PRINCETON: Council votes for new historic district

By Philip Sean Curran, Staff Writer
   The “Western section” of the borough is in line to become the fifth local historic district, despite objections from many of the impacted residents.
   Borough Council voted, 4-0, on Tuesday to introduce an ordinance creating the “Morven Tract” historic district, spanning an area from Stockton Street to Hodge Road, including parts of Library Place and Bayard Lane. The ordinance next goes to the Regional Planning Board for review.
   Two members of the council, Kevin Wilkes and Roger Martindell, recused themselves from voting.
   The council vote came after residents opposed a measure they say will impinge on their property rights; most of the 52 properties in the proposed district are single-family homes. If the council ultimately creates the district, those residents would need to go before the local Historic Preservation Review Committee any time they want to make exterior alterations to any part of their homes that is visible from the street.
   Residents are concern about the potential costs and time involved in going through that process.
   ”We do not want this,” said Kim Pimley, a resident of Library Place who ran for mayor in 2007. More than half of the 49 homeowners are against the designation and signed a petition to that effect, she said.