The Princeton Planning Board is expected to review Simplify Living’s revised conceptual site plan for a three-unit townhouse development, proposed for 39 Linden Lane, at its May 19 meeting at 7 p.m.
Simplify Living has submitted a revised concept plan for the proposed townhouse development. The initial application had been set for a public hearing at the Planning Board’s April 7 meeting, but it was canceled.
The revised concept plan shows a revision to the driveway connection to the townhouses. The original plan called for a new driveway entrance on the property, but the revised concept plan uses the existing shared driveway with the adjacent property.
Simplify Living is seeking minor site plan approval with variances for the proposed development, which is being billed as an infill development, according to documents on file at the Princeton Planning Department.
Among the variances being sought are those for individual lot size, lot depth, lot width, rear yard setback and front yard setback. The minimum lot width required is 60 feet, but the existing lot is 50 feet wide.
A single-family house on the lot at 39 Linden Lane was demolished in anticipation of the construction of the three-unit townhouse development. The proposed development is a permitted use in the R-4 zone.
The townhouse building is proposed to be constructed perpendicular to Linden Lane. The entrance to one unit will face Linden Lane; the entrance to the middle unit will face the side yard; and the entrance to the rear unit will face the backyard.
The Jan. 24 staff report, prepared by Land Use Engineer James Purcell and Zoning Officer Derek Bridger, noted that the R-4 zone envisions side-by-side attached units facing the street, with conventional side and rear yards.
The plan shows three parking spaces: one for each unit. There is an electric vehicle charging station for each parking space.
Each townhouse will have a living room, a dining room, a kitchen and a powder room on the first floor, and two bedrooms, two bathrooms and a laundry room on the second floor.
Meanwhile, the Historic Preservation Commission reviewed and then nixed the application at its March 21 meeting. Linden Lane falls within the suggested Tree Streets Historic District in the Historic Preservation Element of the Princeton Community Master Plan.
The Historic Preservation Commission, which is advisory to the Planning Board, must provide its recommendation to the board on the application because it is located within a proposed historic district.
Some of the Historic Preservation Commission members were critical of the size of the proposed development, as well as its architectural design. The consensus was that it does not reflect the neighborhood and would not be a good fit.
