Volume LXXV, Number 28
www.towntopics.com
PU Prospect Avenue Plan Hearing Postponed; Opposition Continues
Physician Qualifies For Ironman World Championship . . . . . . . 5 PPL Plans Summer Events, Looks to Fall . . . . . . . . . 7 PPD Adopts Virtual Reality Training Program . . . . . 8 Kelsey Theatre Presents Ordinary Days . . . . . . 13 After Stellar PU Rowing Career, Collins Headed To Olympics on U .S . Women’s 4 . . . . . . . . 25 Former PDS Star Colton Scores Clincher As Tampa Bay Wins NHL Title . . . . . . . . . 29
Looking at Lincoln on the Verge, Then and Now . . . . . 12 Art . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14 Berkshire Hathaway Fox & Roach Realtors . .18, 19 Calendar . . . . . . . . . . 17 Classified Ads . . . . . . 31 Mailbox . . . . . . . . . . . 11 Obituaries . . . . . . . . . 30 Performing Arts . . . . . 16 Police Blotter . . . . . . . . 9 Real Estate . . . . . . . . 31 Religion . . . . . . . . . . . 30 Sports . . . . . . . . . . . . 24 Topics of the Town . . . . 5 Town Talk . . . . . . . . . . 6
As 11 p.m. approached at its July 8 meeting, the Princeton Planning Board (PPB) decided to postpone to September 23 the continuation of its hearing on Princeton University’s application for a zoning variance. There were almost two hours of public commentary on July 8, following about four hours at the PPB’s June 17 meeting, with most of the community speakers expressing strong opposition to the University’s application to move its 91 Prospect Avenue building, the former Court Clubhouse, to a site across the street in order to make room for construction of a “gateway” to its new 666,000-square-foot Environmental Sciences and School of Engineering and Applied Science (ES+SEAS) complex. Moving the 91 Prospect building across the street would necessitate the demolition of three Victorian houses on the north side of the street. Princeton University representatives, architect Ron McCoy and attorney Christopher DeGrezia, were not happy with the delay. The University is eager to proceed with its project and has turned down recommendations from the community to discuss a compromise resolution and redesign the Prospect Avenue entrance to its ES+SEAS complex. The Princeton Historic Preservation Commission voted unanimously at a June 7 meeting to recommend that the PPB deny the University’s application. “These are significant delays,” said McCoy. “We submitted this project almost a year ago. This is really significant. We’re holding up construction.” Planning Director Michael LaPlace acknowledged frustration with the lengthy process, but added, “It’s important, of course, for us to hear from the public.” He went on to point out that the PPB has put in many hours recently to hear and approve multiple components of the University’s East Campus plan and has held a number of special meetings to accommodate the University. “We’ve worked really hard to meet these timetables, and we’re trying,” he said. Planning Board member Mia Sacks noted that the PPB does not have the resources and staff that the University has. “The amount of time that has been spent on University applications in the Continued on Page 9
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Wednesday, July 14, 2021
Council Reverses Parking Technology Vote Taking into account numerous comments from the public against funding for parking enforcement technology, Princeton Council voted unanimously Monday night to remove it from a $7.2 million bond ordinance for capital improvements. The governing body had voted two weeks ago to introduce the ordinance, which included $170,000 for the licenseplate-scanning technology. The vote against it reversed that introduction. Some members of the public said Council had slipped in the funding for the technology at the last minute, without giving sufficient opportunity for residents to react. Councilwoman Eve Niedergang said she regretted that impression, stressing that the introduction was “opening the door to action, and a number of people have called me on that interpretation.” Niedergang added that Council is committed to the public process for reviewing the technology, which is part of the parking permit program that has been under discussion for the past two years. Councilwoman Michelle Pirone Lambros, one of three Council members on the Permit Parking Task Force, clarified that the intention of including the $170,000 for parking enforcement technology was not a decision to move forward with the technology, but rather to be transparent during the process of planning capital spending.
Councilman David Cohen said that one of his reasons for wanting to move forward at the meeting two weeks ago was that he was unsure of what the financial implications might be if the funding for the technology was not included. He has since learned from the town’s chief financial officer that there is no negative implication. “So I feel comfortable voting it down tonight,” he said. The main advantage of the technology is that it allows online permitting, which
is not possible with the conventional permitting process. “People would have to continue to come into the office or order permits online, with a five-to-seven-day turnaround,” he said. “The task force is open to exploring the option of working without the technology. It will be up to the community to decide whether the convenience outweighs the concerns.” Several of these concerns were aired by local residents during the meeting. A woman named Nina commented that Continued on Page 9
Carol Kelley Takes Helm at Valley Road; Greenberg Is New PHS Assistant Principal July might be vacation month for students and teachers, but Princeton Public Schools (PPS) administrators are rapidly gearing up for the September start of a school year that will look very different from past years. On July 1, new PPS Superintendent Carol Kelley took over the district leadership from Interim Superintendent Barry Galasso. “In my first 100 days as superintendent, my goal is to learn as much as I can about who we are today,” she wrote in a letter to the community. “I look forward to sitting with many of you and listening to your lived experiences in Princeton Public Schools, and hearing about our shining
strengths, as well as our most pressing challenges.” Looking to “create new ways of working together,” Kelley pointed out three “overarching goals” for the district under her leadership: “improving student learning for all; creating learning conditions where every learner can thrive; and elevating educators.” She added, “The golden thread weaving through each of these goals is my life purpose — inspiring and advancing educational equity and excellence in our schools.” At Princeton High School (PHS), Stephanie Greenberg, formerly PPS humanities Continued on Page 9
AMONG THE BERRIES: Pick your own blueberries was one of the many activities at Terhune Orchards’ annual Blueberry Bash last weekend . Participants share their favorite ways to enjoy blueberries in this week’s Town Talk on page 6 . (Photo by Will Uhl)