it is also in the AHO1
affordable housing overlay from our third round of affordable housing. Um as are the adjacent properties I mentioned before in the SB and NB zone. U so that would stay that would not change based on this. Um the property currently con
uh contains two two-story professional office buildings with surface parking in front towards Nassau Street um to the side of the building and also to the rear of the building uh buildings covering most of the parcel. Uh so this reszoning uh to AH10 would allow for the
construction of a mixeduse and inclusionary uh residential building. It would permit up to 3,300 square feet of leasable commercial use on the ground floor and up to 95 multifamily residential apartments, which is
slightly higher than the 90 stated in the fourth round plan. At least 20% of the residential units are required to be designated as affordable housing with uh no less than 18 affordable units. Uh these would count towards our designated affordable
housing unit number required by the state in the fourth round. Uh some of the bulk standards uh in this resoning include a maximum height of five stories and 65 ft, a maximum impervious coverage of 90% uh.75
parking spaces required for each residential unit. And um there's specific signage allowed um that allows for four signs um a mix of monument and facade ones for the business, the apartment, and just the site overall. A concept plan was actually included in
appendix I of the fourth round plan uh immediately after what I just showed. It's sideways right now if you wanted to see it. um with Nassau Street being on the bottom. Um and the zoning is based on this concept plan again to uh create
that realistic opportunity for affordable housing as required by the fourth round. Um and this uh concept plan was included in your packets and is also publicly available on the municipal website in the packets and in the um
fourth round plan. Uh it is our opinion, Nathan and mine um that the ordinance is substantially consistent with the master plan. Uh this may not be a shock as uh it was included in the housing element like I stated earlier which is within
the the master plan. Um, however, we also noted that this resoning meets many of the other goals of the master plan. Um, such as the the general need for more housing in Princeton at lower price points and in a variety of types. So,
not just the trend that was identified in the master plan of uh a growing number or percentage of five and sixbedroom single family homes. Um it also meets a land use goal of the plan to enhance the existing pattern of land use and uh and mixeduse areas in town
like Nassau Street. Uh mobility goals uh include reducing inbound commuting by adding additional housing where jobs are located uh and encouraging a shift from single single occupancy car travel to other low or zero emissions options like
walking, biking, transit. Um, utility and natural resource conservation goals are also met by accommodating growth on an already developed parcel uh rather than in a green field somewhere out on the edge of town. Um, so that being said, uh, Madame Chair, thank you. Uh,
and I'm happy to take any questions that you or the board may have. >> Okay. Thanks, Justin. Questions from board members for Justin? Um, I just I I certainly agree that this is
substantially consistent with the master plan. And um, I do just want to point out something that jumped out at me that perhaps we can keep in mind as the plan for this site is refined. And uh, and
that is there are a lot of trees right along the edge of this. And I'm actually not sure from the aerials whether they're on this property or on the joining properties, but um you know I I hope that every effort can be made to to save um some of those because you know
that's that's also an important objective of the town and um something I know a lot of us share a commitment to. So um um any other thoughts that folks have?
Again, any questions for Justin? Um, I want to repeat there are um uh six people attending a as attendees um tonight. And while um this is not the
hearing on this ordinance, the hearing takes place before council. Um if anybody who is attending um wishes to speak uh ask questions or express your opinions uh you're welcome
to do so. Now is the time to raise your hand. I see um one person already has Chris Sturm. Can you bring Miss Durm over please? And then also uh after Miss Durm um Depali Desai
I um >> So even though this isn't a hearing, we'll we um we place everyone under oath. So Jerry, would you do the honors? >> You could raise your right hand if you could swear or affirm. Do you
swear or affirm the testimony about to give will be the truth? >> Yes. >> So swear and affirm. Thank you. Okay. Um, hello everyone and thank you for your service to Princeton. I'm Chris Sturm. I've lived in Princeton for about 26 years and I love it. Um, I'm also a
volunteer with Princeton Grows which is a small group um that is helping Princeton grow sustainably and inclusively and I think you'll also hear from Depali or um Depali Desai from the same organization. Um, I really
appreciated, Justin, your memo and your summary of why this is consistent with the master plan. Um, I I walked around and checked it out. I saw the trees. They're really important. There's one huge one, which might have to go, but um, I appreciate the planning board
prioritizing those. Um, for all the reasons that you stated, I think this is a great project. It's a great place. It would be a great place to live. I don't u understand site plans enough to know
if um if you will achieve the streetscape feeling with a little bit of openness between the sidewalk and the front door that the concept plan shows. You probably will. I just raised that as something that I think is something that is important and I'm I'm sure you all
know what you're doing. Um, and I I really I think the most important concept is that I'm delighted um speaking for myself and also for Princeton Grows that the planning board is moving forward in a timely fashion to approve these ordinances which are required by law to ensure that Princeton
is indeed um doing it playing its statutoryly required role to create the opportunity for affordable housing. >> So thank you. >> Thank you very much. Um can we bring over um Depali Desai now
please? Thanks again Chris. Depali, if you could um activate your camera and unmute yourself, that'd be great. And then Mr. O attorney will will swear you in. >> If you could raise your right hand. >> Do you swear or affirm the testimony
about to give will be the truth? >> Yes, I do. >> So affirmed. >> Okay. >> Thanks. Go right ahead. >> Thank you everyone. Uh I am also a resident of Princeton. I have been a resident of Princeton for about 10 years and I am a volunteer with Princeton
grows just like Chris. Uh I support everything she said uh and all and for all the reasons uh Justin gave. Uh the only thing I'd like to add is I also support this not only because it supports the master plan but also I
think it makes Princeton future ready. I have two children uh who are near adults and I would really like to see a town that serves future generations. So this is in accordance to that and I really do appreciate it and so thank you for your leadership.
>> Thank you. Thank you so much. Um any other members of the public wish to address the board? I'm seeing no other hands go up. So with that, I will um close the public comment
and invite any other uh comments or questions or a motion from a board member. The motion being I believe that we would find the ordinance to be um substantially consistent with
the master plan and maybe make a reference to um the the importance of uh to the extent possible um protecting the trees that are on the site and keeping in mind
the streetscape matter that Miss Sturm uh mentioned. Palvy, >> um I just had a quick question. I I think uh the memo from Justin um and Nathan mentioned that no landscaping buffer is required under this particular
zoning category. Um, and I just want to clarify, does that, while it's not required, um, is that something that's going to affect the streetscape as we were discussing as as well as, um, shade tree placement and things like that?
>> I'm happy to address that. Um, so we require a landscape buffer from parking lots, uh, generally when we talk about landscape buffers. Um, and this one because all the parking will be essentially within the building, uh, there's no requirement that they have to
do that sort of buffer. Um, there still are requirements for a rear yard buffer of 10 ft. Um, and, uh, I believe there's a small one in the front yard, too. So there will be some area where they could have green space um in
addition to on top of the roof or on a uh in the concept they show a second story uh kind of patio area too. Just to clarify, Justin, when you say a little bit in the front yard, you're talking between the front of the
building and Jay's Cycles >> because I don't think there's a requirement for a buffer on the street, right? >> That's correct. Yeah, there is a 5-ft buffer between J Cles and this one um at 0 foot uh for the other little area
that's uh uh in front of where we expect there to be a commercial space. >> Right. Okay. Thanks for that clarification. Uh other questions or comments? And if not, would someone like to
make a motion? >> So move Thank you, Freddy. And a second. >> A second. >> Thanks, Owen. Um,
and this um motion is is I described it with the with the uh um references uh to the trees and to the trees streetscape. Okay, great. Um thank you. Justin, would you call the role, please?
>> Certainly, Madam Chair. Uh Mr. Boddingheimer. >> Yes. >> Councilman Cohen. >> Yes. >> Mr. McGawan. >> Yes. >> Miss Na. >> Yes. >> Mr. O'Donnell. >> Yes.
>> Miss Pearlmutter. >> Yes. >> Mr. Taylor. >> Yes. >> Miss. Wilson Anderson. >> Yes. >> And Chair Wilson. >> Yes. >> Recommendation passes. >> Thank you.
Um, next up is ordinance 2026-02. This is an ordinance of the municipality of Princeton amending ordinance 2025-15 creating the affordable housing district
14 AH14 of chapter 10, excuse me, T10B entitled land use of the municipality of Princeton. Justin. >> Yep. Thank you, Madam Chair. Um, the next ordinance is slightly different, though it is related to our fourth round
plan. Um, ordinance 20262 was introduced at council on January 27th and is scheduled for a public hearing on Monday as well. It relates to the AH14 district at 29 Thanet Road. Uh, you may remember back in September that the board uh
reviewed this ordinance uh which allowed for up to 85 stacked townhouse units um uh in a new zone on that site. Uh the board found that ordinance to be substantially consistent with the master plan and the council approved it a few days later uh in September. Um while
crafting other ordinances, staff noticed that two of the legal sections at the end of that ordinance um do not really do what we want them to do. Um they actually kind of do the opposite. Um which is what's currently on the books. And I know we have at least three people
with law degrees on this board um plus Mr. Mueller. So, I'm going to strap in real quick for this one. Um, but uh the original language of the interpretation section of that uh original ordinance unintentionally stated that for any
conflicts between that ordinance and any other sections of our municipal code, the more restrictive uh requirement would apply. uh this ordinance, the proposed one in front of you would change that to say if the terms of this ordinance shall be in
conflict with those of another ordinance, the provision of this ordinance shall control. And the reason for this is we're crafting these ordinances to reflect what is in our fourth round plan as is required by the state um to allow for the realistic
opportunity for the construction of affordable housing. So we would not want there to be something more strict somewhere in our code that prevents what we are looking to to accomplish from happening. Um and uh this new language,
the one that would uh uh you would approve or the council would approve in this ordinance um was what was included in the interpretation section of the ordinance that you just reviewed and it will be included in all of the fourth
round ordinances uh you review for the next month. So, basically, we caught the issue in the first one out of the gate and we're correcting it um for that first one out of the gate, but then we're changing it for the next uh 11 or so. Um the second change that this
proposed ordinance makes is to repeal the repealer section of the ordinance that was approved in September. Um, as adopted, the repealer section states, "All ordinances or parts of ordinances inconsistent with this ordinance are
hereby repealed to the extent of such inconsistency only." Uh, so one way of thinking about this is thinking back to the last ordinance that we just discussed where I said that um the signage allowed was unique to that site. Uh, we want that to stand for itself in
that zone. uh we would not want there to be any concern that now suddenly we have to re uh repeal other se uh parts of our signage ordinance that is that applies throughout the town. So uh you know
where there was an inconsistency. So the the removal of this repealer section was also changed in that ordinance you just reviewed and will be reflected in the future ordinances. Um and Nathan and I feel that this this ordinance changing that ordinance uh is consistent with the
master plan. Um all of the reasons that the ordinance was found consistent in September for the 85 town homes um still apply as well as other master plan goals um such as removing barriers to additional uh res to adding residential
units and streamlining and just frankly making more sense of our code uh would apply. So once again, Madam Chair, uh thank you. I'm happy to take any questions if that got confusing. Um please say it and I'll try to explain it a different way, too.
>> I understood everything that you said. And also, I'm really glad that I don't have to explain it back to you or turn around and explain it to an intelligent eight-year-old, which is >> the standard I try to live by.
Um, are there questions for Justin from board members Paulie? >> Okay, hopefully this is a a quick question for that new section seven. Is that referring to all existing and prior
ordinances? I mean, what about ordinances that may be passed in the future? This >> you're going to correct it before they get introduced for the future one. So, the language is going to be the same. Okay. So, >> for these affordable housing ones,
>> exactly for these. >> Okay. So, you don't need the word prior in that sentence anywhere to refer to >> uh >> let me just double check. >> I mean, it's not going to conflict. If some point 20 years in the future, some
future planning board decides they need to do something, it's not going to impact it at all. >> That's correct. Yeah. >> Okay. That's all that's my question. >> Yeah. the the ordinance that we're modifying right now or the that created that it only created that one zone.
>> Okay. >> So, we're making that correction now and then the mistake's not going to be there in the future. >> Got it. >> Okay. >> Thanks, Miss Na. Any other questions
from board members or comments? Um, if any member of the public would like to address the board on this ordinance, um, now is the time to raise your hand virtually.
Okay, I'm not seeing any hands go up, so closing off the public comment and inviting any last thoughts um or questions about this um uh or a motion.
>> I mean, this is just essential cleanup and and the idea that you've adopted an ordinance, but if there's something else out there in the code which is more restrictive that governs you you you should you should not have adopted that provision in in the new
ordinance to begin with fix also inconsistency. Okay, if you have something out there that's more restrictive that governs but if you have something that's inconsistent with the ordinance the inconsistency um is eliminated be because that section of
the broader code is is eliminated. I mean they're two inconsistent with the with each other also. Um, yeah, none of it makes sense. So, this this is just >> Just don't ask who wrote this. >> Does the lawyer begin? >> We don't want to embarrass anybody
>> who would like to uh to move. >> I can make a motion or Yeah, Jack. after deep deep legal review. May May I move that we accept the
ordinance as >> Thank you, Mr. Taylor. And seconded by Miss Nukea, is that right? >> Okay. Um, thank you. Uh, Justin, would you call the role, please? >> Sure. And just to be clear, this would be uh finding the ordinance consistent
with the master plan and recommending approval. >> Yes. Yes. >> Okay, great. substantially consistent, right? >> Substantially consistent. Uh, Mr. Bodingheimer, >> yes. >> Councilman Cohen, >> yes. >> Mr. McGawan,
>> yes. >> Miss Na, >> yes. >> Mr. O'Donnell, >> yes. >> Miss Pearl Mutter, >> yes. >> Mr. Taylor, >> yes. >> Miss Wilson Anderson,
>> yes. and Chair Wilson. >> Yes. >> Recommendation carries. >> Well, thanks everyone. That is uh that's everything that's on the agenda and um we next meet on February 19th and um
the Olympics start tomorrow. >> Hooray. >> Uh Mr. Cohen, >> I move to adjourn. I need to get ready for the Olympics. >> Second. >> Second. Um, all in favor, please say
>> I. >> Thanks everyone. Um, appreciate it. Appreciate the uh the efficiency tonight and um see you in a couple of weeks if not before. And >> then Justin, I'll talk to you tomorrow. Right. >> Okay. Have a good night.
>> Good night. Good night. Good night. Hang on.