Arts & Transit Zoning Decision Deferred

The township committee has postponed voting on the ordinance that would give the zoning go head that would allow for Princeton University to move forward with their proposed $300 million arts and transit center, slated to be located along the northern portion of the Alexander Street corridor. 

The committee has tentatively set the date for a vote on the zoning change for Monday, Oct. 24.

In order for the project to move forward, both the borough and the township would have to vote to chance their zoning to allow for new buildings and a train station. If both Princeton’s vote the zoning changes to go through, then the Princeton Regional Planning Board would need to sign off on the plan as well.

If approved, the new zone would accommodate Princeton University in its quest to build its $300 million Lewis Arts Center and move the Dinky commuter train nearly 500 feet south of its current location.

“Both the borough and the township have expressed concerns about moving the Dinky Station,” said Mayor Chad Goerner on Monday evening. “We looked at the options of [preventing] the movement, but they’re not financially feasible options because most of them would involve litigation,” he added.

The approximately 7 acres in the new zoning district would allow a variety of uses, including parking, university offices, retail stories, museums, galleries, movie theaters, multimedia businesses, homes, retail stories, classrooms, and childcare facilities.