10 November, 1987

Garage site best choice fire station

Princeton Township needs a new fire station, located within the confines of a Centralized municipal complex.

The growth of downtown Princeton and the northern section of the township have made it necessary to move Engine Co. No. 3 from its Chambers Street station to a new building in the township.

A facilities committee picked the parking Jot next to the township administration building on Witherspoon Street as the prime location, but the school board said it would be unsafe and would not relinquish the -property. A second choice was across the street near the entrance to the Community Park pool, but objections by neighbors and the joint Recreation Board have put the damper on this option.

The Planning Board asked the Township Committee to reconsider available sites, and a new site has been proposed. This would require condemning the home of the Tiger Garage on Witherspoon Street, along with a two-story home and a builder’s offices. While this is next to the committee’s preferred site, it would mean paying market price for in-town real estate.

The Planning Board asked the Township Committee to reconsider available sites, and a new site has been proposed. This would require condemning the home of the Tiger – Garage on Witherspoon Street, along with a two-story home and a builder’s offices.

While this is next to the committee’s preferred site, it would mean paying market price for in-town real estate.

The other sites to be reconsidered include the present public works garage site off Terhune Road, and a site off Mountain Avenue by the parking area for Community Park North.

The Township Committee must weigh ‘safety, cost, access and sensitivity to neighbors who live in the affected area, who –have been vocal in their opposition to llocating a firehouse near their homes.

The committee must also remember to pick a site that fits with developing the idea of -having municipal services centrally located. The future likely holds an expanded township police facility, or a building to house most township offices.

If the township wants to appease the neighbors, the public works garage makes the most sense. It provides easy access and should be safe. Cost, however, could be prohibitive, if the town must then build a new public works facility somewhere else.

Cost and neighborhood opposition would be the likely determining factors in whether or not the Tiger Garage site is picked. The  town also would put itself in the position of perhaps ending a local business or two.

Safety and neighbors’ objections have sidetracked the pool entrance site, and the Community Park North site is not centrally located, is near another neighborhood, and there could be problems if land bought with state Green Acres money was to be used for something other than recreation.

The Terhune Road site makes the most sense despite the extra cost involved in relocating the public works garage. The township is growing and will need more service from road crew and police. It would make sense to plan for expansion now while creating the new fire station.