Princeton Releases Master Plan Draft For Public Review, Next Meeting Nov. 9

PRINCETON, NJ — After 18 months of public outreach and draft development, Princeton released the draft of the Master Plan on the Municipality website and Master Plan Engagement Hub.

The plan is now available for all residents to review. Meanwhile, paper copies can be reviewed at the Planning Department’s office at 400 Witherspoon Street and at the Princeton Public Library.

Princeton's Master Plan draft highlights the vision expressed by the community and captures in the plan a vibrant, growing, and welcoming Municipality with recommendations to increase housing diversity and choice for residents. It also highlights the need to create a robust transportation system for car-optional living, while sustaining and improving Princeton’s historic fabric and green space, community and educational facilities, and quality of life.

“Again and again in public forums, Princetonians raised overarching concerns related to climate resilience and equity, and folks also pointed to specific needs like designing streets that are safer for pedestrians and bikes, protecting street trees, and drawing small businesses back into town,” Planning Board Chair and Witherspoon-Jackson neighborhood resident Louise Wilson said in a statement. “Virtually all the public input was thoughtful and constructive, which we really appreciate.”

The development of the Master Plan began with an 18-month strategic outreach campaign to include a thorough and diverse range of community input, aimed at capturing the fabric of Princeton’s many voices and perspectives.

“Having started the outreach process in April 2022, we knew that we needed to not only prepare for a pandemic- and post-pandemic-world but also take the best practices and lessons learned in both,” Planning Director Justin Lesko said.

“We created an Engagement Hub and utilized online surveys to tap the community pulse, and spoke with people directly in person at Open Houses and Listening Sessions to go in-depth. I am indebted and forever grateful to the Steering Committee members for the amount of time, energy and knowledge they brought to guide this plan.”

The Master Plan Steering Committee has 17 members from diverse backgrounds and viewpoints.

Five members of the Master Plan Steering Committee of the Planning Board worked alongside the Steering Committee. Members from Boards, Commissions and Committees in the Municipality, as well as community groups, provided input.

Clarke Caton Hintz (CCH), a planning and design collaborative based in Trenton, was chosen as the consultant for the plan by the Planning Board. Subconsultants included Susan G. Blickstein LLC, a planning and public outreach consultant, and the JGSC Group, a retail economic development consultant.

“I’m very grateful for the dedication of the Planning Office, particularly Planning Director Justin Lesko, who went over and above to ensure that everyone had the opportunity to be heard on the future of the town,” said Tim Quinn, Planning Board vice chair and chair of the board’s Master Plan Subcommittee.

“We knew that Princeton’s would not be an off-the-rack plan and the Planning Office and CCH never wavered in their commitment to ensure that what will be presented to the board on Nov. 9 is comprehensive and reflects the values and aspirations articulated by our community.”

A Planning Board meeting will be held on Nov. 9 for a public hearing on the draft master plan.

Members of the public can express their views. After public comment has been heard, the Board will deliberate and vote on the adoption of the draft Master Plan.

The meeting will be on Zoom at 7 p.m.

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