Princeton U. Officials Blast Borough Council, Support Bill to Eliminate Zoning Approval for Private Universities

A Princeton University official on Monday blasted Borough officials for stalling its proposed $300 million Arts and Transit Neighborhood and also voiced support for a bill before the New Jersey Legislature that would exempt private colleges and universities from local land use agency approval.

Senate Bill 1534 and Assembly Bill A2586 seek to equalize the standing of public and private colleges when it comes to major capital projects.

University Vice President Robert Durkee spoke before Township Committee shortly before officials voted to oppose the bills.

When a similar resolution was adopted by Borough Council, there was no opportunity for public comment,” Durkee said. “I appreciate that there was an opportunity tonight.”

"Since all colleges and universities exist to serve the public good, we believe it is appropriate to equalize their standing before land use agencies," he said. "Unlike other developers, they don't have the option of pulling up stakes and going elsewhere."

Durkee described a professional and respectful relationship between the University, Township Committee and the Planning Board, but said the University’s relationship with Borough officials has become strained.

He described several recent situations “that are cause for serious concern going forward.”

“It took us more than a year to get to a point where we could ask Borough Council and Township Committee to consider zoning for the arts in the area along University Place and Alexander Street….The response that evening was that the governing bodies were unwilling even to consider the question. Fortunately several elected officials demonstrated leadership, and almost a year later the requested zoning was approved- but the delay clearly added to the cost of the project and strained relationships on all sides. While the focus at Township Committee was on the proposed zoning and the question raised by the zoning request, which was whether this was a good location for the arts, the discussion before Borough Council was largely about the Dinky relocation, which was not dependent on a change in zoning."

"…. Council introduced a “right of way to nowhere” ordinance that, if enacted, would encumber University lands for no achievable purpose. Even though the Planning Board voted 7-3 that the ordinance was inconsistent with the community master plan, the Council has twice scheduled  (and then canceled) public hearings on the ordinance and apparently remains committed to pursuing it…I recognize that some members of the new governing body are likely to be incumbent members of Borough Council, so there is reason for concern that this effort to politicize the planning process could carry over in the new municipality."

"….Borough Council adopted a resolution asking the Historical Preservation Review Committee to designate the Princeton railroad station as a historic site, evidently in an attempt to create additional roadblocks for the arts and transit project that is currently before the Planning Board. It took this action despite the fact that the materials on which it based this action failed to comply with the requirements of the Borough’s own code, and under a process that violates the Municipal Lane Use Law."

He said University officials have worked well with the Regional Planning Board, even when the costs of review add significantly to the project cost.

“If this bill becomes law, we would continue to consult with the Planning Board and its staff on major projects and we would hope to benefit from their perspectives and suggestion,” Durkee said. 

His arguments did not sway Township Committee, which voted unanimously in favor of a resolution to oppose both bills before the state legislature. 

Township Mayor Chad Goerner said the University can't pull up stakes and go elsewhere, but neither can residents. 

"There's a reason we come to Princeton and that's because we're all interdependent and we enjoy the benefits the University provides to the town and at the same time we also need to have checks and balances in place," Goerner said. "The University is the largest taxpayer, it certainly commands a large presence in the community, but that presence can also affect our residents when it comes to various different development projects and if the University was exempt from the municipal land use law, I think that would have a disastrous result for the Princeton community."