Planning Board OKs changes designed to improve access and circulation at school.
By: Jennifer Potash
With little fanfare or controversy, the Princeton Regional Planning Board approved traffic and circulation improvements at Princeton Day School on Thursday.
No one from the public commented at the board hearing.
The Planning Board unanimously approved a new loop road, three speed humps and the paving of a road leading from the rear entrance off Pretty Brook Road and Coniston Court. The loop road has already been constructed following an administrative waiver granted by the township.
The private school, with student body ranging from kindergarten to high school, sought the board’s permission to make permanent some temporary traffic-calming devices, add a new internal loop road and pave an existing graveled road to stave off erosion.
The school will return to the Planning Board next year with an expansion plan and a completed traffic master plan including a study for a new traffic light at the main entrance off The Great Road.
Prior applications from PDS, including the school’s ice rink, drew significant public interest and PDS representatives were taken aback by the empty room at Princeton Township Hall.
"It’s unusual we’re here without someone (in the audience)," said Daniel Graziano, attorney for PDS.
The circulation improvements stemmed from concerns by the township police and fire official. During the morning drop-off and afternoon pick-up hours, vehicles stacked up in long queues, sometimes out to The Great Road, said Lee Solow, Princeton Regional Planning Director.
The school added the 12-foot-wide loop road to the east of the existing loop drive after obtaining an administrative waiver from the Planning Department, said Mr. Solow.
The new road eases the traffic bottlenecks, said Princeton Township Engineer Robert Kiser.
About five unmarked parking spaces were removed for the new loop road but the school does not have a parking deficit, officials said. The Planning Board asked for a parking inventory as part of the upcoming traffic master plan.
Other improvements include three speed humps at a crosswalk along the outer loop road.
PDS sought five speed humps but that request was denied by Princeton Fire Official Ted Cashel, citing the impediment to emergency vehicles. The Planning Board approved the speed humps on a one-year basis with a review from Mr. Cashel.
The application from PDS sought permission to pave the rear entrance of the school from Coniston Court and Pretty Brook Road. Students traveling from the west to PDS often use that entrance, which lessens the burden on the heavily traveled main entrance at The Great Road, officials said.
Princeton Township Mayor Phyllis Marchand asked about the school’s new carpool programs.
Cindy Stadulis, PDS business manager, said some families are participating in the program that matches up PDS students in the same town. Other schools have contacted PDS with an interest in the carpool program, Ms. Stadulis said.
In other Planning Board business, Chairwoman Victoria Bergman announced she would relinquish her post in January after serving three years. Ms. Bergman, who will continue to serve on the board, said the policy is to rotate the chairmanship between borough and township members.
"It’s been fun and I’m not going away," said Ms. Bergman, a Princeton Township resident.
She thanked the staffs of the Planning Department and from the borough and township’s engineering and zoning departments. Ms. Bergman included a special thanks for all the applicants and members of the public who appeared before the Planning Board.
"I applaud their participation in the democratic process by coming to our meetings," she said.