The Princeton Planning Board approved a two-lot subdivision proposed for 479 Jefferson Road, on the corner of Jefferson and Cuyler roads, at a special meeting June 25.
The meeting was a continuation of the Planning Board’s April 18 meeting. Developer Estate Shore LLC outlined plans to demolish the existing 1,200-square-foot house on the lot and build two single-family houses on the new lots. A variance would be required for the new lots.
The Planning Board approved the variance to allow for the .46-acre lot to be subdivided into two smaller, undersized lots. The minimum lot size is .25 acres, but the two new lots would each be .23 acres. The applicant’s engineer testified at the April 18 meeting that lots on the same side of Cuyler Road as the proposed subdivision are about .22 or .23 acres.
The initial application called for both houses to face Cuyler Road, but the revised plan showed one house facing Jefferson Road and one house facing Cuyler Road. Conceptual plans presented by Estate Shore LLC showed the houses would be about 2,500 square feet each, with a detached garage.
During the public comment portion of the June 25 meeting, neighbors continued to express opposition to the proposed subdivision. Several attendees had spoken at the April 18 meeting and reiterated their opposition to it.
Some attendees at the June 25 meeting said it would set a precedent to allow the subdivision of larger lots into smaller, undersized lots. There was also some concern that an accessory dwelling unit (ADU) could be built in addition to the main house on both lots.
Some attendees were critical of new development.
“The benefit of the subdivision accrues entirely to the developer, who will be able to create two large and expensive homes,” said neighbor Michael Bell.
Bell reminded the Planning Board that the 2023 Princeton Community Master Plan lamented the lack of “missing middle” housing. There is not a supply of affordable housing other than for very wealthy people, he said.
“Does this proposal do anything to address that issue,” Bell asked rhetorically.
Resident Geoffrey Irving suggested preserving the lot and allowing one home to be built on it, along with an ADU, saying it would be a more “appropriate” means to increase the housing stock. The two new houses, as proposed, would not be affordable.
Planning Board Chairman Louise Wilson said she found the rationale for subdividing the lot to be persuasive because two reasonably-sized houses would be better for the town.
“It would be more in keeping with the neighborhood than a 4,000-square-foot home and a 1,000-square-foot ADU,” Wilson said as she prepared to vote on the application.
Planning Board member Nat Bottigheimer said he was “unsympathetic” to the notion of the greedy developer. Unless someone built their home with their own hands, the house that they live in was built by a developer.
“Part of our public policy is to increase the amount of housing that is available to meet the supply,” he said. “Every little bit helps in that regard.”
