Planning Board approves EV chargers and branding at Princeton Shopping Center

The Princeton Planning Board on July 16 approved a major site development application allowing Iona LLC (with operator Ayanna) to install four dual-port DC fast chargers serving eight parking stalls at the Princeton Shopping Center at 301 North Harrison Street. Planner Marella Traina told the board the municipal code is currently silent on EV-charger signage and that the requested C-variances meet the statutory C2 test because the project advances electric-vehicle infrastructure, provides ADA-accessible spaces and aligns with the town's master plan.

Ayanna deployment manager Sarah Maclean described the chargers as Level 3 DC fast chargers compatible with CCS and NACS plugs and intended for short 20–30 minute dwell times while customers patronize nearby businesses. "These are level three DC fast chargers," Maclean said, adding the company prioritizes reliability and customer experience. Civil engineer Z. Chow (Kimley Horn) testified the installation will remove 10 existing stalls and replace them with eight EV stalls, reducing physical stalls from 960 to 958 while yielding an effective parking-credit increase under the EV credit rules. The board conditioned approval on a landscaping submission, screening for the transformer and proof of coordination or a letter from the shopping-center owner, Edens.