The New Jersey Sierra Club added their name to the list of groups and people who have come out opposing the proposed development
PRINCETON - The list of public figures and groups who oppose a housing development project near the Princeton Battlefield State Park is growing - even though excavation at the site is already underway.
On Wednesday New Jersey Sierra Club Director Jeff Tittle became the most recent person to publicly oppose the 15-unit faculty housing development project at the site of Maxwell's Field, just off of Einstein Drive. The project is being headed-up by the Institute for Advanced Study, which got approval for the development just over a year ago.
The Princeton Battlefield Society has long opposed the project, claiming the land is historic and the site of a pivotal moment in the Battle of Princeton.
Since the approval, the institute and the society have battled out the decision in court - with the society filing an appeal that is still under consideration.
But over the last two months the institute began to push their plan forward by starting excavation at the site in preparation for the development.
ALSO: Institute for Advanced Study preps for Maxwell's Field construction
And with the recent digging, came the opponents - not just from the society but, increasingly, from people outside of Princeton and even Mercer County.
"It's shameful that the Institute isn't willing to protect this site or even compromise," Tittle said in a statement Wednesday. His group, the New Jersey chapter of the Sierra Club, is an environmental group based in Trenton.
"(The development) will threaten the wetlands and historical value of Maxwell's Field and Princeton Battlefield State Park," Tittle wrote.
He is the most recent to speak out against the development on the battlefield. Last week three state senators wrote a letter to Bob Martin of the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection, imploring the department to intervene.
A month ago, the nonprofit organization, the Civil War Trust, wrote a petition, calling for protection of the land. The petition already has over 11,000 signatures.
They also offered to buy the property for $4.5 million, according to Jim Lighthizer, president of the Civil War Trust, though their offer was declined.
That offer especially, was upsetting to Tittle, who referenced the institute's decision not to sell the property multiple times in a statement Wednesday.
"The Civil War Trust's offer to buy the property would have protected this land but the Institute and the DEP are more worried about promoting development than preserving history," Tittle said of the institute's decision.
Bruce Afran, an attorney representing the society could not be reached for comment Wednesday night.
Anna Merriman may be reached at amerriman@njadvancemedia.com. Follow her on Twitter @anna_merriman Find The Times of Trenton on Facebook.