Jones Lang LaSalle


Seeking alternatives to limit traffic

Thursday, January 26, 2006
By DARRYL R. ISHERWOOD
Staff Writer

On Dec. 19, West Windsor Township declared a redevelopment area for 350 acres around the Princeton Junction Train Station in hopes of receiving the state's transit village designation, but this once-popular concept is overshadowed by concerns that the redevelopment statutes bestow power without accountability.

Transit villages are intended to create a village atmosphere by clustering residences, shops and offices around a major transit hub. The concept is designed to reduce suburban sprawl by making better use of existing infrastructure and to reduce traffic congestion by encouraging walking, bicycling and riding public transportation.

Mayor Shing-Fu Hsueh believes strongly in the transit village concept. "As you all know, we talk about a sense of place, a sense of community," Hsueh said, announcing his candidacy for a second term at the train station in March 2005. "We want to have a transit village here."

The public seemed to react favorably to the idea of the transit village. The Princeton Junction Neighborhoods Coalition hosted a series of discussions on the concept, including a talk about the positive aspects by Jan Wells, assistant research professor at Rutgers University.

But residents responded negatively to Well's presentation, saying more housing would lead to more children, and a cycle of school-building and tax increases. Other worries included an increase in crime and noise.

Then, the coalition hosted a discussion with Bill Potter, a Princeton attorney who said the redevelopment designation would be giving the township government power without accountability, allowing it to choose a "master developer" without competitive bidding, to grant long-term tax abatements and to raise money through bonds without being subject to petition and referendum.

Residents seemed influenced by Potter's words, but the redevelopment designation stands. Hsueh says the next step is for the township to determine what kind of governmental body will guide the redevelopment, but most importantly, choosing the master developer.

- Chris Sturgis