Princeton planning board will convene on Thursday
By: Kara Fitzpatrick
The Regional Planning Board of Princeton will formally begin review of the application for Hulfish North the proposed luxury development at the foot of Palmer Square that was originally proposed 16 years ago on Thursday night.
The meeting, scheduled to begin at 7:30, will be held in the main meeting room of the Princeton Township Hall.
The applicant, Palmer Properties, is seeking approval to build 100 residential units on 4.4 acres along Paul Robeson Place between Witherspoon and Chambers streets in the heart of Princeton Borough.
Last month, the Site Plan Review Advisory Board of the Planning Board approved the plans. The endorsement, however, came with a number of conditions the major provision being that the issue of parking be deferred to the Planning Board.
Officials confirmed Monday that the necessary parking information has been provided to the Planning Board.
According to Palmer Square Management Vice President David Newton, a study prepared by Tim Haahs concluded that parking at Palmer Square would be sufficient at all times to handle the project.
"We feel that we have more than enough spaces," Mr. Newton said.
Mr. Newton said the residential development would greatly improve the look of downtown Princeton. If approved, he noted the dwellings would hide the façade of the one-story parking garage that borders Paul Robeson Place.
According to plans provided by Mr. Newton, the largest unit included in the Hulfish North development would be a 4,300-square-foot townhouse. The smallest dwelling would be 1,500 square feet.
Attorney Donald Daines, architect David Minno of Minno & Wasko Architects and Planners and Tom Stearns, project landscape architect, are scheduled to present testimony Thursday, Mr. Newton said.
The application was considered complete in March by Princeton Borough Engineer Carl Peters after it was deemed incomplete on five earlier occasions due to parking concerns.
In January 2005, the Planning Board responded positively to the concept plan for the project, which included changes made as a result of an agreement signed by developer Palmer Properties and Princeton Borough in 2004. The settlement increased the total number of units from 97 to 100, committed Palmer Properties to complete the project within five years, and set an affordable-housing obligation of 10 low- and moderate-income units.
Mr. Newton said that if approval is granted and the timeline goes according to plan, ground would be broken in spring 2007.