STAFF REPORT

PLEASE REFER TO DRCC # WHEN SUBMITTING ADDITIONAL DOCUMENTS

DRCC #: 21-2441DD DATE: March 10, 2021 PROJECT NAME: Princeton University East Campus Garage Latest Submission Received: March 10, 2021

Applicant: Engineer: Trustees of Princeton University Chris Longo, P.E. Office of Capital Projects Vanesse Hangen Brustlin, Inc. E.A. MacMillan Building One Penn Plaza, Suite 715 Princeton, NJ 08544 New York, New York 10119 [email protected] [email protected]

Project Location:

Road Municipality County Block(s) Lot(s) Fitzrandolph and Faculty Municipality of Mercer 50.01 18 Roads Princeton

Jurisdictional Determination:

Zone B Major Nongovernmental

Subject to Review for:

Drainage Visual Traffic Stream Corridors X X

THIS STAFF REPORT IS ISSUED AS A GUIDE TO APPLICANTS IN COMPLYING WITH DRCC REGULATIONS. IT IS NOT AN APPROVAL. NO CONSTRUCTION SHALL BEGIN UNTIL A CERTIFICATE OF APPROVAL HAS BEEN ISSUED.

PO BOX 539 STOCKTON, NJ 08559 609-397-2000 www.nj.gov/dep/drcc/

DRCC #: 21-2441DD 2 DATE: March 10, 2021 PROJECT NAME: Princeton University East Campus Garage

Documents Received: Site Plans; Stormwater Management Report dated November 19, 2020; prepared by Vanasse Hangen Brustlin, Inc.; East Campus Development Traffic Impact Study (62 pages) dated March 3, 2020, prepared by BFJ Planning.

The application is complete and shall be presented to the Commission for their action with a staff recommendation of approval at the March 17, 2021 meeting, based upon the following analysis:

Existing Conditions: This site is part of the existing Princeton University campus which is located north of Faculty Road and west of Fitzrandolph Road in the Municipality of Princeton, Mercer County, approximately 1,150 feet north of the Delaware and Raritan Canal and within the Commission Review Zone B. The site is bound to the north by Ivy Lane/Western Way, to the east by Fitzrandolph Road, to the south by Faculty Road, and to the west by DeNunzio Pool, Caldwell Fieldhouse, and Princeton Stadium. The site is currently occupied by a paved, lighted parking lot (Lot 21); the East and West Elementary Particle Labs; vehicular and pedestrian access ways to parking and the campus; a tum-around and drop-off area fronting DeNunzio Pool; and trees/wooded areas.

Proposed Project: The applicant proposes to construct a structured parking garage in the location of the existing Parking Lot 21. This project involves the first major site plan related to a phased East Campus Entry development that will transform an area of campus located east of Princeton Stadium and Jadwin Gym. The East Campus development will meet strategic priorities of Princeton University, create a gateway for those arriving to the campus, provide for the expansion of athletic uses in close proximity to other existing athletic venues, and increase connectivity to and through the site with new pathways and roadways for vehicles, cyclists and pedestrians.

The East Campus Garage will occupy the eastern portion of the existing Parking Lot 21 surface parking area, as well as the site of the existing Elementary Particle Lab East. The applicant notes that the design of the garage has been carefully integrated into the campus context, circulation, landscape, and infrastructure networks to enhance the distinctive DRCC #: 21-2441DD 3 DATE: March 10, 2021 PROJECT NAME: Princeton University East Campus Garage sense of place and arrival experience. They also notes that the garage will supports the university’s shift toward more sustainable modes of transportation, such as mass transit, carpooling, walking, cycling, and the university’s transportation demand management (TDM) programs and policies.

The applicant’s submission further notes that the proposed garage is designed to facilitate seamless use of the “TigerTransit” bus service, providing an indoor waiting room and amenities for transit users. The design includes a covered bike storage facility for the private bicycles of faculty, students and visitors as well as dedicated space to accommodate shared bicycles. The garage integrates sustainable design strategies and approaches to meet the requirements of the Parksmart certification program (an international program that defines, measures and recognizes high-performing, sustainable garages) and will contribute to achieving the university’s institutional performance targets. The garage has also been designed to accommodate a rooftop solar installation.

(Rendering of Proposed East Campus Garage)

The proposed structure would be comprised of 6 tiers with slab-on-grade, below-grade ground level and 5 structured levels equaling approximately 64-feet tall on the south and approximately 52-feet tall on the north. The dimensions of the garage are 244 feet wide by 338 feet long, resulting in a footprint of approximately 82,500 square feet. The proposed design provides parking for visitors, faculty, staff and graduate students totaling 1,552 spaces. The garage is accessed at two levels: the lower level is entered at the southwest corner from Garage Drive, and the transit level is entered at the northeast corner from the new Jadwin Drive. A third access point at the southeast provides the ability to exit to Fitzrandolph Road and can be used to provide flexibility during peak periods or for events.

DRCC #: 21-2441DD 4 DATE: March 10, 2021 PROJECT NAME: Princeton University East Campus Garage

Several circulation improvements are also proposed as part of the project and include the following:

➢ A new Jadwin Drive will be constructed to extend from Fitzrandolph Road to the drop-off at DeNunzio Pool that will consists of a 22-feet-wide vehicular road, landscaped buffer space, and a shared bicycle and pedestrian path;

➢ A new Stadium Drive will extend from the drop-off at DeNunzio Pool north to Ivy Lane/Western Way along the east side of Weaver Track and Princeton Stadium that will consists of a 22-feet-wide vehicular road, landscape buffer space, and a new bicycle and pedestrian path; and

➢ A new Garage Drive will connect from Faculty Road to Jadwin Drive along the west side of the garage and will provide an access point to the East Campus Garage. A bus layby lane on the east side of the Garage Drive will provide dedicated space for TigerTransit pick-up and drop-off at the transit hub.

Based upon the submitted application documents, the project proposes a total of 4.82 acres of impervious surface coverage, or an increase of approximately 0.38 acre in impervious surface coverage when compared with the existing conditions. The project will also result in the disturbance of approximately 8.2 acres area of land.

Stream Corridor: The project site is located within the Millstone River watershed area. One tributary to the Stony Brook is located about 1,000 feet to the west of the site, while a second tributary to the Stony Brook is located 700 feet to the east of the site. Also, the floodplains of Stony Brook and Carnegie Lake are located about 250 feet to the south of the site. No other mapped watercourses or floodplains lie directly on the project site. Therefore, this project will not be subject to stream corridor impact review pursuant to N.J.A.C. 7:45-9.1(a).

Stormwater Runoff Quantity: The existing project site drainage system includes a closed drainage system that collects runoff from roadways, driveways, parking and landscape areas into a series of infrequent catch basins and inlets. The closed drainage system on the west side of the site discharges to a drain main on Princeton University campus that connects to a drain main in Faculty Road and eventually discharges to an outfall to Lake Carnegie to the west of the project site. The closed drainage system on the east side of the site discharges to a main in Fitzrandolph Road which crosses Faculty Road and discharges to Lake Carnegie. There is also existing sheet flow from the southern portion of the site which flows overland to Faculty Drive and is collected in catch basins and discharged through an outfall to Lake Carnegie. There are no existing stormwater best management practice (BMP) facilities onsite.

The proposed project will result in an increase in impervious surface area and an associated increase in peak runoff flow and volume if unmitigated. The submitted application proposes to control stormwater runoff flow and volume through the incorporation of a BMP measure, consisting of a series of subsurface extended detention basins and bio-retention facilities. DRCC #: 21-2441DD 5 DATE: March 10, 2021 PROJECT NAME: Princeton University East Campus Garage

Stormwater runoff quantity was evaluated at three separate points of analysis, including Design Point A, Design Point B and Design Point C. Design Point A is at the western outfall to Lake Carnegie and is a from the closed drainage system connection to main southwest of the project site along Faculty Drive. Design Point B consists of overland flow to Fitzrandolph Road and central outfall to Lake Carnegie. Design Point C is the eastern outfall to Lake Carnegie and is from the closed drainage system connection at the corner of Fitzrandolph Road and Faculty Drive.

The stormwater management measures has been designed so that the post-construction peak runoff rates for the two, 10 and 100-year storm events will be no greater than 50 percent (%), 75% and 80%, respectively, of the pre-construction peak runoff rates. The submitted calculations utilized the Natural Resource Conservation Service (NRCS) Technical Release No. 55 (TR-55) hydrologic methodology, NOAA Region C unit hydrograph rainfall distribution and current New Jersey 24-hour rainfall frequency data for Mercer County to compute peak runoff flow rates and volumes. Impervious and pervious areas have been separated as part of the stormwater routing calculations. Based upon a review of the submitted stormwater calculations, the proposed stormwater management measures will provide enough peak flow attenuation to meet the specific runoff quantity standards of N.J.A.C. 7:45-8.6(a)1.

Water Quality: The Commission requires that all proposed full-depth pavement including newly and reconstructed parking and access drives that are being renewed, must meet water quality standards in accordance with Commission regulations (N.J.A.C. 7:45-8.7). This includes reduction of the post-construction load of total suspended solids (TSS) in stormwater runoff generated from the water quality design storm by a rate of 80% of the anticipated load from the developed site, expressed as an annual average. Based upon the submitted application, 157,700 square feet (3.62 acres) of new and renewed parking and access drive pavement areas are being proposed onsite.

The submitted design proposes to treat for water quality by using a combination of BMP measures, via the use of subsurface extended detention facilities in a BMP treatment train with either bio-retention facilities, grass swale or proprietary water quality manufactured treatment devices (MTD).

Subsurface Extended Detention Systems are proposed to collect and promote recharge of the stormwater runoff from the adjacent impervious and landscaped site areas without accounting for stormwater attenuation from that recharge. A total of six subsurface detention systems are proposed. The TSS removal rate for an extended detention basin is based on the basin’s detention time. The detention time begins when the maximum storage volume is achieved and ends when only 10% of the maximum volume remains. Each of the proposed systems were designed with detention times in excess of 24-hours and were therefore credited with a 60% TSS removal rate.

Bio-retention Basin Systems are proposed to be strategically placed in locations along Jadwin Drive that work with the landscape theme of the roadway. The proposed bio- retention basins are proposed to treat stormwater runoff generated by Jadwin Drive from DRCC #: 21-2441DD 6 DATE: March 10, 2021 PROJECT NAME: Princeton University East Campus Garage

Stadium Drive to Fitzrandolph Road. The bio-retention basin includes a shallow surface depression and a 24-inch bio-retention soil bed layer to provide TSS and nutrient pollutant removal and promote recharge to the subsurface stormwater system consisting of pipe and stone. In accordance with the NJDEP Stormwater BMP Manual, bio- retention facilities with a media depth of at least 24-inches with site tolerant grasses provide a TSS removal rate of at least 80%.

A Grass Swale is proposed to be located east of the proposed garage. The proposed grass swale would provide stormwater runoff treatment for a portion of the garage roof to provide TSS and nutrient pollutant removal and promote recharge to the subsurface stormwater system beneath it. The grass swale was designed in accordance with the NJDEP Stormwater BMP Manual, to provide a TSS removal rate of at least 50%.

MTD’s proposed for the project would include a total of 10 Cascade Separators by Contech, including 8 total Contech CS-3 units and 2 total CS-8 units. The Cascade Separator is a hydrodynamic separator designed to protect waterways from stormwater runoff and is commonly used as a standalone stormwater quality control practice. This innovative treatment product excels at sediment capture and retention while also removing hydrocarbons, trash, and debris from the stormwater runoff. Each of the proposed Cascade Separator units for this project were designed to treat the water quality design storm. The Cascade Separator by Contech has been certified by NJDEP at a TSS removal rate of 50% when designed, operated and maintained in accordance with the verification appendix and conditions of the May 18, 2020 NJDEP lab certification letter.

It should be noted that the applicant has informed Commission staff that they intend to provide the project contractor with the flexibility to specify the use of the First Defense by Hydro International -- and an approved equal alternative to the Cascade Separator MTDs by Contech -- in place of the Cascade Separator MTDs by Contech. In order to effectuate that product change in the field, and to avoid the submission of an application for a major modification to the Commission, design documentation and shop drawings on the First Defense MTD by Hydro International have also been submitted as part of this application. Thus, the project could include a total of 10 First Defense MTD by Hydro International, including 5 First Defense 4-feet model units, 2 5-feet model units and 1 8- feet model unit.

Stormwater treatment is provided through a decentralized stormwater treatment approach in several different treatment trains. A weighted-average computation on the required total TSS removal compared to the total TSS removal provided. Therefore, the stormwater quality measures have been designed in accordance with the requirements of N.J.A.C. 7:45-8.7.

Groundwater Recharge: The Commission’s regulations require that stormwater management measures maintain 100% of the average annual preconstruction groundwater recharge volume for the site; or that any increase of stormwater runoff volume from pre-construction to post-construction for the 2-year storm is infiltrated. The proposed project will result in an increase in the amount of impervious surface area onsite. The applicant has provided information identifying the onsite soils as having DRCC #: 21-2441DD 7 DATE: March 10, 2021 PROJECT NAME: Princeton University East Campus Garage characteristics of a Hydrologic Soil Group (HSG) Type ‘D’ soil which do not provide adequate recharge. The subsurface soil and groundwater investigation, dated March 17, 2020, verifies that the existing soils onsite exhibit very low permeability rates which are characteristic of HSG D type soils. However, inherent with the green infrastructure and subsurface stormwater management approach the project is promoting recharge from the post-development site conditions. Therefore, the specific recharge standards of N.J.A.C. 7:45-8.5 can be considered to have been met by the project.

Non-Structural Methods: The Commission requires that nonstructural stormwater management strategies be incorporated into the stormwater design of a development project. To assist in determining that sufficient non-structural stormwater management strategies have been incorporated into the project site design “to the maximum extent practical”, the NJDEP Nonstructural Strategies Point System (NSPS) spreadsheet has been completed for this project. The results indicate that the ratio of proposed to existing site points (91%) are less than or equal to the required site points ratio (93%). Therefore, the applicant has instead provided a review of all of the non-structural methods that concluded that non-structural methods were incorporated into the plan to the maximum extent practicable as required by N.J.A.C. 7:45-8.4. In addition, it should be noted that the proposed project includes several green infrastructure practices and decentralized stormwater management strategies including grass swales and bio-retention systems.

Stormwater Management Maintenance Plan: A stormwater management operation and maintenance plan document has been prepared and submitted for the BMP elements proposed for the project. The plan includes maintenance details for the structural BMP measure including the underground extended detention basin systems, grass swale and the bio-retention facilities. The submitted plan has been prepared in accordance with the requirements of N.J.A.C. 7:45-8.8.

Traffic Impact: N.J.A.C. 7:45-11.1 directs that the Commission shall review major projects in Zone A of the Review Zone, or major projects in Zone B of the Review Zone that are within one mile of any portion of the Delaware and Raritan Canal State Park and have direct access to a road that enters Review Zone A, for their traffic impact on roads that enter the Delaware and Raritan Canal State Park or any part of Zone A [Emphasis added]. The applicant shall submit a traffic impact study that shows the amount of additional traffic generated by the project and the directions in which this traffic will move. If the Commission determines that the additional traffic will have an adverse impact on the park, the applicant shall use any feasible planning techniques that will direct any additional traffic away from the park. If the Commission is satisfied that there are no feasible planning techniques other than as set forth in the project proposal that can direct any additional traffic away from the park, the project shall be approved for traffic impact review.

As noted hereinabove, the proposed project is located approximately 2,270 feet from the Delaware and Raritan Canal State Park, and has direct access to a road which enters Commission Review Zone A; namely, Washington Road (Mercer County Route No. 571). The applicant was therefore required to submit a traffic impact study that shows DRCC #: 21-2441DD 8 DATE: March 10, 2021 PROJECT NAME: Princeton University East Campus Garage the amount of additional traffic generated by the project and the directions in which this traffic will move.

The submitted traffic impact study, which provides data for the entire East Campus Development project that shows the amount of additional traffic generated by the project and the directions in which this traffic will move, notes that the proposed garage would replace 499 parking spaces currently located in the Ivy Lane/Western Way area, in order to accommodate the university’s proposed Environmental Studies and School of Engineering projects, in addition to the 702 existing parking spaces at Lot 21, thus resulting in a net increase of 366 spaces for campus employees and visitors.

As noted above, the proposed project would add a new roadway link on the east side of the Princeton Stadium that connects the future garage to Ivy Lane. This new link, denoted as “Stadium Drive,” provides a third connection to the garage allowing greater dispersion of all garage traffic. It will also provide an internal road to be used by “Tiger Transit” bus service and for university service vehicles.

The study states that the net increase in vehicle trips on the university East Campus would total 87 trips during the a.m. peak hours (8:00 to 9:00 a.m.), and 182 trips during the p.m. peak hours (5:00 to 6:00 p.m.), which projections take into account projected future growth at the East Campus. With respect to potential impacts to Washington Road southbound as it enters the Delaware and Raritan Canal State Park, the study notes that the westbound left-turn movement from Faculty Road onto Washington Road is expected to increase by 4 seconds during the a.m. peak hour, and 20 seconds during the p.m. peak hour. This increase in delay is due to the addition of 6 and 45 vehicle trips at this particular movement in the A.M. and P.M. peak hours respectively. The applicant proposes to mitigate for the impact of this delay through signal timing changes to the traffic light at the intersection of Faculty and Washington roads.

Commission staff observes that the additional traffic generated by the project will not have an adverse impact on the Delaware and Raritan Canal State Park, especially during the peak P.M. hour, at which time the park, which closes at sunset pursuant to N.J.A.C. 7:2-2.13, and is therefore unlikely to be open. Staff also notes that there is no feasible planning technique which could direct any additional traffic away from the park which the applicant could implement. Accordingly, Commission staff determines that the applicant has satisfied the criteria at N.J.A.C. 7:45-11.1 and that the project is in compliance with the traffic impact review standards.

Lastly, Commission staff observes that traffic impacts to areas within the Municipality of Princeton which are located in Commission Review Zone B and not located within the Delaware and Raritan Canal State Park and Commission Review Zone A are not within the Commission’s jurisdiction.

Staff Recommendation: Staff recommends approval.

DRCC #: 21-2441DD 9 DATE: March 10, 2021 PROJECT NAME: Princeton University East Campus Garage

Sincerely,

John Hutchison Executive Director

c. Municipality of Princeton Planning Board Mercer County Planning Board Christopher DeGrezia, Esq. ([email protected])