A proposed senior housing development next to a nearby park has drawn fire from some local residents for the environmental damage it might cause. Now some University students are weighing in on the controversy.
At issue is a 20-acre tract of land about two-and-a-half miles from campus, located next to Hilltop Park in Princeton Township. The land, which is owned by investors William and Laura Lowe, is on Princeton Ridge, a geological formation that drains water into Harry's Brook, the largest stream in Princeton. That stream runs into Lake Carnegie.
The prospect of construction on this tract has raised concerns about flooding and water pollution, since development would impede the land's ability to retain rainwater, which would rush into Harry's Brook instead and possibly cause it to overflow. This could heighten erosion and increase the likelihood of pollution in the water.
Harry's Brook has already experienced flooding and contributed to water pollution in the past.
Township officials consider the environment a major priority, Princeton Township planning director Lee Solow said. "That doesn't mean you can't have development and balance the two," he added.
Solow said Township engineers plan to increase flood control in the new housing tract, adding that development may not be harmful "when you take certain steps to protect the environment."
J. Robert Hillier, the developer for the proposed project, led a tour of the site Saturday morning for people interested in the development's environmental implications. The leaders of Princeton Water Watch, a campus environmental group, advertised the tour to members. Water Watch president Emily Cizek '10 attended with Lexi Gelperin, a former Water Watch organizer and current member of the Princeton Environmental Commission.
Hillier is the second developer to propose a plan for the site. The first developer withdrew after his plan had been approved by the Township.
The new proposal by Hillier takes environmental concerns into account. Though his plan includes the same number of housing units as the previous developer's, uses a smaller plot of land. Hillier also plans to incorporate sod roofs and other "green" construction techniques.
Cizek explained that Water Watch only recently became aware of the issue but plans to discuss it at future meetings. "It's really important to know what is going on outside of campus," she said. "This is a really significant issue."
She added that Hillier's proposal might be the best among the options on the table. "The new plan is definitely an improvement from the old one," she said. "Since the people who own the land want to sell it, something is going to be developed on it, and this is probably the best thing that is going to happen to it."
The park's future depends on more than just environmental issues. The proposed development has also stirred a debate within the Township about age-restricted zoning. The land is within a zone restricted for those age 62 and up, created as part of an effort to increase senior housing within the Township. Hillier has requested that the restriction be changed to allow those 55 and older to live in the development to make it more profitable.
Water Watch plans to keep tabs on the development as part of its mission to monitor the health of local streams and organize cleanups along Lake Carnegie. The group, with support from Americorps and the New Jersey Public Interest Research Group, organizes a number of projects, including an education program where members travel to elementary schools and teach environmental science lessons.
"We try to emphasize that the point is getting out there and thinking about environmental stewardship in general," Cizek said.
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