Princeton planning board adopts updated Environmental Resource Inventory as appendix to master plan

PRINCETON, N.J. — The Princeton Planning Board voted unanimously April 17 to adopt the 2025 Environmental Resource Inventory (ERI) as an appendix to the municipality’s master plan, with board members asking staff to incorporate minor, budget-permitted updates following the adoption.

The ERI, presented by planner Tristan Harrison of Clark Caton Hintz, consolidates updated land-use, soils, watershed, flood, groundwater, biological habitat and open-space data for the consolidated municipality and is intended to serve as a reference “snapshot” to inform land-use and conservation decisions. “But it’s important to note that this is not a policy document in itself,” Harrison said during the formal hearing.

The ERI updates a prior 2010 inventory prepared by the Delaware Valley Regional Planning Commission and compiles more recent data sets including 2020 land-use/land-cover, USDA soils, DEP landscape project habitat mapping (v3.3), FEMA flood insurance rate maps (2017 effective FIRMs) and regional climate information. Deanna Stockton, municipal engineer and deputy administrator for infrastructure and operations, and Inga Reich, Princeton’s open-space manager, were sworn in and took part in the presentation and Q&A.

Board members and staff discussed potential post-adoption updates that would be useful to include in the ERI if budget and process permit: a chart showing trends in the frequency of extreme storm events, more current open-space mapping to reflect recent and pending property acquisitions, and updated water-quality sampling as regional data become available. Councilman and Planning Board member David Cohen proposed adoption; Planning Board member Owen O’Donnell seconded. Justin Lesko confirmed that the board had jurisdiction and that notice requirements were met. Lesko also advised that minor, non-substantial edits likely would not require renoticing while more significant changes could trigger additional public-notice requirements. “It has to be substantial, though,” Lesko said, adding that the board would evaluate whether a specific change required another hearing.

Harrison pointed out several specific updates included in the 2025 ERI: consolidation of former borough and township data into single maps/tables, added freshwater mussel habitat along Stony Brook, updated watershed sub-divisions (HUC14-level mapping), and an expanded species-habitat appendix that includes volunteer-submitted sighting records. The ERI purposely omits prescriptive policy language; it is described as an informational appendix to support future land-use and conservation policy decisions.

During the hearing, board members asked how the ERI would remain current. Stockton said municipal staff would likely coordinate any future updates and that the consulting firm could be re-engaged for revisions; the board discussed using memos or periodic amendments rather than repeated full hearings. Board members also noted that some datasets are “moving targets” — for example, open-space acquisitions (two properties were named during the meeting) and regional water-quality monitoring — and urged staff to incorporate new data as it becomes available.

No members of the public spoke during the public-comment portion of the hearing; two attendees were present but did not request to address the board. After the roll call vote — with Bottekheimer, Capizzoli, David Cohen, Mayor Bridal, McGowan, O’Donnell, Perlmutter, Taylor and Mrs. Wilson recording “yes” — the motion passed. The board carried the motion to adopt the ERI into the master plan and closed the hearing.

The adopted ERI is a roughly 150-page compendium of maps, tables and appendices intended to be a living reference document. The board requested staff bring back, when feasible, updates to the ERI that were discussed at the meeting — subject to budget review and determination whether any change is substantial enough to require additional public notice and another hearing.

Votes at a glance

Adopted: 2025 Environmental Resource Inventory (Master Plan appendix) Motion: Adopt the 2025 Environmental Resource Inventory as an appendix to the 2023 Master Plan, with staff suggestions to permit minor updates and to pursue additional data incorporation as budgets allow. Mover: David Cohen (Councilman / Planning Board member) Second: Owen O’Donnell (Planning Board member) Vote: Yes — Bottekheimer; Capizzoli; David Cohen; Mayor Bridal; McGowan; O’Donnell; Perlmutter; Taylor; Mrs. Wilson. Motion carried.

Ending

The board did not schedule substantive business for the May meetings and indicated the June agenda will include the municipal housing plan. Staff and the consulting firm Clark Caton Hintz are expected to coordinate any near-term ERI updates and to advise the board on whether changes would require renoticing and a new hearing.