Princeton Approves Project To Unify Borough & Township Zoning Codes

PRINCETON, NJ - Princeton Council unanimously approved a resolution Monday night to begin a comprehensive overhaul of the municipality's zoning regulations.

The council voted to hire a Chicago-based planning firm to lead the multi-year effort to merge the former Borough and Township codes into a single, modernized system.

The governing body voted to enter into a professional services agreement with planning and design firm Camiros for the first phase of what Planning Director Justin Lesko described as a long-awaited project, which will cost between $300,000 and $500,000 over three years.

The first phase is estimated to cost $83,600, over the course of seven months, towards the overall not-to-exceed fee of $305,780.

“The first phase will include working with staff to kick off the project, creating a brand and website for the process, reviewing our existing codes, conducting stakeholder interviews, and drafting and releasing a code assessment diagnostic report,” Lesko told Council in his memo.

“The second phase includes preparing two drafts of the zoning code and holding open houses and public meetings. The third phase includes holding public hearings on the draft zoning code to lead to its adoption and implementation through a new code manual.”

The project addresses a complex legacy issue stemming from Princeton's consolidation of the former Borough of Princeton and Princeton Township more than a decade ago.

Council President Mia Sacks thanked Lesko for his work on the initiative.

“Very excited, long overdue, can’t wait,” Sacks said.

Councilwoman Michelle Pirone Lambros thanked her colleagues, David Cohen and Sacks, for working hard every week to harmonize the codes.

According to Lesko’s memo, the Municipality received five proposals ranging in cost from $249,160 to $653,100 with time frames of twelve months to twenty-four months.

The decision was ultimately made to go with Camiros.

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