Princeton council adopts package of affordable‑housing rezonings to meet state deadline

Princeton'—The mayor and council on March 9 adopted a package of ordinances that rezone several municipal and private sites to create new affordable‑housing districts and enable the construction of dozens of affordable units across town.

The package, presented by planning staff, included ordinances to rezone the Chestnut Street firehouse site for a 100% affordable building (Ordinance 26‑08, minimum 16 units), a mixed‑use rezoning on State Road/Mount Lucas to allow up to 82 units with a 20% affordable set‑aside (Ordinance 26‑11), and municipal redevelopments at 27 North Harrison Street (Ordinance 26‑12, minimum 34 units) and 303 John Street (Ordinance 26‑13, minimum 35 units). Council also approved an amended Jugtown overlay (Ordinance 26‑14) and a code update aligning local rules with the state's Uniform Housing Affordability Controls (Ordinance 26‑15).

Why it matters: The ordinances implement Princeton'''s fourth‑round housing element and fair‑share plan required by state law. Planning staff said the package creates "realistic opportunity for development" by the state deadline and begins the local process to convert underutilized and municipal properties into affordable homes.

Planning staff described each rezoning and the constraints designed to fit neighborhood context. For the Chestnut Street site, staff said the existing 1949 firehouse must be retained and reused, with new construction located behind the original building and capped at four stories and 48 feet. For the State Road/Mount Lucas site, staff said the ordinance anticipates a comprehensive development with retail and street‑level services facing Route 206 and stepped townhouses on the Mount Lucas side; the ordinance permits up to five stories (65 feet) with design controls to buffer nearby residential streets.

"These ordinances create the realistic opportunity for development required by state guidance," the planning attorney said during the hearing, noting planning‑board review and recommendations. Justin (planning staff) told the council the planning board found the proposed ordinances substantially consistent with the municipal master plan.

Public response and partners: Princeton Community Housing trustees and board members spoke in support of the Chestnut Street and John Street sites, describing the projects as "gentle infill" that will provide family‑friendly housing. Ed Trucelli, executive director of Princeton Community Housing, thanked council for considering the sites. Jean Rosenblum, a PCH trustee, urged council to proceed.

Council discussion and timing: Council members repeatedly noted that rezoning does not guarantee construction. For municipally owned sites, staff warned that additional steps are required, including municipal developer agreements, site planning and, for municipally sponsored projects, an ambitious two‑year deadline to reach shovel‑ready status under the fourth‑round rules. Councilmembers asked staff to accelerate developer selection and clarified that some ordinances allow a mix of uses while reserving height, setback and design standards to respect adjacent neighborhoods.

Votes: Each ordinance was adopted by roll‑call vote. The council recorded yes votes during the roll calls for the participating members.

Next steps: Staff said the council will need to negotiate municipal developer agreements on municipal sites, solicit developers, and follow site‑plan and historic‑preservation review where applicable. The ordinances set regulatory permissions; construction schedules depend on developer proposals, financing and state approvals tied to the fourth‑round compliance timeline.

Sources: Planning staff presentations and the council''s public hearing records (Ordinances 26‑08, 26‑11, 26‑12, 26‑13, 26‑14 and 26‑15).