An ordinance that would convert three-hour parking meters into all-day parking meters on Witherspoon Street, between Green Street and Lytle Street, has been put on hold in response to sharp criticism from some neighborhood residents and business owners in Princeton.
The Princeton Council was set to hold a public hearing and take a final vote on the ordinance at its Feb. 11 meeting, but decided Monday night only to hold the public hearing on that day. No action will be taken on the ordinance while town officials gather more information.
The proposed ordinance drew criticism from some business owners and residents in the Witherspoon-Jackson neighborhood because it would allow employees who work in the Central Business District to park on Witherspoon Street all day.
The proposal to change the meters from three-hour parking to all-day parking was made partly in response to a request by the Arts Council of Princeton, which is located on Witherspoon Street between Paul Robeson Place and Green Street, and to accommodate employee parking for businesses in town.
The move to all-day meters also would bring them into line with the all-day parking meters on Witherspoon Street, between Lytle Street and Henry Avenue, which are already in place.
Before opening the meeting for public comment, Princeton Mayor Liz Lempert acknowledged the many emails from residents regarding the plan to lengthen the time allotted on the selected Witherspoon Street parking meters.
One of the reasons for making the change was to help the businesses in the Central Business District, but town officials now understand the need for turnover on the affected Witherspoon Street parking meters, Mayor Lempert said.
“We heard you loud and clear,” Mayor Lempert said.
Jacqueline Fay, who owns Grit & Polish nail salon at 160 Witherspoon St., told Princeton Council that the change would negatively impact her business. Employees would take up parking spaces near her store that her customers are using now, she said.
If the ordinance were to be adopted, her customers would not have anywhere to park, Fay said. Grit & Polish needs five to seven parking spaces for customers Wednesday through Saturday.
Fay, who provides parking for her employees, suggested using the Franklin Avenue parking lot – across the street from the Avalon Princeton rental apartment building – for all-day parking for employees.
Fay said she chose to open her business in the Witherspoon-Jackson neighborhood because she wanted to make a contribution to the historic – and historically black – neighborhood.
Long-term parking for Nassau Street businesses “sends a terrible message” to the Witherspoon-Jackson neighborhood residents, she said.
Leighton Newlin pointed out that the Witherspoon-Jackson neighborhood was designated as the 20th historic district in Princeton. It is the most diverse, eclectic, desirable and fastest-growing neighborhood in town, he said.
“The Witherspoon Street corridor has historic significance as a vibrant retail shopping district. It is as integral to the Witherspoon-Jackson neighborhood as Nassau Street is to the Central Business District – especially given the neighborhood’s prospects for future growth,” Newlin said.
The future is bullish for the neighborhood, and many viable businesses have chosen the Witherspoon Street corridor and the neighborhood as their desired location, he said. Business owners have invested time, energy and money into their ventures.
Newlin questioned why the town feels obligated to provide employee parking for Nassau Street businesses. But if that is the town’s decision, it should not be done at the expense of negatively affecting another district – especially the Witherspoon-Jackson neighborhood, which is close to Nassau Street, he said.
“Our neighborhood will not be a parking lot or dump off for Nassau Street businesses and enterprises. There are other neighborhoods in close proximity to Nassau Street, but they appear to be off-limits,” Newlin said, adding that those neighborhoods have “power” and “influence.”
Yina Moore, the last mayor of the former Princeton Borough, said she was “very frustrated.”
A few meetings had been held during the parking study that led to these decisions, but the neighborhood was never approached for input, she said.
After listening to the public, Mayor Lempert acknowledged that parking is a “thorny issue” and not an easy one to solve. It is helpful for the residents to speak up and help the council reach a solution that meets everyone’s needs, she said.
“We welcome everyone’s participation,” Mayor Lempert said.
Princeton Council member David Cohen said the goal is to make the best use of parking spaces. There are many empty parking spaces on Witherspoon Street, between Green Street and Lytle Street, he said.
Cohen said the council heard what the residents have said, and officials will search for a solution to the parking woes. It was not a matter of playing favorites between one neighborhood and another neighborhood, he said.
