Backlot Development FAQs

Backlot development is:

• Designed to protect views from Princeton’s roads by reducing the number of driveway cuts in historic stone walls and by screening new development from view with a buffer zone
• Up to 5 lots can share a common driveway
• The buffer zone is owned by a third party

Backlot Development is covered in Section XIV in the Princeton zoning by-laws.

The Planning Board encourages you to meet with them for a pre-application review:

• You will need to apply to the Planning Board for a special permit (Special Permit Application)
• The Planning Board may engage technical experts to review the informal plans and to facilitate submittal of a formal application for a Backlot Development special permit
• Pre-application review is meant to help minimize your costs for engineering and other  technical experts
• The Board can provide guidance at the earliest possible state in the planning and permitting process.

Yes. There is a special permit fee and also a fee to cover the expense of the required public hearing. See the Planning Board fee schedule.

Start with the Planning Board:

• They will have to sign off on your special permit
• They can answer many of your questions
• The pre-application review can minimize your costs for engineering and other technical experts
• The Board can provide guidance at the earlies possible stage in the planning and permitting process
• You can contact the Board’s chair and ask for time at a meeting or simply show up at a meeting (in person or online) and ask your questions during the time slot set aside for that