By Greg Forester, Staff Writer
The Westerly Road Church presented preliminary plans to subdivide its property for development, and the Institute for Advanced Study received approval for a plan to build new short-term residences during the Princeton Regional Planning Board’s meeting Thursday.
In its initial plans, the Westerly Road Church is moving toward dividing its property into 10 half-acre lots for sale to a developer as the church looks to raise money in preparation for a mid-2011 move to a Bunn Drive site on the Princeton ridge.
Today, the property hosts the 8,000-square-foot church, three homes and some church offices.
Attorney Dan Haggerty, speaking for the church, informed the board that selling the property to a single developer made the most sense for the church, especially in light of its need for financing for a planned 44,400-square-foot facility planned for Bunn Drive.
”That’s probably the direction we’re headed,” Mr. Haggerty said.
No official action was taken during the preliminary concept plan review, but several planning board members recommended the church consider doing something more creative with its property than seeking a subdivision for lots that later would host 10 homes.
They said the church had an opportunity to build something special on the property, which sits in a residential neighborhood between Westerly Road and Mountain Avenue.
”Creativity in terms of reaping a profit is one thing,” said Yina Moore, a board member. “Creativity in terms of the community’s needs is another.”
Board member Marvin Reed said doing something more creative could benefit planning for the new Bunn Drive church, slated for the environmentally sensitive Princeton ridge, where previous development plans have met significant community resistance.
Mr. Reed, who said he recognized the church’s interest in generating the largest return on the property, suggested more creativity in plans for the Westerly Road property could soften expected resistance to plans for the 18.2-acre Bunn Drive parcel.
”The more you do that, it will compensate for problems people perceive at the new location,” Mr. Reed said.
More than 60 members of the nondenominational church attended the meeting as well as other residents.
Westerly Road resident Betsy Hoover said the church should look into subdividing the property into larger lots.
”Ten (lots) is too much,” Ms. Hoover said.
Members of the Princeton Environmental Commission have expressed concern about the number of trees that would be removed to accommodate the church’s project on Bunn Drive. Earlier in the meeting, the Planning Board unanimously approved the Institute for Advanced Study’s plan to build 19 small short-term residences on property near Springdale Road.
The 19 residences, each with a bedroom, bathroom and a living area, totaling 580 square feet, will help the theoretical research institution concentrate its visitors in one area of the campus, according to Associate Director John Masten, who said the new units also would free up exiting apartments for use by permanent members.
The new residences also mean a reduction in traffic. Today, many visitors stay in area hotels and other places off campus, requiring transportation to the institute property.
Institute officials said the residences would be considered student housing and exempt from affordable housing obligations.
But board members, in absence of clear evidence the project would be exempt, said they would not comment on the affordable housing during the approval. Mr. Reed encouraged the institution to make a contribution toward affordable housing, especially in light of the low-income workers employed at the institute.
Planning Director Lee Solow, responding to board members’ questions about future development at the institute, said planners could institute a cap on staff and faculty members on the site.
