An ordinance that would rezone the former SAVE animal shelter site on Mt. Lucas Road to accommodate affordable housing has been introduced by Princeton Council.
The ordinance, which was introduced at the council’s March 11 meeting, would allow a 100-percent affordable housing rental development to be built on the site. It would allow up to 65 apartments.
The property is bordered by Mt. Lucas Road, Herrontown Road and Old Orchard Lane. SAVE had occupied the property until it moved to its current location on Route 601 in Montgomery Township.
Developer Charles Yedlin purchased the former SAVE property and was granted approval in 2017 to build a 25,000-square-foot office building, town Planning Director Michael LaPlace told Princeton Council.
The office market is “very soft,” LaPlace said, so Yedlin was agreeable to a proposal to rezone the 3-acre property for affordable housing.
LaPlace showed Princeton Council a concept plan for the site that would have a mix of one- , two- and three-bedroom apartments plus parking. The development would be deed-restricted so that the units could only be rented to low- and moderate-income households.
The proposed ordinance states that up to 50 percent of the apartments would be set aside for moderate-income households. A minimum of 50 percent of the apartments would be earmarked for low-income households – and of those units, 13 percent would be set aside for very-low income households.
According to state guidelines, a one-person household earning up to $55,557 would be considered a moderate-income household. A one-person low-income household is one that earns up to $34,723 and a very-low income household earns up to $20,834.
For a four-person household, one that earns up to $79,638 is considered a moderate-income household. A low-income four-person household earns up to $49,605 and a very-low income one earns up to $29,763.
LaPlace said bus service is available nearby on Route 206, and there are bicycle and pedestrian paths that lead into the center of Princeton.
“We think it will work well,” LaPlace said.
The concept plan that was shown to Princeton Council illustrated three- and four-story buildings. LaPlace said town staff met with neighbors on Old Orchard Lane and Mt. Lucas Road to discuss the development.
The four-story building would back up to office buildings on the adjacent parcel,and the three-story building would back up to Old Orchard Road, which is residential.
When Councilman Tim Quinn asked about sustainability, LaPlace said the prospective developer would incorporate sustainable design elements, possibly including green roofs for stormwater runoff. The developer also is going to pursue LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) certification.
Richard Meyer, who lives on Mt. Lucas Road near the property, was concerned about the “aesthetic impact” of the three- and four-story buildings shown on the concept plan.
Meyer also said it is difficult for Mt. Lucas Road residents to get out of their driveways and onto the street because of traffic at certain times of the day.
Meyer acknowledged the need for affordable housing, but this would be “high density (housing) in a low density area.”