By Nick Norlen, Staff Writer
The Nassau Inn has “room for improvement,” its attorney said Thursday — “no pun intended.” — In what attorney Thomas Letizia — and the inn’s representatives — have called a “rejuvenation,” the hotel on Palmer Square plans to renovate and expand on its site with a phased, three-year project that would include a six-story addition on Hulfish Street and 40 new guest rooms.
The applicants appeared before the Regional Planning Board of Princeton on Thursday to get the board’s feedback on the concept site plan, which includes many of the same elements featured in an expansion plan that was first approved by the board in September 1998 and that has since expired.
Calling the inn a “longtime staple of the Princeton business community,” Mr. Letizia said “business remains strong,” but noted that the inn also needs to “meet future demands of customers.”
Along with four floors of guest rooms, the proposed six-story building would include two street-level retail stores and a larger ballroom above the retail stores adjacent to the existing ballroom.
The plan also proposes the demolition and reconstruction of the current Lindt Chocolate retail space along Palmer Square West, two new floors above the retail area for meeting rooms and storage space, and a new exterior entry, waiting area and outdoor dining space for the Yankee Doodle Tap Room restaurant.
Although 40 new rooms would be constructed in the Hulfish Street addition, the hotel plans to reduce the number of rooms in its Colonial Wing from 84 to 56 in order to build expanded rooms, resulting in a net increase of only 12 rooms.
Among the bulk variances that would be required, according to a Nov. 26 memo from Regional Planning Director Lee Solow and other officials, are those pertaining to a minor increase in building height, a request for an additional story and the requirement for 81 new parking spaces.
While no new parking spaces are proposed in the current site plan, Mr. Solow said Thursday that a parking plan has been requested from the inn.
In the past, inn representatives successfully argued that most new patrons would arrive by taxi or limousine, rather than in their own vehicles.
Nassau Inn General Manager Lori Rabon also noted Thursday that many of the inn’s employees take mass transportation to work.
Though Mr. Solow also said that additional details on the inn’s proposed building materials have been requested, he said the initial plans appear to be compatible to the existing character of Palmer Square.
The inn was criticized prior to the initial approval in 1998 for proposing changes that some said were not consistent with Palmer Square.
But Ms. Rabon said Thursday that the goal is indeed to “replicate the overall look” of the square.
The borough’s Historical Preservation Review Committee has also met with the inn and issued suggestions.
During the public comment session Thursday, Planning Board member Yina Moore, who had recused herself from the hearing because a conflict due to her residence’s proximity to the site, addressed the board as a resident, and cited concerns about the renovations’ potential impact on the surrounding neighborhood.
Borough resident Travis Linderman, a representative of the borough’s merchants, said the merchants look forward to discussing parking issues, but “are excited and in full support” of the improvements.
Ms. Rabon said she expects the inn to make a formal submission to the Planning Board next month.
