Princeton Planning Board Votes on 98-Unit Complex Facing Tree Concerns

The Princeton Planning Board prepares to decide on a downtown development that pits new housing against local conservation goals. On November 5, the board will review an application to redevelop a one-acre lot behind Jay’s Cycle store on Nassau Street. The project, submitted by the Hopewell-based firm 245 Nassau, LLC, proposes a mixed-use structure containing retail space, off-street parking, and 98 residential apartments.

The residential component of the plan includes 18 studio units, 44 one-bedroom apartments, 25 two-bedroom units, and 8 three-bedroom homes. Nineteen of these units are designated as affordable housing. Access to the subterranean garage, the 980-square-foot retail pad, and the residential lobby will be located on the Nassau Street frontage. The design includes a 75-car underground garage and an 11,500-square-foot green roof.

The proposal has drawn attention due to the site’s existing vegetation. Board consultant Dan Dobromilsky identified the removal of approximately 86 trees as a primary concern. This count includes a 54-inch diameter ginkgo tree estimated to be 150 years old. While Dobromilsky noted that the tree has suffered damage from prior construction and that over half of the site’s trees are invasive species like Norway maple and Tree of Heaven, the removal remains controversial.

The Princeton Shade Tree Commission and the Princeton Environmental Commission both submitted reviews questioning the impact on the local tree canopy. Both bodies suggested reconfiguring the building to reduce the number of trees removed. Mayor Mark Freda expressed dissatisfaction with the replacement plan, stating that replacing a 54-inch diameter tree with four two-and-a-half-inch diameter trees does not seem correct.

Mark Cifelli, a senior director at engineering firm PS&S and the civil engineer for the application, told the board that the applicant will plant 108 replacement trees to comply with municipal code. Of these, 46 will be located on the western side of the building or on the green roof. The mix will include shade, ornamental, and evergreen varieties. Six trees will be planted off-site, with the remaining balance handled through off-site planting or payments to the municipality’s tree fund.

Board members are considering additional conditions for approval. Chairwoman Louise Wilson suggested that the developer preserve existing trees and plant replacements within the same neighborhood. Board member Claudia Wilson Anderson proposed a condition requiring that removed deciduous trees be replaced with deciduous species off-site, rather than evergreens used as roof buffers. The board will finalize its decision on November 5.