During a recent government meeting, concerns were raised regarding a proposed donation of 34 acres of land from the Princeton Rich Homeowners Association to the municipality of Princeton. The discussion centered around the legitimacy of the transaction, which is governed by Ordinance 2023-3.

A representative from the homeowners association expressed dissatisfaction with the board's handling of the proposal, citing a lack of community support and potential violations of both the association's governing documents and New Jersey law. According to the representative, only 18 out of 89 homeowners voted in favor of the land transfer, falling short of the two-thirds majority required for such a decision.

The representative criticized the board for inadequate communication with homeowners, claiming that many were not properly notified about the project due to missing email addresses and insufficient details in the notifications. Furthermore, requests for more information went unanswered, raising concerns about compliance with state homeowners association regulations.

Additionally, the representative pointed out that the board did not seek independent legal counsel for the transaction. Instead, they engaged a board member of Friends of Princeton Open Space, who, while not charging a fee, may not have been in the best position to represent the interests of the Princeton Ridge community.

The proposed donation, which is set to occur for a nominal fee of one dollar, contrasts sharply with market rates for similar open space properties, which typically range from $4,500 to $12,500 per acre. The representative urged that the transaction be paused until these issues are resolved, expressing optimism that a reasonable outcome could be achieved if the appropriate legal and procedural guidelines are followed.