Planning Board to discuss demolition of FitzRandolph Observatory, university solar array, town’s affordable housing plans, and proposal for 200 apartments at the Princeton Shopping Center tonight
The Princeton Planning Board has a packed agenda for its 7:30 p.m. meeting tonight, July 9. The board will hear a report about the demolition of the FitzRandolph Observatory at Princeton University and will review an application from the university for a solar array at Elm Drive and Faculty Road. The board will also hold a hearing on the Princeton Community Master Plan for affordable housing, and will discuss five affordable housing overlay zones, including a plan to build 200 apartment units at the Princeton Shopping Center.
A four-story apartment complex is proposed for the end of the shopping center closest to Clearview Avenue. The complex would include up to 200 apartment units, and 44 of the units would be affordable housing. A parking garage is also planned for the site. Each apartment unite requires 1.5 parking spaces, according to the ordinance for the affordable hosing overlay zone. The maximum impervious surface allowed for the development is 95 percent. The minimum building setback for the project is 50 feet, and the maximum height of the complex is 65 feet.
To join the 7:30 p.m. public meeting via zoom video, visit https://princeton.zoom.us/j/94263334596. Or join the meeting via phone by calling 646 558 8656 or 301 715 8592. The meeting I.D. is 942 6333 4596.
Krystal Knapp is the founding editor of Planet Princeton. Follow her on Twitter @krystalknapp. She can be reached via email at editor AT planetprinceton.com. Send all letters to the editor and press releases to that email address.
Edens, is it, the Boston-based owner of the shopping center? They are not going to want to have half the towns affordable housing requirements dumped in their lap in the current environment of retail and restaurants under Covid. It is an ugly plan in so many ways with 0 local input. Why not encourage the folks who already live in the town to use the new regulation allowing secondary dwellings on or in or behind primary residences to receive tax abatements and zero interest for 20 yr loans to build this housing among the housing we already have .. to increase density, etc and honor the feel (and height of the neighborhoods).
The way this affordable housing stuff has been handled in the middle of the lost middle class in a town like Princeton it is embarrassing. The way our town leadership fought to keep affordable housing out of our town is shameful and the way the regular folks who live int he town and are local have not been included, nor any of the local architects such as those who worked on this accessory dwelling unit have not been included… they should be included…
Just wondering why they want to demolish to only observatory we have …?