Princeton’s Hun School Gets Rezoning Approval From Planning Board

PRINCETON, NJ – The Panning Board recently voted in favor of Hun School’s request for rezoning.

The Hun School is requesting a 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.

This is the second time the planning board is endorsing the school's request. The application came before the planning board last year and was referred to council. Read More: Here's The Latest On Princeton's Hun School Rezoning Ordinance

Council couldn't reach a decision as three council members voted yes, one voted no, and two abstained. Municipal attorney Trishka Cecil reviewed the procedural rules and determined that the ordinance was “defeated.” Read More: Princeton's Hun School Ordinance 'Defeated' Says Official Review

The application was brought back to the planning board again last month. During the June 2 meeting, Richard Goldman, attorney representing the school, said the decision to request for rezoning was not a “whimsical choice.”

"We’ve been at this current configuration for 100 years. We’ve never asked for any additional land. So when folks worry about ‘you give it to them now, they’re going to ask for more later,’ well, maybe in another 100 years we might.”

The rezoning would allow for a larger floor area ratio (FAR), giving the school more space to meet regulations for additions and improvements to existing facilities.

Goldman said the school was currently at “full build-out” with about 12,000 square feet of FAR left. The school cannot do its master planning and strategic planning for the future on land that is not zoned for use, he said.

With many neighbors opposing the move, citing traffic, noise, environmental concerns and other issues, the school said it took measures to address them.

The measures include proposing to permanently deed restrict the mall as open space and a deed restriction to limiting construction at Mason House to not more than 9,000 square feet of FAR.

“We would never do anything that would hurt the neighborhood because it’s where we live too and we would never want to pollute the waters we swim in,” said school head Jon Brougham.

“I can assure you the school has no plan to increase enrollment, no desire to increase traffic, parking, or any of the other nuisances that could come with new construction. It’s purely for program needs.”

The matter will now be taken up by the Council. A vote on this is expected at the meeting next week.

To see the full meeting, click here.

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