Stuart expansion slated for new review

An advisory panel to the Princeton Regional Planning Board will look at the school’s proposal for construction and renovations.

By: David Weinstein
   Representatives from the Stuart Country Day School of the Sacred Heart will present a proposed site plan, which includes renovations and construction at their campus, to the Site Plan Review Advisory Board of the Princeton Regional Planning Board at 4:30 p.m. Wednesday at the Princeton Township Municipal Complex on Witherspoon Street.
   The all-girls’ school, located on Stuart Road near The Great Road, presented a similar scheme last month, but a recommendation was not issued by board members for the 53,000-square-foot major site plan.
   Instead, Princeton Township engineering staff and Stuart representatives planned a meeting that took place last week to consider further review of some issues involved with the plan, including possible environmental impacts the proposal could produce, as well as several engineering matters, said Township Engineer Bob Kiser.
   The advisory board makes recommendations on proposed site plans, which are subsequently presented before the Planning Board for a final decision.
   The 55-acre Stuart site is environmentally sensitive with steep slopes, huge boulders and wetlands flowing with stream corridors. The resulting environmental concerns have made development of the site a sensitive issue, both school and board representatives have said.
   The school is seeking approval for a major site plan that includes improvements to the academic, athletic and theatrical facilities on the campus.