Princeton Council details historic guidelines for property owners

The Princeton Council discussed the municipality’s recently-released final draft of historic guidelines at its Monday meeting. Rather than serving as new legislation, the guidelines seek to provide property owners with greater clarity on the current historic ordinances in Princeton. 

At 250 pages, the guidelines offer users guidance on how to “improve their properties in a manner that is more in keeping with its historic character and materials.” Based on a building’s architectural style, the reader is directed to various sections relevant to their project.  

Previously, property owners would need to submit an inquiry to the Historic Preservation Commission (HPC) before beginning a significant project. The new guidelines serve to clarify permissible projects before an owner would need to reach out.

The guide is split into 16 sections, and includes guidelines on paint colors, flood mitigation, exterior woodwork, and more.

The guidelines were compiled by a review committee composed of a consultant from Preservation Design Partnership, members of the HPC, municipal staff, and elected officials. While published as a final draft on Princeton’s government website, the document is still subject to change by the committee. It will be presented to the HPC on Sept. 22 and to the Council on Sept. 28, where further changes may be made.

“In putting together these guidelines, we had a lot of goals,” a preservation architect and consultant on the project, Dominique Hawkins, said in the meeting. “We wanted to educate property owners, we wanted to streamline the review process, and we wanted to provide clear direction as to what would easily be approved or would require additional review as part of a change that a property owner wished to make.”

Princeton, first settled in the 17th century, has had a contentious history with preservation measures. The Save Jugtown campaign and groups like Defend Historic Princeton or the Princeton Coalition for Responsible Development (PCRD) have fought against modernizing development in certain historic areas of the municipality.

Hawkins gave a brief presentation on the guidelines at the meeting before opening the floor to questions and comments from attendees. 

“It doesn’t change anything,” Hawkins said during her presentation. “It doesn’t regulate more or less than is currently regulated.”

Princeton currently has 21 official historic districts, each with distinct character and architecture. To encourage the preservation and maintenance of Princeton’s historic buildings, the guidelines have been put forth to guide owners on how to proceed with maintenance and repairs on their property. 

Hawkins calls the guidelines a “95 percent solution.”

“It addresses 95 percent of the applications that will come through the door.” The HPC “has a distinct role in addressing the more complicated issues or one-offs that occur in any location,” she said to the Council. 

The new guidelines aim to be wide-ranging in both reach and scope. They are being released in a variety of formats, including a digital release, short-form brochures, and a book.

The guidelines faced pushback from councilmember Brian McDonald ’83, the recently-elected president of Ivy Club’s Board of Governors. Prospect Avenue, home to Princeton’s eating clubs, is considered a historic district covered by the guidelines. 

McDonald expressed concern about the enforcement of the guidelines, desiring greater clarity on what would be considered an ordinary concern that could be handled without the HPC and what would require intervention. 

However, councilmember David Cohen, whose work on the council has involved sustainability, expressed great satisfaction with the new document. 

“Even if you don’t live in a historic district, I encourage you to peruse this. It’s very accessible, a lot of illustrations,” he said. “I am so pleased with the way this has turned out.”

The Council also recognized the mayor’s proclamation of Welcoming Week celebrations, which aim to highlight and celebrate the diversity of Princeton as a community. This year’s event series, which will run from Sept. 10 to Sept. 19, represents the 11th year of the celebration since the municipality was formed in 2013.

“Princeton is proud to celebrate its 11th year as a welcoming community, marking over a decade of commitment to equity, inclusion, and opportunity to all who call Princeton home,” said councilmember Leighton Newlin, reading a proclamation from the mayor’s office. 

The festivities will culminate in a Community Cultural Exchange event at Hinds Plaza on Friday.

The Council typically meets on the second and fourth Monday of each month at 7 p.m. The next council meeting is scheduled to take place on Sept. 28. 

Kimberly Hutchinson is a News contributor for the ‘Prince’ and a member of the Class of 2030 from Suwanee, Ga.

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