Princeton University growth plans to be examined

Planning Board schedules April 5 session

By: Courtney Gross
   As concern over Princeton University’s expansion gains strength in Princeton Township and Princeton Borough, a subcommittee of the Regional Planning Board of Princeton is preparing to address the university’s role next month.
   The Master Plan Subcommittee of the Planning Board will host a discussion with university representatives April 5, during which the university is expected to unveil part of its plans for its proposed arts neighborhood in the Alexander Street and University Place area, members of the committee said.
   The discussion is part of a state-mandated review of the joint Princeton Community Master Plan, which occurs every six years. The subcommittee is charged with drafting a re-examination report that will point out areas of the Master Plan the municipalities intend to revise.
   Although the document has been revised frequently, the current version dates back to 1996.
   At a subcommittee meeting on Tuesday, Planning Board members explored the Master Plan’s vision statement, which most found outdated. Concepts such as "rural," "college town" and "small town" were among those questioned by the committee.
   "Princeton isn’t what it used to be," subcommittee chairman and former borough Mayor Marvin Reed said. "It’s not a quiet town."
   While commercial development is a major challenge to many municipalities, Princeton is confronted by the growth plans of an array of educational institutions, subcommittee members said.
   Although these institutions have given Princeton national and international recognition as well as a diverse population, they have also made Princeton’s concept of town and gown hazy as they continue to expand.
   "What do these institutions mean to our community?" subcommittee member and Township Committeewoman Vicky Bergman asked.
   Ultimately, members said, the Master Plan should prevent the institutions from becoming the town.
   In addition to the discussion of the educational institutions’ impact, the subcommittee discussed how to incorporate environmental standards into the Master Plan. Members also recognized the Master Plan should address the preservation of open space downtown.
   Over the years, members said, Princeton has become denser in its town center, while keeping more expansive green space near its borders. This concept should be clear in the document, members said.