Good evening and welcome. This is a special meeting of the Princeton Planning Board on October 16, 2025. Pursuant to section 13 of the Open Public Meetings Act, adequate notice of the time and place of this special meeting was given by filing a copy with
the clerk of Princeton on October 1st, 2025. 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 elect electronically via
Zoom was transmitted to the Princeton packet and the Times and was filed with the clerk of Princeton on Tuesday, January 17, 2023. Please note that this meeting is being recorded. During hearings on applications for development, members of the public will
have an opportunity to comment and ask questions. Public comment is heard by the board after an applicant's representatives have finished their presentations and have been questioned by planning board members and staff. Those wishing to comment orally should virtually raise your hand by clicking on
the reactions or raise hand icon at the bottom of your Zoom screen or if participating by phone by pressing star9. Oral comments will be taken in the order in which hands were raised. We ask with respect that members of the public express your views in three
minutes or less. We'll have a countdown clock to help speakers keep track of time. Please note that speakers who exceed 3 minutes will be interrupted. Inappropriate public comment containing obscenity, hate speech, or relating to
matters not for the board will be muted. Mr. Leco, will you call the role, please? >> Certainly, Madam Chair. Mr. Bodheimer here. Miss Capazolei, Mr. Cohen >> here, >> Mayor Freda,
Mr. McGawen >> here, >> Miss Na >> here, >> Mr. O'Donnell >> here, >> Miss Pearl, Mr. Taylor, Miss Wilson Anderson >> here,
>> and Chair Wilson >> here. >> Uh, you have a chair quorum, Madam Chair. Thanks. Um, announcements, Justin? >> Uh, the only announcement I have is it is likely the regular scheduled meeting
next week will be cancelled. Um, we'll probably know by the end of this meeting. Uh, you know, and if we do, basically, we this is a special meeting, so we basically just flip-flop them in October. >> Okay. So that would make our next meeting November,
assuming next week is canceled, November 6th. >> That's the next scheduled one. Yes. >> Yeah. Okay. Um I don't think we have any subcommittee reports, do we? Nope. Okay. Um well, next up, let's see.
>> Madam Chair, could I >> could >> Yes. >> Could I just make a comment before we get started? Sure. Different subject entirely. There's lots of of signs around town saying um all for Princeton. Uh save historic Princeton, which it
basically say certainly say historic Princeton and probably um Princ >> defend >> Yeah. >> defend historic Princeton and Princeton for all. >> Right. >> Just for the record, >> I I know what you're talking about
though. I just wanted to be clear about it. I think generally people perceive them as supporting um opposing the what the seminary is proposing on the seminary site which is fine. Um and if board members want to put a sign on their property doing so I mean they're
certainly entitled to do so but I think if they do it raises the spectre of a conflict of interest and I'd be prepared to rule absent any other circumstance I'm not aware of that it would be a conflict from for them. So I just wanted
to advise the board of that. >> Okay. >> And so that would mean they would have to recuse from consideration of the site plan. >> Yes. Of the same when it comes back to us. >> Um just to clarify, there's two
different signs. The defend historic Princeton is against the seminary and then Princeton for all is for that development. >> Well, that's the Yeah. That's certainly the perception,
>> right? >> And and I'm sure that some would argue that it's that there's more nuance and etc. But um but what Mr. Mueller is saying is that we need to be as board members who will
hear the the final, you know, the application for the seminary property redevelopment when it does come back to us. And of course, the redevelopment plan is approved and I believe the town has a memorandum of understanding or a
memorandum of agreement. I'm not sure whether it's or MOA with the with the property owner, etc. Um, so it's moving forward, but when it does come back to us for its last um, review,
uh, I if members of the board have one or the other of the signs in their yard, there could be a um, perception of a bias one way or the other. And thus, >> yeah,
>> you should either be prepared to recuse or not put not put either of those signs uh in in front of your house. >> Yeah. And that's an unfort it's unfortunate that would be the case. But that's certainly the most cautious approach. And when it when it eventually
comes back to us, we don't want members of the public saying, "But you had a sign that said blank," and you're obviously biased. So, I mean, we want we want to avoid that. Um, and we want to avoid, you know, that conflict potential.
>> Okay. All right. Um, thanks for opining on that, uh, proactively, Jerry. Appreciate that. If anybody's got any follow-up questions for Jerry, you know, don't hesitate to give him a call or
Justin or something. >> Thank you, Madam Chair. And if I could just add to that, uh, clearly this whole situation is continues to develop with every time I drive down the street, there's a new different sign that's very
clearly directly related to a certain thing and then there's ones that are maybe possibly related. Um so I I think what uh our council is saying is kind of the higher view. Uh but these things are going to continue to kind of it appears
change and become complex uh or or less complex >> council seel not council c which is not position >> exactly on the board >> and certainly
>> um okay signs that raise no issue >> we support free speech for there's not such a sign of ransom they put it up fine good good for you that no conflict there. >> No conflict with >> if if >> political campaign signs or anything
like that. I mean that that's no, right? Nothing. >> Good. Okay. Uh all right. Thank you for that. Um so is Carrie Phillip in the house?
>> She is. >> Oh, please bring her over. We have a proclamation honoring Carrie Phillip for service to the planning board of Princeton. Here she is. Carrie, can you activate your camera?
That's not her typical mode when she's with the board. She usually does that. There you are. Hi. >> Hi. You look well rested. >> Well, I would like to read this um this resolution into the record.
>> Thank you. >> By May. Whereas Carrie Phillip served the people of Princeton for more than 30 years in a variety of positions and within the planning office for almost all of that time. And whereas Miss Phillips dedication and expertise proved
invaluable to the planning board of Princeton, including aly navigating and adapting throughout extraordinarily challenging times, including the CO 19 pandemic. And whereas Car's responsiveness, integrity, and work ethic ensured that
board members and the public had the information and resources needed to make informed decisions. And whereas in recent years and with planning office staff stretched thin, Carrie persevered through periods of very heavy workload,
juggling many land use applications along with tasks associated with the comprehensive update of Princeton's municipal master plan. And whereas the board wishes to express its heartfelt gratitude to Carrie Phillip for a job well done and appreciation for the
diligence and warmth she brought to her work. Therefore, be it resolved that the planning board of Princeton recognizes, honors, and expresses its profound gratitude for all Carrie has done for and on behalf of the planning board of Princeton. And be it further resolved
that the board extends best wishes for a long, happy, healthy retirement. Thank you very much. And I'm sorry it took until October >> uh to to make this actually happen with your schedule and our schedules and all
of that stuff. >> I I appreciate this. I just want to clarify one thing. When I started I started in the planning office. So the entire time >> I have been in planning. >> Oh, I thought you Well, um >> yes,
>> we'll need to amend this >> if you don't mind. We will Oh, that is um my error. >> Um >> no, no problem. >> So, >> I don't mean to, you know, interject anything like that, but I just
know that my dedication, >> you know, this is for posterity. You're going to um Yes. You're like great grandchildren will need to know the truth, right? >> Yes. Um yes, we will we will change um so that it reads and within the planning
office for the entire time or something like that. >> Thank you. >> Thank you once again. Carrie steps up and keeps me between the ditches. Thank you. >> Sorry. I cannot change it. Still is still here.
So, >> right. >> Okay. >> Okay. Well, I'm I'm glad that you could um join us tonight for this and and once again, thank you. Thank you. Thank you. >> And you're you're you're on call for um
when somebody presses the fire alarm, right? When um in a few months. Yeah. >> Okay. >> Okay. >> All right. >> Thank you. >> Thank you, Carrie. Ah, thank you.
Now you get to go have a life on this Thursday night. Um, next up we have four sets of minutes. Um, all from regular meetings. The first set under consideration is
from October 17, 2024. Um, are there any >> Didn't we last meeting? I thought >> Oh, excuse me. Are these from the Are these the same? >> They are. Uh >> oh. >> I'm I I was looking through the thread
and they were attached to the very first email that was before last meeting. >> Um let me double check. I'm not sure. I sent the last email last Friday, >> but in both meetings we we had four sets. So, uh
>> Well, right. And I remember the last time the last uh there were three from 2024 and one from 2025, but I think the 2025 one and the last meeting was the reorganization meeting, the January, >> right?
>> Or whatever, right? >> Yeah. >> And I think the minutes were from June and July maybe >> of4. Yes, we had June 6, September 5th, September 19th of 2024, and January 9th
of 2025 last time. This time we have October 17th, November 14th, and December 19th of 2024. Uh, and then February 6th of 2025. So, all four of them are separate,
unless we sent the wrong uh files. Well, so I'll just say I mean I'm looking at my thread and the they were attached Yeah. to an email on the 10th. So I
guess that means they were subsequent to the last meeting. >> Yeah. >> Yeah. >> Okay. Well, I didn't have a chance to review them because I mistakenly thought
we had talked about them last time. So, I have to >> I'll have to abstain from voting on them. >> Okay. Did others did enough others uh get a chance to review them to for us to take action? Oh, and I saw your hand go.
>> Yes, I did. I did. >> Okay. And as did I. So, let's see. Would one, two, three, four. Nat, are you willing to vote? >> I'm willing to vote.
Okay, that gives us five. So, let's go ahead and let's go ahead and do this. Unless David or um Alvin, unless you have an objection. >> Not at all. >> Okay. Owen, um since you raised your hand, is
that are you moving the first set? >> I will move the first set of me minutes. >> Okay. The minutes from October 17, 2024. Is there >> second that? I can second that. >> Thank you, Pauly. Um, all in favor, please say I. >> I. >> I.
>> Any opposed? >> Thank you. Um, minutes from November 14, 2024. >> Motion to approve. >> Thank you, Paula Vinuka. Seconded by Claudia Wilson Anderson. All in favor,
please say I. >> I. >> I. >> I. >> Any opposed? Okay. Um, next is December 19, 2024. >> I'll move >> regular meeting. Thanks. Um, Owen, is
there a second? >> I'll second. Claudia. >> Well, you you spoke. Claudia raised her hand. I >> Thank you, Paul. I'll second it by Paul Nukea. Um, all in favor, please say I. >> I.
>> I. Any opposed? Okay. And then finally, February 6, 2025. I'll >> move. >> Thank you, Claudia. Is there a second? >> Second. >> Thanks, Nat. All in favor, please say I. >> I.
>> I. >> Any opposed? Okay. Uh so we'll have uh four sets of minutes um uh until we're caught up at at most if not all of our uh regular and special
meetings. Um all right. I think my understanding is that the resolutions on tonight's agenda are being tabled. Is that correct, Mr. Leco? >> That's correct, Madam Chair. We're still
working uh with the applicant on getting the language finalized. >> Okay, then on to the application. Tonight's application is from Princeton Public Schools. It is for Community Park Elementary School. It's a conditional use authorization, 372 Witherspoon
Street, block 6902, lot 3. And this is file number P2525-685 CO. Mr. Mueller, can you speak to proper notice and jurisdiction? >> Yes, madame chair. We decided to treat this at the last session when we went
from the first application to the second application as one as one application, one hearing notice was proper then we continued it to tonight. Right? >> Uh we continued it to tonight but we had three separate hearings or we have three
separate applications, three separate noticing. >> Oh, okay. Yeah. the not the notice was proper >> and the jurisdiction is proper and we decided that the last session on on my advice that we didn't have to re-wear
swear everybody in etc and they were all still under oath. >> Okay, good. Thank you. Um, let's see. Justin, you want to get us started, but then we'll
turn to to the schools. >> Certainly. Thank you, Madam Chair. >> And I'm getting a little feedback. No. >> Yeah. Okay. >> Uh, >> good. >> Okay. Now, good. Thank you. Um, I will keep this brief, but mostly reiterate what I said uh prior to the last meeting where the board reviewed conditional use
approval requests at Littlebrook Elementary School and at the Princeton Middle School. Um then I'll hand it over to the schools again to present their application which tonight is at Community Park Elementary School on Witherspoon Street. Um once again like last time I'm going to refer to the
planning board as the board and the Princeton public schools as the schools instead of the board of ed. Um just to try to keep things clear. Um and also like I said last time um the history of these applications is that the schools came to the board for a capital review
of the proposal. You'll see tonight um a little over a year ago, I think about 13 months ago at this point, uh the board provided comments back to the schools at that time and the schools sent in what they needed to the state department of education uh prior to a referendum that was ultimately approved by the voters of
Princeton. Uh the schools are back tonight for a conditional use approval as they were about a month ago for those other two ones. Um this time it's for improvements to community park school. Um and that is uh the requirement is there because a school is a conditional
use in the residential zone it is located in. Um in this case on Witherspoon Street. Uh the schools are exempt from the formal site plan review. Um though the board obviously needs to see what the schools are proposing in order to determine if the application
meets the conditional use standards of section T10B 321 of the municipal ordinance. Um, here are those standards again in full. Um, quote, "In making its decision on an application for approval of a conditional use, the planning board shall take no action which will
substantially impair the intent or purpose of this article. The board may attach such terms and conditions to an approval of such application as in its judgment will preserve such public good or such intent or purpose and shall be guided by the following principles.
A the local need for the proposed facilities and whether or not the same is adequately served by existing facilities within feasible distance of the area to be served. B the existence of nuisance factors and whether or not adequate shielding by way of landscaping or distance from the nearest property
line is provided to minimize any such factors. C. The effects of the amount of traffic which the proposed use may reasonably gen generate upon existing streets. the safety of nearby uses such as schools or other places of congregation or public service, the
peace and quiet of nearby property, and the use of public right ofway for parking service or any other purpose." End quote. uh for a school use. Our ordinance also requires that the site conforms to the standards set forth in section 300 of the state board of
education's 1969 guide for schoolhouse planning and construction, which was included with the joint report that land use staff wrote on this application um and was online and in your packets. Uh in addition to asking the board to address the standards of the conditional
use principles that I just read and the standards of that guide for schoolhouse planning and construction, uh our report also had comments relating to improvements on municipal land and right ofway that the schools have proposed and traffic recommendations in general. Uh like we saw last time, probably a pretty
similar show uh tonight based on the materials that we received. Um, I will note one of the improvements proposed is to create a bike path between community park school and the municipal uh pool and parking lot. So, it' run from Witherspoon essentially to community
park. Um, this has been discussed for some time now between the municipality and local biking and parents groups. Um, and there is also one very noteworthy thing that you will not see on this application tonight. Um, and that was the school's proposal to add a paved
parking lot in the green space between the driveway at Community Park School and the former packet building at 300 Witherspoon, uh, where Homestead and Capitol Health currently are. U, we're grateful that the the schools listened to the board and staff's comments to
keep that as a green space with trees. Um, I think I could end my my part there for now. Mr. Bridger, Mr. Purcell, and Mr. Anikke are here as well. Um, and I should mention there is a traffic engineering report from Mr. Anikke
separate from our land use uh report. Um, and as I said last time, the capital review you heard over a year ago was more of the planning exercise. Uh, whereas this conditional use approval is more of the engineering and and detailed
side. Uh, so Madam Chair, that's all I have at this time unless there are any questions. Uh, thank you. you're muted. >> Yeah, sorry about that. Um, it was a good segue actually, especially if I had
had my um audio working uh to to ask Mr. PCEL since this is more of a nuts and bolts details kind of thing. Um, is there anything that you want to draw the board's attention to before we hear from the
applicant? Any >> any I I I'll think I know where you're going with that. Um uh first of all, as uh the planning director has noted, uh the pathway um extension to connect
Community Park School to Witherspoon Street has been uh discussed with uh with the schools and uh we're very happy to see uh their ability to um uh to provide that. uh the recreation
department is is very uh um excited about the ability for for that connection to finally uh see the light of day. Um and the second thing is I understand that um and I believe it was in our municipal engineers
u memo to the school district about parking um and that uh parking has been resolved. Um, we do have uh uh agreements that will be in place to uh provide for overflow parking um if there
was any concern about that. >> Excellent. Okay. Thank you. Um let's see. Mr. Croker, are you taking the lead on behalf of the schools? >> Yes. Good a good good evening I should
say. Um, just uh to if I heard correctly, are the is everybody still sworn in or do we need to introduce people? I we were here September 25th and I mean I'm happy to do that. I just don't know what I don't want to waste time. >> No, we we don't have to do it. Um, same
people as last time. >> Yes, everybody. Um, the only the only person I do not I I did see um Dr. Lasusa had signed in. I saw him. I I don't see him now, but um I mean in no particular order, I'm just going on the
order of my uh the the squares of my screen here. We have uh George Duthy um the uh board's architect uh FED architects Beth Kenderdine um boards engineer from Edward's
engineering group Patrick Downey um the board's traffic engineer from dynamic traffic um Daniel Chatony also from FDHD architects also architect um Mr. Andrew Harris, the board's uh business
administrator and board secretary is here. Um and uh that everybody that I just announced was here um with us on the 25th. Like I said, I I don't see Dr. Lassusa, but I I did see him. >> Brandon, if I can apologize for Dr. Lassusa, he had to step away due to a
family emergency. >> Okay, no problem. All right, understood. Then it sounds like we can we can continue. I just didn't want I didn't know if he was having I did see him you know a few minutes ago so I I I didn't know if he was having connectivity problems or anything but >> Brandon there's somebody named Deandria
Battle is that one of your people or is she >> Adria is a um planning office staff um >> oh our planning office. >> Yes. >> Oh okay. Sorry. >> Yes. She soon will be well >> she is new. She is new Jerry. >> Yes.
Yes. Welcome, DeAre. Uh, sorry to put you on the spot there. You don't need to >> do anything. We're all good, Jerry. >> Okay. Thank you. >> Yep. >> All right. Um, so I again, uh, like last time, uh, I think your planner, Mr.
Leco, did a, um, did a really good job of of introducing applications. Uh, this is very similar to, um, the last time on September 25th when we talked about the middle school and, uh, Littlebrook. We're here again for uh conditional use
approval, but this time for community park um that we ran out of time last time, but the board did did take jurisdiction and and uh announced at the last meeting. So, uh we're here tonight for um similar to last time to to seek that approval um to allow the boot the
board to move further with the referendum projects that are planned. Uh as Mr. Leco mentioned we were here or we it had appeared uh I think last September and um as he mentioned that community park
initially had two components um but we did decide not to move forward with with one based on the board's feedback and um you know understood understanding there was some issues with that but um we are here for some to seek approval for
additions and and uh expansions that we are planning to move forward with and um again like last time we're here only for that aspect that the the new additions and um you know the expansions that given that these are existing sites and
and there's already a school there. So um I don't want to take up too much time um but I I I think all all my comments from last time are pretty similar. So uh good >> I think similarly maybe just >> I could ask uh maybe George or or Dan to
give maybe a brief just overview and and then we'll move to to Beth to to talk um about the plans that she worked so so hard to prepare and then go to Patrick and he can discuss some of the traffic. But um so unless the board has any other
questions at this time, I I think maybe I'll turn to George and and ask him just to give the board a quick overview of what we're planning at at Community Park. >> Mr. Duthy, do you want to share your screen or are you going to wait for Miss Kinderdine to do that?
>> I think uh Beth can can share her screen and show the site plans. >> I really don't have a whole lot to say. I know you've seen the plans uh you know but again in keeping with what was done at Little Brook and in middle school you know this idea of these compact additions that are you know respectful
of the site okay and um you know the the the programmatic needs of the school to you know to do a lot of things including you know increasing connectivity within the buildings okay making uh therefore some security enhancements as well enhancing outdoor space and and and
obviously addressing some of the school's capacity and programmatic needs at the same time. So, we just tried to be respectful of those sites, tried to make those compact additions and uh you know, just tried to uh overall respond to what the programmatic requirements were. That's that's pretty much all I
have to say unless there's questions. >> Any questions for Mr. Duthy? >> Okay. Thank you, Miss Kenderdine. >> You are There you go. >> Thank you. Sorry, I managed to share my screen but not to
unmute myself. Baby steps. Um like so so as uh George said the the site plan essentially shows two building additions to the rear of Community Park School. So obviously this is Community Park School.
Um there's parking along the frontage. This is the pool site in the back of the school. Um, this driveway essentially uh faces Guo Avenue. Um, and we're proposing uh two building additions to the rear.
Um, sort of an extension on this building wing and then a large building addition that will create a a bit of an open courtyard between uh the existing and proposed building. Hi Beth. >> Um, in addition to that, we are proposing
>> Beth, if I can interrupt for a second, could you identify um what sheet this is from? This is from the plan site. Could you identify? >> I'm sorry. Sheet C0.0. >> Sheet sheet. Say again.
>> C-0.0. >> Thank you. >> Of course. I think if it if it helps I think it's the first the first sheet or the cover sheet of of what was submitted I think. >> Yeah, we called it key plan but it's essentially a cover sheet.
>> Um so as uh pointed out by Mr. Purcell. We're proposing an 8 foot wide asphalt bike lane between community park and the pool site um to essentially connect from Guo Avenue across the community park
property. Um that bike path uh will be partially on the pool's property, partially on community parks property. Um that was essentially to try and maintain as much vegetation as possible. There's a couple of large trees there
that we're trying to avoid. Um so that's why the the pathway sort of um uh snakes around a little bit like it does. Um, so then in order to accommodate this bike
path, we're proposing to reconfigure the the walking path around the the playground area, a community park. Um, and we're introducing a new mulched playground right behind the the new building additions and of course um a
bio retention basin in order to um mitigate runoff from the new building additions and the pavement that we're proposing. Um so if you'd like I can move ahead to
the existing conditions plan. Unfortunately, it's it's kind of broken up because of the size of the sheet, but this is the the most of the main campus. So, you can see there's >> And what sheet is that? >> This is sheet C-1.0.
>> Thank you. >> It's lab it's labeled as existing conditions. >> Existing conditions. Yes. >> Thank you. >> Of course. Yeah. So, you can see there's there's one small playground here. There's the Gaga pit. This is the
existing building um and the existing courtyard. Moving on to sheet C.1 C-1.1 which is also existing conditions. Um and this shows the areas that that wouldn't fit on the first ch first
sheet, excuse me. So, um, the the property line between the the school and the the pool is approximately in this location. And then this is sort of the match line. It extends down towards the right of way.
Um, that's going to skip through the demolition plans. Um, so this is I'm now on sheet C-3.0. um called the the site layout plan. Um essentially just a more detailed plan of
what we show on the key map. Um if you zoom in, you can see the the two building additions, the uh mulched playground, new walkways that will connect all of the doors to the playgrounds. Everything will be code
compliant um and ADA accessible. You'll see we have ramps wherever we have stairs. Um and oh um and then this next sheet C-3.1
uh is a continuation of the site layout plan and that shows the new bike path along the uh the property line. So you can see these existing playgrounds are going to remain in place. We're just rerouting the walkway
around so that we can put a fence between the school site and the bike path in order to provide site uh security for the school. Um I think I will
this is the this next plan is the site grading plan. It's sheet C-4.0. Um, and I'm bringing it up just so you can see the footprint of the bio retention basin uh that we're proposing next to the
playground. So that bio retention basin um is compensating not just for the impervious coverage of the new building additions and the walkways, but also for the bike path between the school site and the pool.
Um, so this is just the grading plan for the it's C-4.1. It's a continuation of the site grading plan showing the grading for the proposed bike path. Um, that's u essentially the scope of
the project. One thing I do want to point out because it came up at the last meeting is that there will be a fence around the bio retention basin. Um, I think that's something that that people were concerned about for the the
other two um applications. Hold on one second. I thought I would just bring up this site plan. So, um, if you'd like, I can go through the comments provided by the planning office.
Uh, unless somebody has questions that you'd like me to answer. I think going through the comments is a great idea just um you know quickly. >> Okay. Um I'm on page four of uh the planning board memorandum memor
memorandum excuse me dated September 19th 2025. Um under the additional comments the first comment is regarding the shared use path. Um, and it requires
approval by the municipal council. So, we will reach out to um, honestly, I guess I I'll reach out to the municipal engineer um, and see how we go about getting that. >> Yeah, I think Jim Purcell um,
uh, is probably managing this. I'm sorry I can't see him on my screen right now, but um, but yeah. >> Okay. Actually, mad madam chair, I'm I'm the land use engineer at this board. I'm not the assistant municipal engineer. So that would be that would be stock then
they can >> okay directly to Okay, I'll reach out to her. >> Okay. Okay, great. >> Um the the the second comment is is regarding the the
maneuvering of the path around trees. So um they suggest that we consult with the municipal arborist. I don't think um anybody at the schools will have an issue with that. We can adjust the width or the the path of the bike path
accordingly in the field if we need to. Um I think the most important part to the school the schools is just that we maintain the fence along their side of the of the path so that they don't
expose any children to security risks. >> Um the comment number three is again regarding consultation with the municipal arborist for any um impact to the trees. Um, again, we're we're doing our best to protect the existing trees
that are there. Um, unfortunately, some we're going to have to get demolished, but we do have an extensive landscape plan um that we've worked with the schools on. And addition to the landscaping plan, they've also have uh
trees being planted under a grant um outside of the area of our project. We um so there are there there's going to be significant landscaping across the site >> and I think Dr. Um, >> last I just I was just going to comment
I my my recollection is I think he said the grant was for 92 trees if I if I recall >> there's a there's a lot of trees going on going on all three of the schools and we coordinated with the schools when they were putting together that that
grant application to put those trees outside the areas we would be impacting. So, so we have landscaping proposed as part of this project and they also have additional landscaping going in under that grant. >> Now, the the number you
>> is that for all three site schools or is that just for community park? The >> No, that that was for all three my >> 92 is for six sites. It's for the six building sites. >> Okay. >> Okay. Thank you for clarifying, Andrew. That much. >> No problem.
>> Um, right. I am moving on. Uh, comment number four was about coordination of the temporary fence with the Princeton Recreation Department. Um, that's not a problem. Um, comment number five, I will defer to Patrick Downey.
That is regarding the uh traffic recommendations. Um, comment number six is regarding the storm water management system. Um, as correctly noted, the the system is designed to meet the requirements of the New Jersey Stormwater Management rules.
Um, and it will also be reviewed in detail by the DNR Canal Commission. Um, comment number seven. Um, I think mo I'm not entirely sure most of these apply.
Um, we did speak, I think, briefly about per pvious pavement um during the last meeting and I think I I made my position pretty clear on that, but we can we could talk about it again if you'd like. Um, there is no um new
lighting proposed as part of this. No new site lighting. The only lighting uh will be on the school building for safety reasons. and the this applicant is we're not seeking lead certification. That was
comment number eight. So, um I can now open up to any board member questions or would you prefer to go to your um experts, your professionals? >> Um well, thank you for that. Uh, are
there questions from form board members? Mr. Cohen, >> I just wanted to ask I feel like when we did the capital review last year that there were um there was some discussion
about fences that would uh limit access to the courtyard, the new courtyard that's being created. I'm not seeing them on the plans, but I was wanted to ask if fences were going in or not.
>> Yes. Yes, there will be a fence located right here between the two buildings um with uh gates uh for access to the courtyard. So, yes, there will be limited access to the courtyard.
>> Okay. Well, one just to add to that comment, Beth, uh that gate will be an egress gate. We we we need to get people out of the courtyard, okay? Because by code that's a room and we're also taking exiting from some stair towers that are dumping into the court into that area
right now. So, those will have uh they'll be ex security exit gates with panic bars on them and all. >> They'll be secured from the outside. >> Okay. >> Okay. Thanks, um Mr. O'Donnell and then Miss Nukea.
>> Thank you. Uh since you brought it up, is your uh stance still that pervious impervious uh pavement on the walkways is not uh going to be implemented? >> No.
No. I I um I I see very limited functionality in pvious pavement. Um, I think because you need a large section of stone underneath, I don't think it's very cost-effective. For this particular instance, the soils aren't even
permeable. So, it doesn't do much good to me. I would have to collect the runoff anyway and and and pipe it into some kind of storm water management system. Um, really the DP looks at it less like like a storm water quantity
control than a quality control. So, um, and in this case, I don't need to provide storm water quality treatment for the for the runoff because it's not motor vehicle loaded pavement. >> Okay. Thank you,
>> Miss Na. >> Um, just uh I guess two quick questions. One um is how deep is the bio retention basin uh that you have next to the um new playground?
Hold on. I think it's about four feet deep. >> Yes. >> Okay. And so there'll be some kind of fence around it. Um. >> Yes. >> And how high will that fence be? >> Or >> um we have it speced at the moment at 4T
high because we don't want it to be look like a big cage on the site. Um so it'll be four feet high and there'll be access gates for maintenance >> and and then um similarly along the proposed bike path you'll have a fence
along the entire stretch. >> Will that be will that be a higher fence for private? >> Yes, I think that's I think that's a six foot or a or a seven foot fence. We're matching existing. >> Okay. Thank you. And you know it indicated during the last hearing that
the the fence would be locked and it would only be open. >> Yes. >> For access purposes. Yeah. >> Of course. Yes. Rain garden fence we're back to, right? >> Yes. >> Yeah. Yeah. Um well and I I I going back to pvious
pavement for a minute and I I know your your plan you know meets the requirements and I understand you won't use permutable or pvious pavement here. Um there are some really really successful
installations uh many of them for parking stalls um as well as for pathways uh in the state of New Jersey. And so I just um I I hope that you'll you know continue to at least take a look at it and and uh you know for for
other projects that you work on. It can be um you know very effective. It can manage a really huge amount of storm water. Um you know >> I have specked it before but it's last
resort in my in my toolbox. >> All right. >> But uh I'm keeping an open mind. Good. >> Oh, and that's all we can ask. >> Yeah. >> Um, it's the the fence along the bike
path will be eight feet high. >> Eight feet. Okay. >> Um, I guess I have a question that um it was not really a question so much as a comment when you are working with um
uh Deanna Stockton on the um the pathway. Uh I assume that you know, in fact, I I I I know that she'll have um guidance about making the appropriate
connections to the west and to the park and to the east, you know, onto um or across Witherspoon Street. And I just um you know I'm saying from a planning perspective it's really important that
those connections be um you know simple and effective. Um and that we're, you know, we're delivering uh the people who are using that path uh into,
you know, into in into neighboring properties in a way that makes a lot of sense. And I'm sure that Deanna has put a lot of thought into that. And I I saw I see that Jim has activated his camera. I don't know whether you want to speak to that at
all, Jim. This is it's being coordinated with the current design of the improvements to community park south. >> Great. Perfect. Thanks. >> And at the other end, it's like right opposite Guo, uh, which connects to the Guo path,
>> which is ideal >> connection to the schools to that's what I was Yeah, that's what I I hoped and that's what it looked like to me, but good. So, there's already a raised crosswalk right right at um
uh >> Yeah, I think it's right here. >> Right at Kantis and Yeah. >> Okay. Um uh Mr. Cohen, did you have a different >> I Yeah, I did. I just um you know, I I
want to add my appreciation for the the bike path. Um I think it's such an important part of our safe routs to school. Um so it's not just for the municipality, it really is for the
schools, for the older school kids who live in the western whole, you know, half of town. Actually, um the one question that I do have is I feel like there's been a little bit of
concern uh when this has been discussed in the past about u the safety of the bike path fenced in on both sides uh after dark and um the idea that there's no new lighting proposed obviously
suggests there's no lighting for this bike path. So, I wanted to talk a little bit about that. Um, you know, I don't want to be making a request that's cost generative for the schools, but if the municipality wanted to, I mean,
obviously, this is right up against municipal property. um you know if there were a way for us to assist with getting electricity to the area and you know sort of putting the lights on our property but sort of
doing it as part of the construction because as long as we're doing the work it seems to make sense to do this together with that. Um, I wanted to raise the question whether that could be possible and coordinated. And Jim, you
should probably um turn on your camera again. >> I'm I'm trying to be uh, you know, very selective in my hats. Um, I I think that's
appropriate. Uh, and I think that it really would uh have to be part of the discussion of the recreation department and and what they uh what they desire. Um, the major desire here for this pathway was for a connection for
community park south to be able to access from our parking area and and Witherspoon Street. Um, so, uh, I think that's a continuing discussion, Councilman Cohen, that that, uh, is worthy of having. Uh, I don't think it
needs to be placed as a condition on the school district to work with us, but, uh, I think that, um, lighting from, uh, municipal property is probably, uh, something that can be accomplished. >> Okay. >> Yeah, thanks for bringing that up.
That's that's important. Um, okay. Any other questions from planning board members or staff before we move on to public comment? Not seeing any. So, >> Madam Chair, >> yep.
>> Uh, I think that uh the schools still need to discuss their traffic plans as well. >> Oh, I'm sorry. I'm sorry. We could probably >> getting ahead of myself. I apologize. >> Patrick Downey to to maybe speak to the traffic concerns before we move on. >> Good. Okay. Thanks. Yeah, good evening
everybody. Pat Downey with Dynamic Traffic again. Uh I recognize I remain sworn from the last meeting whether we were here and I guess Beth if you don't mind I'd maybe just ask that you put that key plan >> uh zero back up. >> No, it's fine. Just so everyone has something to look at as we discuss various parts of the plan.
>> There we go. >> Um so very similar to the last two presentations you heard me give. Um just in a little outline of our process. Um we obviously were brought on and started with meetings with the school to understand what their needs were. Uh performed our own site observations while school was in session before the
end of last school year. Uh reviewed the proposed plans and then have uh initiated correspondence with the municipal engineering staff to discuss some of the improvements we identified that could be made within the municipal rightaway of some of the surrounding streets. Uh within the memorandum we submitted as
part of the application package. Uh we summarize first the trip generation of this proposed project. Uh obviously with this additional space uh in the building comes some additional capacity for more students. Um as I did mention in the last meeting too that additional student
increase is something that's really coming either way uh due to population growth throughout the municipality. It's not proposed quote unquote in the same sense as most land development applications that the board hears. uh but even so looking at what additional trips would be generated using it rates
for uh the student capacity increase for these expansions it still doesn't rise to the level of what would be significant uh which is what DOT would define as a 100 peak hour trips uh and again a trip is a one-way movement so 50 parents you know dropping off and then
departing in the morning for example would be 100 trips and it falls below that even um that's partially due to the fact that a lot of the uh existing student population does use the bus over half the students uh which is great. We love to see that. Uh and that is expected to
carry on to any additional students that would come as part of the capacity increase. Um in terms of some of the proposed improvements, we did identify some on the streets and we have uh the September 18th memorandum from Deanna Stockton uh regarding the municipality's review of
those uh suggested improvements and what they've agreed to implement at this time. Uh there are three so that I'll just read into the record for everyone's reference. Uh first, there is some shared parking occurring uh just left off the page at the community park south parking lot
which has some spaces designated for use by school staff. Um the agreement was uh most of the existing signage for school parking in that lot is faded and unreadable. The municipality were will add or replace the parking signage. Uh number two was regarding uh the exit
from the school property down to John Street at the bottom left of the image on your screen. Uh specifically regarding uh some enhancement to really highlight that that is a one-way uh egress from the school property that you cannot continue from John Street north into the school property there. Uh the
municipality will review allowable signage and pavement markings to further enhance messaging that the public roadway ends at the northern end of John Street. Uh and lastly uh at the eastern side of the property against uh Witherspoon Street where the bus activity occurs
today uh the municipality will consider installation of busonly pavement markings to further enhance the designation of the roadway shoulder as a bus area. Uh moving on to the site parking as part of our observations last school year. Uh we quantified the existing parking demand uh midday once everyone had
arrived for the day um and found an existing parking demand of about 74 vehicles uh at the peak time. With the capacity increase, there's up to uh 12 staff additional anticipated. So even if we conservatively assume that each of those staff uh brings another personal
vehicle, we're looking at a parking demand of about 76 spaces. When you uh consider the parking spaces provided in the schools lot and the ones available to them in the Park South parking lot, there's a total available supply of 94 spaces. So 94 supply versus a demand of
76. So there's more than enough parking uh to accommodate the project even with this expansion. Uh in terms of bicycle parking, similar to the last two um applications that you heard at the last meeting, uh we would agree to install whatever bicycle parking is necessary to comply with the
ordinance requirement. It's a bit of a complicated calculation, but we would work that out as part of resolution compliance and ensure that we are compliant. And um in fact, we may go above and beyond that. We've seen a lot of bicycle activity at each of these schools, which we want to continue to encourage. So if um the school feels
it's appropriate, we might actually go above and beyond that minimum requirement. And lastly, I'll just mention we received the September 24th memorandum from the board's traffic consultant, uh, Bowman. Uh, they asked for some additional information which we provided in writing prior to the last meeting.
Um, overall, we take no issue with those comments. Uh, we believe they've been addressed. And that is all I have in the way I direct. Uh, happy to answer any questions. >> Okay, great. Thank you. >> Thank you, Patrick.
Um, questions from board members or staff? Claudia Wilson Anderson. Uh, as it relates to the period during construction, what kind of disruption would you expect and what would the timing of construction be as it relates
to construction and um, detours on Witherspoon Street or pick up and drop offs at school? Um, George, our architect, I think, might be able to provide some more information. Really, a lot of the construction is in is building related. So, I'll I'll kick that over, George.
>> So, so as right now, our plan is to enter the site really back in the existing loading area, which is right behind the cafeteria. Uh, that small little cutout area. There's a fence there, a vehicle fence they keep locked right now. Our plan is to come in that way um and to feed the construction
project by driving around um and restoring everything at the end. No impact expected to Witherspoon Street. No impact expected to the front parking or driveway loop. And more importantly, no impact is going to be expected to anything that's on the far western. I
guess that's the western end where the where the main playgrounds are. And Beth, maybe you can just blow that up a little bit and try to show you under. But the area where the pointer is right now will remain relatively intact. Uh most of the impact we're we're looking will be on the uh on the north end of the site towards where the additions
will be and then access Beth will be from that drive off of Witherspoon. There you go. Right there. So that construction vehicles will access the site from from that direction. And essentially we're going to put a construction fence up actually to keep the entire you know western end of the
site isolated from the construction. So that's the plan right now. >> Construction being going on while school is in session. >> Correct. Yes. On the additions. That's correct. >> Are there any precautions that need to be taken as it relates to the children
and air quality? >> All all of the all of the precautions that need to be taken will be taken uh during the construction. There will be uh contract requirements outlining what those uh requirements are that the contractor has to implement for dust control, noise control, access to the
site, traffic safety, and all those things. And by the way, there's a construction manager also who will be on the site uh every day to make sure that those uh those things are uh taken care of by the contractor. >> Thank you, >> Justin. Let's go.
>> Yes. Thank you, Madam Chair. Um, I just wanted to mention for everyone's knowledge, um, because it was alluded to before, um, but the municipality has also been working for at least 2 years now, um, on a plan, um, to upgrade community park itself. Uh, and as part
of that plan, uh, there was a a planning process through the recreation department, um, that I was involved in a few years ago, and the PEC was involved in it, uh, as well as other groups. Um, but the decision was ultimately to keep things mostly where they are now. Um,
you know, the parking lot where it is, the tennis courts where they are, um, the big loop essentially where it is. Um, but to really just upgrade, uh, the park itself. So, uh, additional lighting, uh, more ADA accessibility, a bathroom, uh, finally. Um, so I just
bring that up to to say that as the schools are sprucing up community park school, the municipality is also sprucing up community park. Um, neither of which are actually changing things in any, you know, way that's going to kind of completely change uh any of the way
they've operated for decades now. But just to kind of uh improve those >> Great. Thank you. Um, Mr. Anosik,
Victor, you're there. You go still. Um, cannot hear you though. Although your um it it looks like your uh audio is active but we cannot hear you. Can anybody else hear him? >> No. >> Okay.
>> No, I cannot. >> It's always good to know it's not just me. So, Victor, when this happens to me, I I have to reboot >> when it happens to me. Sorry, Madam Chair. Um, >> yeah, >> I because this does happen to me a lot.
Um, I use the carrot next to the audio icon and sometimes it uh you could change your microphone over there. >> Ah, okay. Well, it looks like >> And if none of that works, Victor, you can text me and I'll tell the board what
you were trying to say. just to give another option in terms of logistics. I I happen with clients before um >> I can like call them and put it on speaker phone in my office and then um do it that way. So I I don't know if if it >> Okay, we'll we'll figure out something.
You're you're right. We need to do a workar around or may need to do a workaround. Thank you. Owen O'Donnell, did you >> Wait, I hear him. >> Can you hear me now? >> Yes. Okay. >> Okay. Sorry. Uh
I My question was really for uh the traffic engineer regarding the recommendation. uh at the one I think the recommendation was that
the existing entrance to the building will be closed and moved to the west. Am I correct? >> So, one of the ideas being kicked around is to essentially um change which door that the students are brought in when
they drop off at the front of the school property. Um, I I think that'll be worked out with the school. If it if it turns out that it continues to work fine as it does today, maybe they won't go forward with that. Uh, but it's just one idea we threw out there for consideration because sometimes it helps draw the drop off activity further into
the site. What you don't want is to have this nice long drop off lane where only one or two spots ever get used because they're in the prime position. Uh, but it will only be implemented if necessary. um not able could not hear what you just said Mr.
Anusk >> Victor, you're having connectivity problems. I think >> I I know I I if I may um what what the issue is is that uh even today uh with school drop off um parent behavior is to
uh drop off their children as close to the entrance as possible um when they pull into the driveway. Um and uh the the idea is that the school district should be looking at um changing the behavior of the parents to move the drop
off area further down the drive closer to John Street and um you know that way get get vehicles off of Witherspoon Street more quickly. Um, and uh I think that the school district has indicated that they're they're looking at uh
on-site traffic control uh to a uh a greater degree and that potentially means having the children at the first thing in the morning enter through a more westerly uh um entrance. Is that did I did I encapsulate that correctly,
Victor? Shake nod your head or is that where you were going? Can you hear me now? >> Breaking up a little bit, but I you can give it a shot. >> Yeah. No, that's not working. Sorry. Um while you troubleshoot, um Miss Na.
>> Um thank you. Uh so first of all I just want to commend um the thought that went into the traffic management plan. Um and I appreciate um that you are considering providing um significant amount of bike parking. I think it's really important
to encourage uh more folks who can to to encourage more school children to use their bikes um to come to school. uh the um and so if you can provide additional bike parking um you know that's one step
towards kind of um reinforcing that message. Uh and then just in terms of the the traffic management and parent behavior. This is an issue that we see across um other schools as well at Littlebrook uh in particular um as well
as community park. Um, so there has to be, I think, maybe some more um, direct messaging by the district, by the PTO's on that front. I mean, that's kind of out of the planning board's perview to
try to shift parent behavior, but that's definitely something that the district and the schools can do. Um and just explaining to parents to um if their kids can't walk or bike um and it car is the only option that they just need to there are places to drop
them off and it doesn't have to be directly in the front door. >> Thank you. >> Thank you. >> Sorry. >> Uh Natimer, >> I just wanted to say this is an issue in a lot of different places. I mean, first
off, in the movies where everyone parks it directly in front of where they want to go, but in a you know, in transit, you know, in transit kiss and ride parking lots, people do exactly the same thing. I mean, it's it's if you're gonna
do this, it's going to have to be designed like you have to if you don't like you can create bus loops that have got privileged access, but people in cars will still drive into the bus loop if that's where they can drop people off
closest to the door unless you ticket them. I mean, it's it's just that's what people will do in front of schools, transit agencies. It's maddening, but unless you make it a nogo zone for cars that are dropping
people off, they're going to go there. It doesn't matter. That's just >> Yeah. And I guess I mean pro again this is not a a thing that we can um solve
right here and I do you know it's important for people and bring it up. does certainly fall into flat traffic flow as well as safety things we're looking at. But um but maybe you know part of the solution is
um having you know people out there helping with letting parents know exactly uh where to pull up, you know, what to do, you know, pe people with yellow gloves or something.
uh helping um you know helping paintball gun understand what's allowed and what's not. Yep. I know. But sometimes that's sometimes that's helpful. >> People respect crossing guards, right, Councilman Cohen?
>> No. People in cars feel like they can go wherever their wheels will take them. >> They drive on the DNR canal. I mean, I just can't believe where people park in Prince in in Kingston.
There's no barriers and they drive into a wildlife area. It's just insane. So, >> I mean, people behind cars become mentally diseased. I have that. That's the end of this. >> Okay. Well, we're um
>> right field right now. >> Yeah. Follow me. I was going to say even Princeton parents, but um there might be some ways of having some soft barriers or cones in that stretch right in front
of the doors and somehow trying to clearly delineate that. Um and also just repeated messaging to parents. >> Yep. Um thank you all for that. So um Mr. Anik I
don't know whether you're I I hope that the issues that you uh raised have or or wanted to raise have been discussed and I don't know whether we can hear you yet um or whether you've
had a chance maybe to communicate uh through Mr. Purcell or Justin Leco. Anything else from you Victor? Okay. Seeing. No. Okay. Um are there um Mr. Croker,
any other witnesses that you want to um >> No, I don't believe so. >> Invite to present. Okay. And any other questions from board members or staff before we go to public comment?
Okay. Um there are nine people in the attendees room. Um now is the time and we do have one person with their hand up. Um Evan Anderson. Uh anybody else who wishes to address the board should raise your hand
virtually right now. Um click on the raise hand icon at the bottom of your Zoom screen. Um not seeing anybody else but um like I said if you want to speak please raise your hand now. Um,
let's see. Have we brought over Mr. Anderson? Mr. Anderson, um, I see your image on the screen. Can you activate your camera and unmute yourself and then Mr. Mueller will swear you in >> and maybe we can take the um
>> take the um the image down. Yeah. Thanks. So, Evan Anderson, you've been brought over to give comments to the board. Can you activate your camera and unmute yourself, please?
>> And then Anderson might have stepped away. Oh, no. Go. >> Yes, there. >> Hello. Welcome. Hi, >> Mr. Mr. Muller. We'll swear you in now. You, if you could raise your right hand, you swear or affirm that the testimony about to give be the truth. >> I do.
>> So, affirm, please state your full name, spell your last name, and indicate what street you live on. >> Yes, sir. Uh, Evan Anderson, A N D Rs O N. I live on 302 John Street. I happen
to be um the house directly next to the uh basketball court um right next to uh uh on John here right next to the park. Um my main comment is um big picture um we have this addition
going on and by the way I I have a a child at community park school. Um so we have this um addition going on. we have the the park upgrades uh and I'm uh occurring and I'm hardened to hear from
Justin that there's been some coordination between the two. Um what hasn't been mentioned at least in this meeting is um across the street the DPW lot uh is proposed to become uh dense housing uh in the foreseeable future as
part of the fair share um uh rules. uh and I'm supportive of that. Um but you given all these three projects occurring in a really tight area um it I I I'd like someone to speak to um
you know the consideration for making this a harmonious area given the three construction projects going on in the next couple years. Uh it doesn't sound like that much consideration has been
given to the streetscape entering John Street from the school the the both the traffic and um and the walking paths. I see. >> Um so if as well as parking which was addressed some but if if someone could
um comment on that I'd appreciate it. And then I have one other minor comment. >> Okay. Um Ian, can you stop the um the c the clock? Um Justin or Jim, whoever is
the right person. Can you speak to the the coordination of those three projects at all? Because I I certainly take your point, Mr. Anderson, and you're right there with an addition of your own. >> Yes.
>> Which looks great, by the way. Thank you, Lis. >> Mr. Leco, go ahead. >> Yeah, I don't know the scheduling off the top of my head right now, but we could certainly follow up with you on that. Um, just generally speaking, I think the um the schools or the park one
is going to begin first. Um, but that's also going to be done in phases and I think actually the tennis courts are going to be the last phase. Um, so that might be furthest away from your house. Um but uh again we could look it up, look into it and let you know uh what
exactly is going to happen. Um maybe the schools can elaborate on their timeline next. Um but I know for the uh fourth round plan uh the uh uh affordable housing that's uh slated to going across um that still needs to uh an ordinance
needs to be created by next March. Um a site plan would need to be reviewed. We'd need to move out our DPW. Um there is a requirement in state law that municipal properties that are uh slated to become affordable housing uh shovel has to be in the ground within 2 years.
Um but when you compare that with the things that I just mentioned that sounds like that would take a lot longer than two years. Um but uh it's certainly something we can uh you know knowing full well that all these three things are going on around the same time uh we
can make sure there's a plan for. >> Yeah, I I appreciate that. Justin, C, can I reach out to you? Are you the most appropriate person to reach out to? >> I'm I'm happy to be involved. Our engineering department would be more on the ground of what exactly is going on? So, either Jim when he's wearing a
different hatum or Deanna Stockton, >> but please keep me in the loop if you'd like as well. >> I appreciate it. And I I I understand these are different projects with uh different um uh um responsible parties
and very different timelines. That that is why I have a little concern that >> they are not going to be planned in coordination and harmony with each one because they're going to be just um look focused on with separate projects and it I understand it takes a lot of
coordination between the school board um the township and and what I I believe would be the um uh the um housing association. Um, >> well, it's a project. So, I'm sorry, David. Go ahead.
>> Yeah, I just wanted to jump in because I think >> what Evan's talking about is not so much how to coordinate the construction, but rather how to coordinate the public realm, upgrades to the public realm that recognize the new and different things
that are going to be going on on these three sites. And I think it's a really good point and I think um you know council will be working with the developer of the housing to come up with their plans and I will certainly bring
that concern to the conversation. Um I have not been that involved with the park so I'm going to leave that to staff um to follow up on. But I think uh and and I I think that
there's probably not an impact on the school's plans to upgrade, you know, the the bicycle, pedestrian, and >> automobile um facilities on on that end of John
Street. And maybe it's affecting uh Birch as well. you know, I uh it's really I think it is a municipal task. So, um uh not so much something for the schools, but I'll I'll try to make sure
that that gets factored in. I think it's a good it's a good point. >> Just a I mean, we're we're only here about the school property. we can't control third parties or or the municipal property, but um you know, so understood there's a lot going on, but just just the scope here where only talk
about the expansion at at um at community park school, but um I don't know if if George um maybe could speak to the timeline just for information purposes to your question, >> thank you. That that was going to be my next question. >> I was gonna I was going to offer that. Uh yeah, we we're expecting to hopefully
go out to bid in January or so or somewhere between November and January and um start construction in the spring more importantly and probably construction of those additions. I'm expecting it take about two years. Yeah. You know, maybe uh 21 months. Okay.
Okay. 21 and 24 months for the additions. There'll be renovation work as well, but that'll take place um afterwards and during the construct, the new construction. So, that's what I would expect to see. Okay. >> Yeah. I thank you for that. And just Yeah. Thank you, Councilman, too. I You
were correct. I'm um Well, I'm sure we'll have questions on the the um progress of the construction. I I'm right now more focused on the planning of a thoughtful harmonious streetscape. Uh especially given that
you know Jackson um neighborhood has in the past not always been a focus um of um of urban planning. Um and I have one quick comment. I'll make this really
quick, but um on a lighter note, the the retention uh pond uh is is of course a good idea, um my comment is a 4ft retention pond in the middle of uh um
the school play you ground. Uh kids will all the time go into it. If they won't do it during the school because of teachers, they will do it um uh at night and on weekends. Um, if it's just plants there, I'm I assume that's um not unsafe
for children, but I guarantee that my son and every other kid they see a fence, they will jump it and they will play in it because it'll probably be a really fun place to play. Well, um,
we will not throw you or your children under the bus in this public forum, but please tell them not to go over the fence. It does, however, um, was that the second thing that you're that was your second point that you were
>> Okay. Um, so, uh, it speaks, I think, to the wisdom maybe, of making sure there is signage on the fence around the storm water, um, basin to make clear to kids and
parents that they should not enter. >> Yeah, that that will not work. I N I see you too hard. >> I'm just from it. It um >> yeah,
>> I mean those are um you know it can be very effective for storm water management. It's really important. Um there are other ways to manage storm water than rain gardens, but that's that's what >> you will have you will have kids in there every weekend. I'll see them from
my uh from my property and I just hope that it it'll be safe in there when they enter. >> Uh that is um >> how deep can >> that is for the schools to figure out. >> Mr. Mueller, did you want to say
something? >> Um how deep can the water get? >> Um probably going to be about four feet deep at during a a hundredyear storm event. So, for a typical storm event, it might get one or two feet deep. Um, it
won't be that deep for anything more than probably 12 hours or shouldn't be. It's designed as a detention basin, not a retention basin. So, it shouldn't hold water for longer than probably half a day.
>> Jim, do you have any thoughts on on the safety issue? And were there anything else? The the only thought I have is that when it rains in Florida, the Florida Department of Transportation sets their standard at if it's 4 in of rain, nobody should be
out in the rain. So if this basin is full of water at 4 feet, nobody should be out in the rain at that kind of storm. So these bio retention basins are meant to
to drain in a in a very a fairly rapid um time space. And all of our concerns about children playing in ponds. These aren't ponds. They are they are they're rain they're very large rain gardens.
And um I I think we're we're overthinking this. Yes, kids are going to climb the fence and they're going to get into it, but they're not going to be doing it during a rainstorm. >> It should be dry most of the time. >> Exactly. >> Yeah.
>> And also, I I I should point out that we're we're required to design this for a much more significant storm event than has really ever happened. They we're required to design for future storm events, like a theoretical much larger
storm event. So the if if this basin is full to the top, we might be pairing the animals. So >> So okay, thanks for that. Thanks, Mr. Anderson. Um Justin, you have
>> Madame Chair. Um, I know the high school um has a basin uh kind of I don't know the rooms in the high school that well, but kind of towards um uh >> it's right on Walnut. >> Right on Walnut >> on Walnut. Not not the one that the
board reviewed a couple years ago that doesn't have a fence, but the other one I imagine or does anyone from the school side know how that compares and if there's any issues ever? Uh, you know, I imagine a high schooler is probably going to jump a fence more than a elementary schooler. Um, you know, have
there been any issues or or you know, I'm sure if there was something that like what we're worried about tonight, it would have been on the news. Uh, so does anybody on the school side know how this compares? I mean I'm not aware of any issues but I mean I think last time with respect to the tension or detention
basins we were talking about I mean we agreed they would be locked at all times they would be you know secured that uh just to be clear students are not or children after school are not allowed to go them in them uh and they would be breaking the rules to do so but we are
agreeable to to put up signage um just to further deter them and and we certainly you know don't want that to happen but They, as Beth said, they should be dry, you know, most of the time, and they're they're designed for 100-year storms, which hopefully we
won't see for a long time, but um I'm not aware of any. >> Yeah. >> Yeah. We've had seven 100year storms in the last 10 years. >> Yeah. >> So, sorry to disabuse you of the sanguin comment. Uh but the you know 500 or
thousandear storm I mean those are you know that's when that's really going to fill up and um and even then it'll it'll drain pretty darn fast or as um Beth noted you know we'll be leading the animals two by two. um poly
>> I think you know Beth has she has designed these these detention basins in accordance with all requirements and you know >> with the standard >> which are stricter than they used to be which is good >> correct >> poly >> uh just to to clarify um at the high
school I think that the detention basin that you were referring to which is fenced that is actually used as as in the curriculum you know different teachers have used it over the years for teaching um biology or college and the
like. So I mean there's potential for that detention base in community park to become something that maybe teachers could use. >> Absolutely. >> I think we had recognized that last time with the ones we talked about. >> Yeah, that's right. >> You know on September 25th as well that
they could be teaching tools as well. >> So uh any other members of the public wish to speak? Not seeing any other hands go up. So with that, I will um close the public comment portion of the meeting and
invite any any final questions, comments, um thoughts from board members. Mr. McGawan. >> Um maybe I missed it but as particularly with respect to this project was there
any comment as to uh green roofs, solar panels or EV stands or are they going to be installed ready or >> can you speak to that Mr. Duty or Miss Kinderdine? >> Sure. Yes. Uh there is an initiative in
the district right now, a separate path of a solar study that's being done and maybe Andrew Harris could provide an update on that. But there there is an effort as you know the roofs have all been replaced. One of the goals is to make those roofs solar ready and that's being studied now. But there's been
changes in the solar marketplace that could have an impact on public on public solar projects. Okay. So maybe Andrew can I don't know do you have any further on that? I know we have that consultant Andrew. Yeah, there's discussions going on at the board level now, the BOE level, um, regarding putting solar on
the roofs of the buildings. So hopefully there'll be more to come on that in the next few months. >> Yep. >> That's a study going on. >> And, um, >> it's outside outside the >> outside >> outside I mean outside the applications we're here for tonight. Just
>> Yes. And outside the referendum, right? Um and uh when we talked at last time um there was an agreement to um make some of your parking stalls EV ready. Are you
>> Well, I'd like to clarify that because I I I don't know about making a park I I think what we said we would try to do it would try to do if we can. I mean we do have budget constraints and we do have electrical service size constraints too especially since the projects are
designs are are finished but um is to provide infrastructure within the electrical panels and gear I think is what I had said last time so that u at a later date if there is a decision to add charging stations we would have the
ability to feed those charging stations from our electrical switch gear that's being installed the new gear that we're putting in the additions. Okay. >> And I think it's a Okay. Thank you for that. And I I would also note that there are EV chargers at
the municipal building very close by um that uh frequently have open >> uh capacity. Um so I you know that may be significant here. Mr. Rowan, >> I I was just going to comment also this this application does not include any
new parking spaces whereas the other ones did. >> So I think it would be uh less appropriate for us to be insisting on something like that here. >> Yeah. Thank you. Other questions from
from board members? And if there are none, um, would someone like to Well, Mr. Mueller, do you want to go? Yes, >> Madam Chair. Madam Chair. Yeah, I did I did communicate with Victor Anikke and
uh just for the record uh he would like me to put on the record that um there had been uh a discussion about potentially changing the uh or creating a sidewalk um on site. um that uh would
uh his concern was that there are there appears to be a pathway that is created um and it looks like it is because of students um basically uh jaywalking um and whether or not the the school
district was going to go forward with changing the on-site sidewalk pattern uh to keep that from happening. Um, I believe that that that pathway um across the lawn that um probably
should require a sidewalk. I believe that it is and I'd like the applicant to answer this um due to uh students that get off the bus, not students that don't cross at crosswalks on Witherspoon
Street. But it was a concern of uh of Mr. um that uh the idea of changing the sidewalk pattern uh near Witherswin Street was because of concern of jaywalkers.
So, I don't know if uh Patrick has anything to say about that, but if he could uh or if somebody who >> can you I'm unclear about the J the location Jay walking. Is it across Witherspoon or >> you know where the where the school bus
uh the school buses drop off? Um there is a sidewalk pattern on that side of community park school. um that it appears that from the pathways uh across the lawn that are
>> the beaten paths, >> the beaten paths across the lawn uh makes it appear that students may be crossing Witherspoon Street, not at crosswalks. And there was a cons there was some consideration of changing or putting in
a new sidewalk um in those pathways as as we tend to do, right? If uh if we see a beaten path, we're going to improve that beaten path because that's the pathway of least resistance. Um, so Victor's comment that
he wanted to put on record was that he was concerned that um, there needed to be some changes to prevent students from not crossing at crosswalks. Um,
somebody from the school district may be able to answer that. I think I answered that question in my own understanding of the way uh students arrive at school and leave school. Um but uh there was some
uh something in the reports that led Victor to uh understand that the school district was looking at changing uh potentially that sidewalk pattern. >> Jim, I I don't really understand. Um,
if >> Beth, can you bring up the the site plan? >> Yeah, I'm I'm I'm also a little unclear, but I mean I would say I'm sure I can speak for the school that we would be supportive of the students crossing at at crosswalks and would not
>> not recommend them cross elsewhere. If the idea is if the suggestion is to pave some of the beaten paths which are not at crosswalks that's just and and the kids jaywalk to get to them. Basically paving those paths will
increase the jaywalking. Um, >> no, the point is >> the point is that the current sidewalks I I I'm not 100% sure myself what the what it is, but um Beth, can you zoom in on where I'm talking about where the
school bus drop off is? Yes, >> it's in here. I think um the way you phrased it, it made me made me think that Victor was concerned that the school district was going to pave areas that uh walkways that that students
currently use and thus support the idea of jaywalking. >> Yes. >> Yes. So, so we're not proposing any new sidewalks along the Witherspoon Street right ofway. Um,
as you can see, >> and if the kids run across the lawn after they get off the bus, >> correct? >> So what? >> No, I I understand that. I understand that. I understand that, chair, madam chair, but the point was that some I'm
not and unfortunately Victor doesn't have audio. Um, there was something that raised his concern about it because it was addressed in the traffic report. uh in in some way. And I just wanted to
make sure that it was on the record that the idea of um changing the sidewalk pattern wasn't going to create jaywalking because jaywalking doesn't exist right now. And that's what I wanted the school district to say, not me to say.
>> Yes. So jaywalking across across Witherspoon is not happening because the walkers are getting off of the bus and going, you know, straight to the front door instead of following the >> and I don't want to testify on behalf of the school district. >> Yeah, understood. Okay. Well,
>> nor do I, but I but I now understand both the pattern and the potential for misunder miscommunication, misunderstanding. So, yeah. So, if the school district could confirm that there's no plan to change the
sidewalk pattern and encourage jaywalking, I think we got it covered. >> That's correct. If I if I understand it correct and encourage jaywalking. Agreed. >> Okay. >> Thank you. >> Brandon, did you were you the one who
spoke? What did you say? I I didn't catch it. >> No. Well, I I started to speak, but then uh Patrick Downey chimed in, but I I was just going to say if I if I understand the comment, I think I I was going to say I can I can confirm we're we're not encouraging jaywalking and and not proposing new sidewalk, but I I don't want to cut um Patrick offer or what he
said. >> And that is basically what Mr. Downey said, who is the traffic engineer. Is that correct, Mr. Downey? >> Yes, that's correct. >> Thank you. >> Yeah, I I would tend to agree with Mr. from Mueller that by if we were to pave even if they're beaten, you know, beaten
piss, if we were to pave them, I think we're we would be condoning that behavior or essentially encouraging it or at least acquiescing to it and and you know, and we're not we're not proposing that. >> Okay. So, before um
well, I guess uh well be before a motion, Mr. Mueller, you want to um go over any >> it's just >> comments? I mean, the only the the
I know that or I think I recall that the um that the schools said that they were amendable to the suggestions in Deanna's memo. Is that correct? And um and that they were inclined to
provide plenty air quotes of um bike parking which was strongly encouraged by or supported by members of the board as well. Um were there other
conditions Mr. Leco or David, I see you moving forward. >> I just want to sort of correct your characterization of the bike parking. They said that they would provide bike parking in accordance with our ordinance
>> and possib possibly more >> and possibly more because they agree it's a I don't want to put words in your mouth and possibly more period full stop or >> well I think what it what my
recollection is that uh Patrick spoke and he said we we would agree certainly to provide the at least the minimum number that would be required by the ordinance but may go above of that and I think it was something to that effect. Um >> that's correct. >> So that's yeah that's doesn't need to be
a condition then. >> Yeah. Uh Justin. >> Uh yes. Thank you Madam Chair. And I think one thing that we probably want to just memorialize for the record is that there is going to be a fence around that bio retention basin. Um as well as those
fences and gates from the courtyards. Um, and again, that's really just for the record, uh, because the schools said they were going to do it. >> Mhm. >> Um, and the one other thing I would add, um, I know there was a little discussion about this before, but those lights on
the bike path, um, and I think there was a comment of we're not going to make a condition out of that. So feel free to just completely shoot this down, but I I don't know if for the record you want to put something of, you know, the board recommends that municipal staff and
school staff work on that um just so that doesn't go by the wayside. Not that I'm saying it will because I think our staff is is well aware of of that, but I don't think it could hurt to acknowledge that having a an 8ft fence on one side
and at least a sixoot on the other um there should be some lighting there. >> Yeah. >> But again, that's the board's, you know, it's up to you, >> right? And I I mean I think that we can be um I mean I I I
be fine with being explicit that we're not asking or expecting the board to install the lighting, but rather to work with and cooperate with the municipality as um um you know as this improvement is built
and make sure that um lighting adequate to ensure safety is provided for. Is that >> I mean I think I think we could >> Mr. Cohen, does that does that sound right to you as a municipal official?
I I mean what I felt I heard Jim say was that he sort of felt it it didn't need to involve the schools that we'll bring it up with the recck department and
we'll handle it on our side. But Jim, >> yeah, if I >> the path, the path is being added to the school district's project on behalf of the municipality and the recreation department. I think it behooves us uh in
the municipality to provide the lighting that's necessary. I don't think it should be a condition of anything on the school district. >> Um Jim, >> if you want to put that in the minutes, that's fine, too. The thought the thought by by David was just that the uh the school board would
the board the school would cooperate. >> Absolutely. Yeah. And and and they've indicated that simply by putting in the path. >> Yes. Yes. Thank you for the path. >> Yeah. >> I think we can c we can certainly agree
to discuss and cooperate. I think that some discussion was that the lake may be on the municipal property and I we obviously can't control that. There there there's more to this path than than just the construction of it as well. We we need to have crossesment uh
language. There's there's legal language and the council has to take action and so it's not a slam dunk that the path is going in but um we >> but this is a big step forward. >> It's a big step forward. Yes. and and we will and the municipality and the school
district will work coop cooperatively to put in a safe path for um the public. >> So maybe not a condition we'll just note it somewhere in the resolution. >> Yep. Great. Anything else, Mr. Muller?
I'm just going over the u let me just pin down with respect to the path. So we don't Justin's saying we don't have to put anything in the resolution which would be fine. That would would that include we're not going to say anything about lighting on the path because at one point about a minute ago that the um
I was going to put in a condition that said the school board the school would cooperate with the meeting. >> It it does not need to be a condition. It could be mentioned in the resolution that the the path is on the plan and the municipality and schools will
you know >> coordinate >> coordinate uh but it is not not in the form of a condition. >> Okay. >> Yeah. I mean just just for the record again it doesn't just I my understanding I I believe we added the the path in the
fence at the municipality's request just you know >> we understand >> right >> we that was you know added after the scope was determined but you know we're happy to >> okay >> work together you know
>> the only addition conditions uh safety signage on the fence around the retention basin um then going to the memo from um Justin uh Derek and Jim um 5.02
um it's it's it's the path again um and void existing uh the tree protection zone staff supports this effort. The school should consult with municipal arborist during construction to ensure existing trees are maintained to the
maximum extent possible. Do we want to put that in I think would be Jim rather than municipal arborist. >> Oh that that's standard procedure on any project. Our municipal arborist is in involved on single family homes all the way up to Princeton University major
applications. I don't think it's I mean it doesn't need to be a condition but it's just standard operating procedure. Okay. We're comfortable with that. We won't make it a condition. Um and then minor grading is proposed
within the lawn area to the west of the school for drainage purposes. Again, schools, this is what the memo says, should consult the municipal arburous during construction to ensure existing trees are maintained to the maximum extent practicable. Do we want to put that in?
>> Uh Miss Kenderdine said they were amendable to that, I believe. So, yeah. >> Yep. >> Okay. Um and then the um the stuff that's in the
uh the report um by Diana. And I think that is it. >> Okay. Thank you. Um would some anyone on the board like to make a motion? >> Why not? Mr. Cohen, uh, moving approval of the,
uh, I'm looking for my exact wording on the, uh, >> just a grant >> conditional use authorization. Go ahead, Mr. Miller. >> That was it. Just granting conditional use authorization with the conditions articulated. >> Okay.
>> So moved. >> Second. >> And seconded by Owen O'Donnell. Um, Justin, would you call the role, please? >> Certainly, Madam Chair. Mr. Bodheimer, >> yes. >> Councilman Cohen, >> yes.
>> Mr. McGawan, >> yes. >> Mr. O'Donnell, >> yes. >> Miss Wilson Anderson, >> yes. >> Chair Wilson, >> yes. >> Motion passes. >> Hit me, Miss Na. >> Thank you, Miss Na.
>> Oh, I'm sorry about that. Uh, Miss Na. >> Perfect. Yes. >> I thought you got to me sort of quick. >> I thought so, too. My apologies. >> Okay, great. >> Thank you very much. >> Right. Well, thank you. >> Yes. Thank you very much. And um thanks
to the school board members who as of a few minutes ago anyway, uh several were um in the attendees room. We appreciate all your work on this and um look forward to uh all these projects um
happening and going off without a hitch. And um uh I think if there's no further business, Mr. Cohen, >> I move to adjourn.
>> Second. >> All in favor, please say I. >> I. >> I. Thank you again everybody. See you next time. >> Thank you very much. >> Thanks. Good night. >> Good night. >> Have a good night.