By Greg Forester, Staff Writer
An ordinance amendment that will make certain low-speed electric vehicles legal for use on some township roads, once Princeton University buys the vehicles and begins using them for campus maintenance work, won the support of the Princeton Township Committee.
The university plans on purchasing four to six of the vehicles in the near future as part of a pilot program under the university’s sustainability program, according to Kristen Appelget, a university spokeswoman.
The vehicles, which travel at no more than 25 miles per hour, are electric and more environmentally friendly than gasoline-powered equipment.
Also, the fleet’s use should help the university realize significant savings through its substitution for the group of gasoline-powered Ford Rangers and other pickup trucks used by campus maintenance crews.
”From a fuel perspective, recharging (the vehicles) costs pennies,” said Ms. Appelget.
The university did not want to move forward with the vehicles’ purchase until local officials signed off on the ordinance amendment, according to Ms. Appelget, who said a similar ordinance will be proposed to West Windsor Township officials.
Also on the Township Committee agenda Tuesday:
• The township introduced an ordinance that would fund the extension of sewer piping along Quarry Lane, allowing three residences to eventually hook up to the township’s sanitary sewer system.
The ordinance, which will be voted on during an April 20 public hearing, will appropriate $46,620 for the extension of the sewer line, but residents living in the three homes benefiting from the extension have agreed to pay for the improvement.
”This will come at no cost to the township,” said Robert Kiser, the township engineer.
• The Township Committee introduced an ordinance amendment that will update the local affordable housing code.
The amendment will allow the township to better enforce rules that bar owners of subsidized properties to rent out the homes and live elsewhere, according to Edwin Schmierer, the township attorney.
”It’s an amplification of our existing ordinance,” Mr. Schmierer said.
The amendment also will make enforcement a more local affair.
The current ordinance requires enforcement action to be undertaken through a potentially costly process in Mercer Count Superior Court, but the amendment means future enforcement may be done in front of the local municipal judge.
”It’s a great way to have local control,” said Committeeman Chad Goerner. “This will make (the process) more efficient.”
The affordable housing amendment will face a final vote April 20.

