Public Hearing On Princeton's Affordable Housing Ordinance Monday

PRINCETON, NJ — Town Council will hold a public hearing on the ordinance establishing a new affordable housing overlay zone along portions of Witherspoon Street from Green Street to Valley Road on Monday, Sept. 13.

The purpose of the ordinance is to support Princeton's court-mandated Fair Share Plan for the development of affordable housing in the municipality.

According to a recent memo by the Planning Department, the ordinance is a “reasonable adjustment to the land use code intended to facilitate investment and development within the historic Witherspoon Street corridor.”

Establishing the overlay zone will encourage the reuse and preservation of many existing historic structures and sites within the Witherspoon-Jackson Historic District, staff said. The zone, known as the AHO-7 overlay zone, is expected to incentivize investment and enhancements in the historic neighborhood while encouraging new development for affordable housing.

The ordinance was also drafted keeping in mind the existing commercial uses and storefronts that have been along Witherspoon Street for a long time.

In the memo, staff said that the proposed ordinance is consistent with major goals of the Princeton Community Master Plan which encourages new locations for affordable housing, creating a greater diversity of housing opportunities, and directing new development into locations where infrastructure and transportation resources exist. “The location impacted by the proposed ordinance is centrally located in Princeton and is well-served by transit,” staff said.

The ordinance was first introduced during the council meeting on Aug. 23.

During the meeting, Planning Director Michael LaPlace said this ordinance is an overlay zone and the existing zone will remain. A property owner can opt to use this overlay zoning if they follow the guidelines.

The council meeting will be held Monday, Sept. 13 at 7 p.m.

Residents who wish to comment on or have a question about the ordinance can do so verbally or in writing.

To make a spoken comment, click on "Participants" and use the "raise hand" function, or if attending by telephone press *9.

Written comments can be submitted prior to or during the public hearing via email to princetoncomments@gmail.com. Include your name, address and the ordinance in the comments.

To join the meeting, click here. To read the ordinance, click here.

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