The 1995 Reexamination and 1996 Master Plan recognized that, for the first time in our history, Princeton was facing a shortage of vacant, easily developable land. This shortage began to show itself in increased competition among a variety of issues about the future use of the remaining undeveloped land. The debate about sites for affordable housing, age restricted housing, and preservation of land, as well as the development of recreation facilities and schools was just the beginning of a series of increasingly difficult choices that the Princetons had to make. A newer problem facing the community was the character of redevelopment.

Housing - Balancing housing needs with concerns about traffic, environmental issues, and neighborhood protection were major goals of the land use, conservation, and housing elements. Providing affordable housing to comply with the New Jersey Supreme Court's Mount Laurel decisions was a priority for Princeton. Both communities continue to struggle with ways to provide additional affordable housing opportunities. In the Borough, the appropriate density for new units on Shirley Court and Maclean Street was a major concern, and in the Township the completion of Griggs Farm and construction of 16 units on West Drive were major objectives. While not part of either community's submitted affordable housing plan, the construction of 58 low income age-restricted housing units behind Elm Court was a goal for both communities.

Other housing objectives included: protecting the scale and integrity of existing neighborhoods from incompatible land uses or changes in density; maintaining and enhancing the diversity of residential options; and providing opportunities for age restricted housing.

Traffic Circulation - The continuing growth in the Princeton region increased the volume of traffic and placed a greater demand on local streets. Our two-lane, tree-lined streets were jammed beyond capacity by regional traffic. These traffic pressures threatened the residential character of many of our roadways. In 1995 the Board's primary traffic circulation objective was to develop a peripheral roadway system around Princeton that would allow through traffic to bypass our residential streets and congested central business district. Other major traffic circulation objectives were the reduction of automobile trips in town by utilizing bikeways, sidewalks, and mass transit facilities.

Specific circulation goals in the 1996 Master Plan included the following.

• Protecting existing neighborhoods from through traffic as well as addressing noise, vibration, speed, safety, size, and weight of trucks on Route 206.
• Balancing land use with the capacity of the circulation systems.
• Eliminating interstate trucks from local streets.
• Developing ways to better manage traffic.
• Reducing auto dependency.
• Encourage development of peripheral parking for CBD employees.
• Maximizing the use of local bus and specialized transit services.
• Protecting and maintaining scenic gateways.
• Improving safety, creating better and more pathways, and integrating bicycle lanes on existing roadways.
• Limiting roadway improvements to a scale that is compatible with the surrounding neighborhood.
• Utilizing traffic-calming techniques.

Economic Development - Ensuring the economic well being of both the Borough's central business district and the Township's shopping center were major objectives of the land use element. Balancing the intensive land uses embodied in the Borough's Business zones and Township's Office Research and Service zones with neighborhood protection and traffic circulation concerns were also major objectives in the 1996 land use and circulation elements. The community identified redevelopment as an issue to be considered.

The Master Plan recognized that many institutions in Princeton may expand and that keeping these expansions to an appropriate scale for a given area will continue to be a major focus. The continued expansion of institutional and educational uses into existing residential neighborhoods and commercial areas erodes the tax base and destroys the fabric of small-scale neighborhoods.

Other commercial goals included the following.

• Utilizing design standards to guide the scale, bulk, mass, and height of buildings.
• Developing parking strategies for both long- and short-term parking in the downtown.
• Encouraging the shopping center to improve existing building facades, review parking design, and setback requirements.

Environment - Guiding growth away from environmentally sensitive areas and directing it to more suitable locations was a major objective in the land use, open space, and conservation plan elements of the 1996 Master Plan. Areas in need of preservation and protection included the Princeton Ridge along the Township's northern border, floodplain and wetlands flanking the Stony Brook and Lake Carnegie, waterways, and areas of steep slope. The community's goal of preserving 25 percent of the community as open space continued as a goal. Another major problem was developing a stable source of funding that would permit the community to acquire environmentally sensitive properties that were threatened by development.

Historic Preservation - Identifying and protecting the many historic sites within the community was a major objective of the historic preservation element. This objective was also supported in the land use, open space/recreation, and conservation elements. The importance of preserving historic roads and bridges as gateways into the Princeton community was addressed in the circulation element.

Other goals listed in the 1996 Master Plan include the following.

• Reviewing all historic district boundaries and their design standards.
• Preparing additional nominations to the State and National Registers.
• Educating the public on historic resources.
• Identifying historic preservation buffer districts

Recreation/Open Space - The protection and acquisition of open spaces was a major goal in the 1996 Master Plan. Techniques to preserve open space were discussed in the open space/recreation and conservation elements of the Master Plan. Providing a stable source of funding for open space acquisitions was a major issue.

Other goals included the following.

• Making better use of existing active recreational areas.
• roviding additional active recreation areas.
• Providing indoor athletic facilities.
• Enhancing access to open spaces.
• Providing a network of greenways connecting open spaces.

Community Facilities - The Princeton community continues to be adequately served by a comprehensive system of municipal services that include public utilities, police and fire protection, emergency services, the public library, public health, public school system, and recreational and cultural facilities.

Major objectives were the following.

• Provision of a consolidated public works garage including the Borough, Township and Schools.
• Constructing a new/renovated municipal buildings and community center.
• Construction of a new downtown library.
• Providing for future school site(s)
• Developing a public art commission to promote and encourage awareness of the arts.

Energy Conservation - Promoting the construction of energy efficient homes, offices, and public buildings was a goal of the utility element. The circulation element promoted expansion of public transportation opportunities, ridesharing, remote parking and alternative to automobiles such as walking and bicycling.

Regional Development - Development in surrounding communities, was identified as having a major impact on the Princeton community's quality of life. Impacts were felt from large developments along Route 1, as well as in Hopewell, Lawrence, Plainsboro and Montgomery Townships. The Master Plan's major objective was to work to develop regional solutions to the traffic and land use impacts from these developments with surrounding municipalities. Opportunities for open space linkages with surrounding communities was also a master plan objective.

Utilities/Infrastructure - The provision of adequate infrastructure to meet the needs of the Princeton community was a primary concern of the 1996 Master Plan. Ensuring adequate water supply for residential use and fire fighting capabilities continued as a major focus of the utility plan element. The Master Plan also identified the need to direct growth into areas served by public sewer and water.

Other goals listed in the 1996 Master Plan include the following:

• Encouraging recycling.
• Conserving energy in residential, commercial, and transportation areas.
• Developing strategies to ensure all utilities are underground.
• Controlling the quantity and quality of storm water run off from new development.