An ordinance that would allow dedicated bike lanes on a stretch of Hamilton Avenue, eliminating on-street parking, was introduced at Monday’s meeting of Princeton Council following testimony by several citizens in favor of the measure.
Among other topics on the agenda were a report on the final stages of demolition for the old Princeton Hospital building, which will require closing of a section of Witherspoon Street this weekend; and a presentation on a possible solar array on the municipal landfill property on River Road. Council also voted unanimously to approve the request of the non-profit HiTOPS to hold the third annual Princeton Half Marathon on October 4.
Mayor Liz Lempert started the meeting by reading a proclamation in support of a monument to be placed outside Witherspoon Hall honoring police officer Walter B. Harris, who was shot and killed in the line of duty 69 years ago. Mr. Harris is buried in Princeton Cemetery. He will be officially honored with a ceremony and memorial dedication on January 25 at 1 p.m. “I want to thank the police department for doing the work to research Officer Harris to make sure we remember and honor him properly,” Mayor Lempert said.
If approved, the ordinance that would establish bike lanes on both sides of Hamilton Avenue between Harrison Street and Snowden Lane would be the first to be established close to the center of town. It would follow the Complete Streets transportation policy that promotes safe travel for all ages. If passed, the ordinance would be part of a project to resurface the road in March, including sidewalk and storm sewer improvements.
The down side for homeowners is that parking, currently permitted on the south side of the street, would be eliminated. “We’re never going to be able to meet everyone’s needs 100 percent of the time, so it’s a judgment call,” said Mayor Lempert. “Do you want something where you’re facilitating biking all the time, or do you want to be having something where you have parking there available every time someone wants to have a party? It’s hard to do both.”
Both sides of the street would have bike lanes, an idea endorsed by several members of the public who attended the meeting. “I think it’s a good idea to do a short piece like this,” said Heidi Fichtenbaum, who serves on the Princeton Environmental Commission. “It will tell us a lot. And I’m really excited to start addressing non-fossil fuel-burning transportation in our town.”
Diane Landis, speaking as a resident and as the executive director of Sustainable Princeton, also applauded the proposal. “Think about how we can design our town, not just around cars but around humans,” she said. Pediatrician Stephanie Charny, PEC chair Matt Wasserman, Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Committee member Steve Kruse, and Wendy Mager of Friends of Princeton Open Space also spoke in favor of the measure. “I have gotten along without on-street parking for 34 years, and it can be done,” said Ms. Mager, who lives on Cherry Hill Road.
But Councilman Patrick Simon, who lives near the street where the project is proposed, wasn’t so sure. Mr. Simon said he surveyed several of his neighbors and got 21 responses, only four of which were in favor of the idea. Fifteen were opposed, saying they didn’t think it was necessary or they didn’t want to lose the on-street parking. He was particularly concerned about one elderly couple who would have difficulty if the parking is eliminated. Mr. Simon was the one member of Council to vote against the measure.
Residents would have to park on adjacent streets. Some who spoke in favor of the ordinance said they have not seen many cars parked on the street. Deanna Stockton, the town’s assistant engineer, said 5,089 vehicles travel on Hamilton Avenue each year. She quoted the estimated cost of widening the road for bike lanes, including removing some trees, as $250,000. A public hearing on the issue will take place when the ordinance comes up for adoption at the Council meeting on January 26.
Reporting on the hospital site demolition, municipal engineer Bob Kiser said seven of the eight buildings have been removed. Work on the final building, which is closest to Witherspoon Street, will entail closing the road Friday and Saturday, and possibly through Monday, for safety reasons.
The weekend was chosen because schools are closed Friday and Monday for the Martin Luther King holiday and children will not be walking past the site on their way to and from Community Park school. Witherspoon Street will be closed from Franklin to Birch avenues from 7 a.m. Friday until it gets dark on Monday, Mr. Kiser said. Work would move to President’s Day weekend if bad weather conditions prevent this weekend’s plans.
The demolition makes way for the 280-unit apartment complex being built by the developer AvalonBay. Depending on weather conditions, Franklin Avenue may need to be closed between Witherspoon Street and Harris Road. Residents who live on Leigh Avenue between Witherspoon Street and John Street will be allowed to drive to their homes via Witherspoon Street when safe to do so. Residents on this block of Leigh Avenue should park on John Street or in the John Street Municipal parking lot when Witherspoon Street is not accessible. Up to four officers will be patrolling the site 24 hours a day during the demolition, Mr. Kiser said.
Complaints about noise levels from jackhammering have been addressed, health officer Jeffrey Grosser told Council. A sound-dampening barrier was wrapped around the garage area where concrete is being crushed. The other concern, dust particulates, has been monitored and not found to be in violation of acceptable levels.