Planning Department

The Planning Department is the support staff to the Planning Board, Mayor, and Council of Princeton. It is the primary goal of the Planning Department to preserve and, where possible, enrich the sense of community in Princeton by:

1. Processing land use applications in accordance with state and local regulations and to assure that all permitted development is designed to be as harmonious as possible with the surrounding neighborhood
2. ‍Preparing revisions to the master plan to balance the changing needs of the community while preserving the community values
3. ‍Recommending land use ordinances as well as revisions to existing ordinances in response to new demands
4. ‍Providing community planning information and application services to our citizens in a courteous, responsive manner
5. ‍Interacting and coordinating with surrounding communities, county and state government on issues that affect the Princeton community's well-being
6. ‍Promoting dialogue with residents on the needs and concerns of neighborhoods, as well as the larger community

Princeton is currently conducting a public engagement process for a new Master Plan. 

UPDATE 11/21/23: Frequently Asked Questions About Princeton's Community Master Plan (PDF)

UPDATE 11/28/23: Planning Director's Master Plan Hearing Recommendations Memo (PDF)

The 2023 Master Plan and Reexamination draft document can be accessed as a PDF by clicking the links below:

-2023 Princeton Master Plan and Reexamination Draft (PDF)

-2023 Princeton Master Plan and Reexamination Draft Appendices (PDF)

Here is also a compressed version of the draft plan at about one-third the file size of the original draft: 2023 Princeton Master Plan and Reexamination Draft Compressed Version (PDF)

Click here for the 2022-23 Master Plan Engagement Hub.

Department Functions

• Community planning
• Development review
• Land use and zoning changes
• Preparation/revision master plan