Plan had been criticized by local residents, who feared the impact on the village
By: Matthew Armstrong and David M. Campbell
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| Graphic by Tom Lederer |
Despite opposition from more than 60 residents, the Plainsboro Planning Board Monday unanimously approved Princeton University’s plan to build a luxury apartment complex on the Kingston border.
Residents from Kingston and Plainsboro said the development, slated for 56 acres at the corner of Seminary Drive and Mapleton Road, will increase traffic problems in the area and adversely affect historic sites like the village of Kingston. They said that developers had not fully addressed environmental concerns.
The project includes an access road to be built at the corner of Seminary Drive and Mapleton Road and a traffic light at the new four-way intersection.
The board also approved dividing the property, setting aside 30 acres between Mapleton Road and the Delaware & Raritan Canal as open space. The remaining 26 acres will be used for 18 apartment buildings and recreational amenities. Chris Baker, attorney for the landowner, Princeton University Trustees, said the university would donate the 30 acres upon approval of the apartments. The offer originally had been contingent on the approval of the office space.
Princeton University owns the 500 acres formerly owned by Princeton Nurseries, one of the largest nurseries in the nation. Three hundred acres of the parcel is located in South Brunswick and is not in the plans. South Brunswick has changed the housing density on this parcel to low density.
The university also has plans for 2 million square feet of retail and office space next to the apartments. No formal application has been made but it is part of the university’s general development plan. The plan is referenced in Plainsboro’s Master Plan.
"The idea was, instead of having development occur haphazardly, to have it all coordinated," said Michael La Place, director of community development in Plainsboro. "It’s to have an area where people can live and work and walk. To look at planning on a larger scale."
Mary Sue Henifin, attorney for Friends of Princeton Nursery Lands, an area group opposed to the plan, asked the board to postpone any decision on approval, calling a vote Monday "premature" because it would not give the board time to consider the testimony presented by opponents.
Ms. Henifin said the terms of open space contribution had yet to be completed, traffic and environmental data were incomplete.
"This board has not taken into account the regional traffic implications of this development," Ms. Henifin said.
Ms. Henifin attempted to present the findings of a traffic report, commissioned by the Friends of Princeton Nurseries and conducted by Sam Schwartz Company. Residents hoped the report would refute the developer’s documentation. It was to be presented by Erich Arcement, who works with the firm.
The developer’s report, presented by traffic consultant Richard Orth,said the new apartments would generate 125 additional peak hour trips in the morning, and an additional 150 peak hour trips at night.
The residents’ traffic studyprojected that with the apartment complex and the associated office complex, traffic would double on local roads in the area including Ridge Road, Academy Street, Laurel Avenue, and Heathcote Road.
The study contends that the developer’s numbers are based on a flawed assumption that Route 92 will be built and proposed improvements to Mapleton Road and Seminary Drive will not meet the future demands of the development. The report also said peak hour trips are considerably higher than those cited by Mr. Orth.
Thomas M. Letizia, the builder’s attorney asked the board to discount Mr. Arcement’s testimony because Mr. Arcement was not a licensed engineer in the state of New Jersey and Sam Schwartz, who conducted the study, was not present for cross-examination.
The Planning Board agreed, and Mr. Arcement was denied the opportunity to present his findings.
Also speaking out against the development were Gretchen Oberheiser and Robert von Zumbusch. Each shed some light on the development’s impact on historical sites in the region.
"We respectfully ask you to reconsider your decision," Ms. Oberheiser said. "Consider the permanence of your work, and the legacy you will be leaving behind to your children."
Charley Dietrich of the Friends of Princeton Nurseries said Tuesday that the problem between neighboring municipalities occurs all the time and the state must do something to deal with these conflicts, which prevent sound regional planning.
"Clearly they are working toward what they perceive as Plainsboro’s self-interest," said Mr. Dietrich. "The system needs some work to accommodate regional planning. State senators and assemblymen have to figure out some solution to allow neighbors to have a say when they are affected. There should be some mechanism in the state to make sure that a town like Kingston is not ruined by decisions made by Plainsboro."