Princeton council approves modest changes to allowable business uses in downtown zoning code

The Princeton Council on May 11 approved Ordinance 26-18, a zoning code change intended to clarify which businesses are permitted in specific commercial zones and to make it easier for small storefronts to open.

Justin, a member of municipal planning staff, summarized the ordinance and said it was shaped with input from Experience Princeton and BFJ Associates. He described the changes as modest, noting staff preferred to defer larger code rewrites until the municipality’s full harmonization process over the next two years. The ordinance explicitly creates a category for small-scale crafting uses near Nassau Street ("home decoration, jewelry, flowers, and art work"), clarifies that spas, tutoring and gyms fall within existing permitted uses, and allows museums and similar cultural uses alongside theaters in the central business (CB) zone.

The ordinance also adjusts where medical and dental offices and certain first-floor office uses are allowed, with limitations intended to preserve active ground-floor uses; for example, some first-floor office uses in the SB zone would be allowed only if they occupy no more than one-third of a storefront. It permits research-and-development office uses in some zones but generally limits them to upper floors in the CB zone. In designated professional office-retail districts the ordinance expands permitted uses to include barber shops, beauty parlors, tutoring and fitness instruction to help fill vacancies.

Councilmember Leighton said she supported the ordinance but urged the council to consider potential impacts on downtown character, raising specific concerns about parking demand, delivery activity, curb management, rideshare effects and pedestrian loading. "I think Princeton itself needs to really make a decision on what type of downtown that we want," she said, urging broader community input.

Several council members and public speakers praised the collaborative process. Bill Hare, chair of Experience Princeton’s Economic Development Team, described a two-year effort with BFJ Associates and said the changes should reduce uncertainty for prospective businesses and shorten the time and cost to open storefronts. Robin Lapidus, director of Experience Princeton, said the organization supported a "healthy mix" of uses. Resident Caleb Firing said, "Princeton's zoning code should make it easier for small local creative businesses to open, not harder."

The council closed the public hearing and approved Ordinance 26-18 by roll call vote. The motion carried with affirmative votes recorded for the members present.

Next steps: staff indicated the ordinance is intended as an initial step and that broader code harmonization and further stakeholder engagement will continue over the coming two years.