The Princeton Council has adopted a pair of ordinances that set the standards for two proposed affordable housing developments next to the Princeton Shopping Center, which will help the town to meet its affordable housing obligation.
The ordinances, which were approved by the Princeton Council at its June 14 meeting, grew out of the council’s designation of the Princeton Shopping Center and adjacent parcels as an area in need of redevelopment: the North Harrison Redevelopment Area.
One of the two new ordinances resulted in the adoption of a redevelopment plan for a six-acre lot at the corner of North Harrison Street and Terhune Road, and the second ordinance resulted in the adoption of a redevelopment plan for a three-acre parcel near the Walgreens drug store in the Princeton Shopping Center.
The Princeton Shopping Center and its stores are not affected by the two ordinances and redevelopment plans. There are no plans to demolish the shopping center.
The goal of the Harrison/Terhune Redevelopment Plan and the Princeton Shopping Center Inclusionary Residential Redevelopment Plan is to provide affordable rental housing to help the town meet its court-mandated fair share of affordable housing.
The two redevelopment plans also are intended to create renewed activity and vitality to the Princeton Shopping Center. Providing additional households in those locations will help support the Princeton Shopping Center and other local businesses, according to the redevelopment plans.
Although an application has not yet been submitted to the Princeton Planning Board, the Harrison/Terhune Redevelopment Plan envisions constructing 130 family rental apartments. At least 12 apartments would be set aside for low- and moderate-income households.
The building would be limited to four stories or 50 feet in height, and would require 1.3 parking spaces per apartment in a surface parking lot. Some of the parking spaces could be “banked,” or set aside to be created if needed. At least eight parking spaces would be reserved for electric vehicle charging stations.
The development would include outdoor bicycle parking facilities. They would be protected from the weather, and also allow the bicycle owner to lock up the bicycle.
Terhune Development LLC, which is an affiliate of WinnDevelopment Company LP, has been conditionally designated as the redeveloper for the property by the Princeton Council. It will have to submit an application to the Princeton Planning Board to go ahead with the development.
The Princeton Shopping Center Inclusionary Residential Redevelopment Plan calls for one rental apartment building to be constructed in the southeast corner of the property, backing up to the homes on Clearview Avenue.
There will be 200 apartments, of which 40 will be set aside for low- and moderate-income households. Amenities may include a dog park and a pet washing station for residents’ pets. The maximum building height is 65 feet.
There will be an attached parking garage – not surface parking in a parking lot. Eight of the parking spaces will be reserved for electric vehicle charging stations. A bicycle facility will be included for residents to park their bicycles.
Also, the redevelopment plan stipulates that the finishes, appliances and heating and air conditioning equipment in the affordable housing apartments will be “of comparable quality and efficiency” as in the market-rate apartments. The site will be designed to be solar ready.
AvalonBay Communities, Inc., has been identified as the redeveloper by the Princeton Council. It will have to submit an application to the Princeton Planning Board before it can go ahead with the development.
