Here’s The Latest On Princeton’s Hun School Rezoning Ordinance

PRINCETON, NJ – While Princeton's planning board supported the Hun School’s zoning change request, Council on Monday couldn’t reach a decision on the ordinance.

The Hun School in Princeton is seeking zoning map change to allow academic support uses on the Mason House site. The Mason House - which was formerly the headmaster's home - has been recently used for academic support space to free up room elsewhere on campus for use by the infirmary during the COVID-19 pandemic.

However, during the public hearing section, a few residents expressed concerns about the school’s plans.

Many residents said that what Hun School was seeking through their ordinance was not rezoning but “spot zoning.” Spot zoning refers to any action that changes the rules of a zoning code in response to a particular development proposal. Spot zoning is considered problematic because it focuses on individual properties rather than the board community plan.

The Hun School plans to build a new Center for Visual Arts and Advancement Office, which will include classrooms, galleries, studios, informal meeting and collaboration space, as well as a new home for the Hun School’s Office of Institutional Advancement.

During the meeting, residents said a multistory building would not compliment the neighborhood and would be “dramatically, aggressively out of scale.” Residents said that the new building would also increase traffic to the area.

Richard Goldman, attorney for the Hun School said the rezoning request was strictly for educational purposes. However, he did not rule out future development. He rejected the suggestion that the school was indulging in spot zoning. “The school needs this additional space. And that's why it’s patiently, for almost two years now, been going through the process,” Goldman said.

After much debate, the Council failed to reach a majority. Councilmembers Michelle Pirone Lambros, Eve Niedergang, and Dwaine Williamson voted yes, while David Cohen voted no. Meanwhile, Leticia Fraga and Mia Sacks abstained from voting. If the vote was considered 3 to 1, Hun would get their rezoning nod. But Municipal attorney Trishka Cecil said she needed a day's time to research the issue. When Goldman asked Mayor Mark Freda if he would cast a "provisional vote" pending Cecil's research into the matter, the Mayor said his vote would be no.

(This story will be updated when Patch receives information on the final outcome.)

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