Princeton Zoning Board to Continue Hearing on Development of Former Olive May Site Tonight

A rendering of the proposed new development for 255 Nassau St., the former site of Olive May and Wild Oats.
A rendering of the proposed new development for 255 Nassau St., the former site of Olive May and Wild Oats.

The Princeton Zoning Board will possibly make a decision tonight on whether to approve of deny the zoning variances needed for the proposed redevelopment of  255 Nassau Street. The site is currently being occupied by CrossFit and was previously occupied by Olive May, Wild Oats and Davidson’s.

The hearing, which began last month, will continue at 7:30 p.m. tonight in the main meeting room at the municipal building at 400 Witherspoon Street.

Lou Carnevale, the owner of the property and former owner of The Annex, is proposing to put a 4,500-square-foot bank, 5,400-square-feet of office space, and 16 apartments in the building, The building would be four stories and include 57 parking spaces. The parking spaces would be placed in front of the building, on the side of the building, and in back of the building.

Some residents in the East Nassau neighborhood oppose the project and have called for restaurants and retail at the site. Linda Fahmie, the representative for the Carnevale family, has said it is impossible to get financing for restaurants and that banks are reliable tenants. A public comment session on the project is expected to be held tonight.

Last month local officials raised issues during the hearing about New Jersey Department of Transportation regulations. Princeton University also owns a driveway connected to the site but  it appears the school will not grant an easement for the project. Kristin Appelget was prepared last month to speak on the school’s behalf as Princeton’s director of community and regional affairs, but the lawyer for the Carnevale family blocked the move, questioning her authority to speak at the hearing when Appelget is not a lawyer. Appelget said she would bring a lawyer to tonight’s hearing if possible.

4 Comments

  1. Could you please publish a follow-up report on what happened at this meeting? As a neighbor resident, I (and my fellow neighbors) oppose a bank. Princeton has enough banks already! Please, if not a restaurant than some other pedestrian-friendly business.

    1. We will be publishing a story today. The meeting ended late last night. The zoning board rejected the application. Stay tuned for details…

    1. I would be fine with some taller buildings if it meant there would be more places to live for middle-class Princeton employees. The town has gotten too expensive for average folks to live.

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