Absecon City Zoning Code
ARTICLE XVII
CH/I Church/Institution District
§ 224-100 Intent.
[1997 Code § 224-100]
A.
Intent. The purpose of the Church/Institution District is to recognize certain existing facilities in the City used for religious services and related uses but adjacent to commercial and residential districts.
B.
Regulations in District. The use, height and area regulations of this Article and those regulations set forth elsewhere in this chapter are applicable to these sections.
§ 224-101 Permitted uses.
[1997 Code § 224-101]
A building or land shall be used only for the following purposes:
A.
Principal uses and buildings: churches.
B.
Accessory uses and buildings. Accessory uses and buildings shall be uses and buildings customarily incidental to the principal use permitted. They shall be normally understood to include meeting rooms, auditoriums, clergy and religious housing and classrooms, provided that they are subordinate to and incidental to the principal use.
§ 224-102 Area, yard and bulk regulations.
[1997 Code § 224-102]
Area and bulk requirements shall be as follows:
A.
Lot size: four acres.
B.
Lot width: 200 feet.
C.
Lot depth: 200 feet.
D.
Lot coverage: 70%.
E.
Front yard setback: 40 feet. Front yard setback is to be measured from the line of the street on which the principal entrance to the church is located or on which the principal access to the site is located.
F.
Rear yard setback: 15 feet.
G.
Side yard setback: 15 feet.
H.
Building height: 35 feet. However, height limits shall not apply to church spires, belfries, cupolas or chimneys which are part of the established architectural treatment of the principal church structure.
§ 224-103 Parking.
[1997 Code § 224-103]
A.
The following parking requirements shall apply:
(1)
Churches: one space for every three seats.
(2)
Meeting rooms and auditoriums. one space for every three seats.
(3)
Classrooms: one space for each classroom and one additional space for each 600 square feet based on the gross square footage of the building devoted to classrooms and educational uses, including administrative areas.
(4)
Parking lot design shall conform to Article XX, Section 224-128 of this chapter.
B.
The following regulations shall apply to shared parking. A reduction in the number of parking spaces required for a church and its accessory uses may be considered by the Board as a design waiver based upon satisfaction of the following criteria:
(1)
Common parking areas are in sufficiently close proximity to the uses as to provide convenient access.
(2)
The parking areas are owned by the church or available to the church on an enforceable long-term basis.
(3)
The parking spaces are not reserved, by implication or markings, for special groups or individuals.
(4)
A sufficient schedule of operation and occupation of the facilities to allow an adequate evaluation of the parking requirements shall be provided.
(5)
An analysis of the capacity of the on-site parking being provided to meet the demands of the facility during its average and peak period shall be provided.
(6)
An analysis of the on-site circulation within the parking facility and its access to the adjoining street system demonstrating the adequacy of such access shall be provided.
§ 224-104 Landscaping.
[1997 Code § 224-104]
All areas not covered by roadways or pedestrian walkways shall be landscaped with natural materials. A landscaping plan shall be submitted as part of the site plan application, and such plan shall be designed to preserve existing natural vegetation and, where appropriate based upon site conditions, to buffer and screen activity from adjoining uses. Landscape design shall conform to Article XX, Section 224-129 of this chapter.
§ 224-105 Lighting.
[1997 Code § 224-105]
A.
Adequate lighting shall be provided to ensure safe pedestrian and vehicular access, subject to Board review.
B.
Lighting shall be designed to conform to Article XX, Section 224-130 of this chapter.
