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PRINCETON: Businesses balk at hours restrictions

Would affect those in residential areas

By Philip Sean Curran, Staff Writer
Staff photo by Philip Sean CurranRestaurateur Jack Morrison and John Marshall, president of the Princeton Merchants Association, at the meeting.
A Nassau Street property owner said Monday that a move to limit the hours business can be open was "triggered" by a proposed 7-Eleven convenience store looking to open on his family owned land, the site of the old West Coast Video.
Land owner Robert Bratman joined other businessmen at a Princeton Council meeting to criticize a proposal to restrict restaurants and other businesses that are located in a residential district or are within 200 feet of one.
Officials have said the issue is about quality of life, even though they carved out multiple exemptions including one for Princeton University. Officials have discussed allowing businesses to open in the 5 a.m. to 6 a.m. time frame and require them to close around 2 a.m. Most businesses close at that time already, the town has said.
"It seems that a lot of this has been triggered because of a tenant that we finally found for 259 Nassau Street that proposes being open 24/7," Mr. Bratman told Mayor Liz Lempert and the council. "And it seems that the public has recoiled at 
the idea of a store being there open 24/7."
An application is pending before the Princeton Planning Board to enable a 7-Eleven to move into the former video store building, in a part of town where two businesses, Hoagie Haven and the Ivy Inn, already stay open late. There is no date yet for a hearing, but the store would fall under the hours of operation restrictions council is considering.
During the meeting, municipal Planning Director Lee O. Solow walked through a draft ordinance applying to restaurants, retail food establishments, retail stores and personal service businesses. The measure exempts businesses with a liquor license; drug stores with pharmacies open beyond any hour limit council imposes; medical and veterinary care businesses; and businesses located within the four "e-zones," namely parts of town that allow higher education uses like the university.
The measure has pit the business community against residents, with those competing interests playing out Monday night.
John Marshall, president of the Princeton Merchants Association, said his organization found the ordinance "generally unacceptable" and "overly restrictive." Restaurateur Jack Morrison said the idea of restricting hours is "economically dangerous not only to the businesses but to the vitality of all neighborhoods."
Officials took no action Monday, but Councilwoman Heather H. Howard said this week the governing body would revisit the issue in September. Residents, though, felt the measure was necessary and expressed quality-of-life concerns about the potential for people to loiter in their neighborhood.
Alexi Assmus posed a question to the business community whether they "really need" to have stores open all night.
"It doesn’t seem to me that that really affects the vibrancy of Princeton as it stands now, and it just seems almost like somewhat of a knee-jerk reaction to me," she said.
In his remarks, Mr. Bratman cited how the store property would be lighted in the back, have video surveillance and someone on duty all the time.
"So instead of creating crime, a 24-hour convenience store on the property would reduce crime if there is crime," Mr. Bratman said.
Andrea Stine supported the ordinance and said Princeton residents deserve "a break from commerce."
"We’re not New York City," she said. "I would hope council would look at this as do we want to be like a New York City or do we want to keep Princeton’s unique charm where there is a good balance between both residential and business?"
"Princeton can’t necessarily be compared to a loud, bustling city," Mr. Marshall said. "Nor is it fair of residents to expect Princeton living to be like that of a house in the country while still having the convenience of being able to walk to these services. There’s a fine line there."