Allentown City Zoning Code
§ 28-9.10
Standards for Site Plan Approval.
[Added 4-20-2021 by Ord. No. 03-2021]
In considering and approving site plan applications and referrals, the Planning Board shall take into consideration the public health, safety and general welfare; the comfort and convenience of the public in general and the residents of the immediate neighborhood in particular, and may attach such conditions and safeguards, including adequate screening, as a precondition to approval of such plans, as in the Municipal Agency's opinion, may be necessary to protect adjoining premises from unsightly development, obnoxious odors, and sound levels, excessive and uncontrolled traffic conditions and such other types of improvements to be erected on-site which would detrimentally affect the use of adjoining properties. The Planning Board shall make findings with respect to the following at a minimum:
a.
Traffic Access. All proposed traffic access ways are adequate in number, width, grade, alignment and visibility to serve the proposed use without jeopardizing the safety of pedestrians on abutting sidewalks, or the safety of passing traffic on the street or public way, or at nearby intersections, or other places of public assembly and travel.
b.
Circulation, Parking and Loading. Off-street parking and loading space will be provided in an amount and location sufficient to minimize on-street curb parking of vehicles belonging to persons connected with, employed by, delivering to or from, or visiting the proposed use; that safe and adequate on-site pedestrian walk areas are provided; that the interior road network will provide safe access to all required off-street parking, loading and waste removal facilities for both on-site and off-site ingress and egress purposes.
c.
Landscaping and Screening. All playground, parking and service areas and any and all other features of the proposed development and the location thereof on the site, which may exert a deleterious effect on adjoining premises shall be screened, at all seasons of the year, from the view of such premises and of adjoining streets; and that the general landscaping of the site will be in character with that prevailing in the neighborhood.
d.
Existing On-Site Natural Resources. The maximum amount of floodplain and fresh water wetlands, beneficial vegetation, rock formations, topography of land and other similar natural features on the site prior to development are maintained, preserved, and protected, where desirable, to minimize any deleterious effect of the development of the site on surrounding properties.
e.
Lighting. Adequate on-street and on-site lighting be provided to preserve the safety of the users of the development site without detrimentally affecting the use and enjoyment of neighboring property.
f.
Other Findings. All other standards for site plan approval under this chapter that are derived from information provided by the applicant in his application and submissions made and testimony taken before the Planning Board and other municipal and governmental agencies, conform with the requirements, intent and purpose of this chapter, and the design criteria for the improvements contained in this chapter, the subdivision regulations and other applicable ordinances of the Borough of Allentown.
g.
Approvals. Preliminary and final approval of all site plans shall be in accordance with N.J.S.A. 40:55D.