Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Historic Preservation topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Princeton council advances ordinance requiring beautification after demolition in B1 historic district
Summary
The Princeton City Council voted to advance an ordinance that would require landscaping, screening and a 20-foot setback after demolition of buildings in the B1 historic downtown district; the measure goes to a second reading.
The Princeton City Council on Monday voted to advance to a second reading an ordinance that would require property owners to implement landscaping and screening after demolition of buildings in the city’s B1 historic downtown district.
The measure, introduced by city staff and proposed by the Land Commission, was advanced by a council motion and passed on a roll-call vote with no recorded opposition. The ordinance is O-25-012 (first reading) and will return for a second reading before final adoption.
City staff member Michael said the ordinance is intended to prevent “some hole in our downtown business district” after demolition and to “establish some landscaping and a screening fence set back about 20 feet.” He said the standards would apply when a building in the B1 district is demolished because of fire, structural instability or other reasons and that the goal is to improve the streetscape while sites remain vacant.
Under the proposal, property owners would be expected to either begin construction (permit issued or construction underway) within about one year of demolition or, if neither occurs, submit a long-term beautification plan for the vacant site. Michael said the ordinance would apply only to demolition projects going forward and that making it retroactive would be “tricky.”
Council members who voted to advance the ordinance included Councilmember Newman, Gomez, McCall and Celeste, and Mayor Mabry. The council took no final adoption action Monday; the ordinance will return for a required second reading and any additional amendments.
If adopted, the requirement would create a regulatory obligation linked to demolition permits in the B1 district and may affect property owners and developers working in Princeton’s downtown historic areas. The record from Monday does not specify enforcement mechanisms, penalties, or any fee schedule; those details may be developed or amended prior to final adoption.
The ordinance originated with the Land Commission and was presented to the council as a first-reading matter; council debate focused on timing, whether the rule should apply retroactively and how long temporary beautification plans might remain in place for sites left vacant for years.
