The Princeton Mayor and Council voted unanimously Sept. 8 to adopt an ordinance establishing Affordable Housing District 14 (AH‑14) and to approve related resolutions authorizing a development agreement for an affordable housing project on Chestnut Street and related financing steps.
Why it matters: The measures together move Princeton closer to meeting court‑mandated affordable‑housing obligations by authorizing a for‑sale project that municipal leaders say will add 17 affordable for‑sale homes in town and trigger construction financing options. Council members debated whether state rules limit the town’s ability to require parity of finishes and full intermixing of affordable and market‑rate units.
The council opened discussion on Ordinance 25‑15, described in the agenda as an amendment to the municipal land‑use code to create AH‑14 “in furtherance of the Fair Housing Act.” After a public hearing with one speaker in support, councilmember Leighton moved the ordinance and councilmember Leticia Fraga seconded. The roll call recorded unanimous votes in favor.
Members raised specific concerns about design and equity. One council member said the concept plan appeared to place affordable units in separate buildings rather than mixing them with market‑rate units. That member also asked whether interior finish quality would match market‑rate units. Municipal staff responded that the proposed for‑sale stacked‑flat product conforms to the Uniform Housing Affordability Controls (UHAC) and that staff and counsel worked to ensure the affordable buildings are not placed in less‑desirable locations and have comparable access to light, views and circulation. Councilmembers noted that because this site is being rezoned rather than designated a redevelopment area, state rules prevent imposing “cost‑generative” design requirements that would exceed UHAC standards.
Councilmembers and staff described the project as a missing‑middle, for‑sale opportunity intended to give homeownership access to households that otherwise could not buy in Princeton. A councilmember said the municipality and the developer hoped market‑rate units would be in the "7 to 9 range," as stated in the meeting record; the council did not specify exact price points in the ordinance.
Related votes: The council also approved Resolution 25‑3‑10, authorizing a development agreement with PCH Development Corporation for a municipally supported affordable housing project; Resolution 25‑3‑11, a resolution of need for construction of an affordable housing project at 13 Chestnut Street (Block 30.02, Lots 39.01 and 39.02); and Resolution 25‑3‑12, authorizing Princeton to determine the form and other details of one or more notes for issuance in an aggregate principal amount of up to $6,300,000 to the New Jersey Infrastructure Bank under its construction financing program. Each resolution was approved by unanimous voice or roll‑call votes recorded on the agenda.
Council discussion and next steps: Speakers at the meeting emphasized that for‑sale affordable units can help create intergenerational wealth through homeownership. Staff warned that because the site is not a redevelopment zone, the municipality’s discretion to require standards above UHAC is limited. The ordinance itself is a zoning change; subsequent site‑planning and design details will be reviewed by the Planning Board and through municipal permitting.
What wasn’t decided: The council did not adopt a site plan or final unit‑level finish schedules at this meeting. Several members asked staff and the developer to provide more specific finish, size and intermixing information as the project proceeds through site plan review. The marketing rules for the AH‑14 units remain subject to the municipality’s court‑mandated marketing obligations; a public commenter confirmed that regional marketing rules apply under the town’s court plan.
Speakers listed for this topic are those who spoke on the record about AH‑14, the Chestnut Street project and related financing during the Sept. 8 meeting.