To plan and guide the appropriate use or development of all land in a manner which will promote the public health, safety, morals, and general welfare.

To secure safety from fire, flood, panic and other natural and man-made disasters.

To provide adequate light, air and open space.

To ensure that land development does not conflict with the development and general welfare of neighboring municipalities, the County and the State as a whole.

To promote the establishment of appropriate population densities and concentrations that will contribute to the wellbeing of persons, maintenance of the character of neighborhoods, preservation of the environment and quality of life.

To encourage the appropriate and efficient expenditures of public funds by the coordination of public development with land use policies.

To provide sufficient space in appropriate locations for a variety of residential, recreational, commercial and industrial uses and open space, both public and private, according to their respective environmental requirements.

To encourage the location and design of transportation routes which will promote the free flow of traffic while discouraging the location of such facilities and routes which will result in congestion or blight.

To promote a desirable visual environment through creative development techniques and good civic design and arrangements.

To promote the conservation of open space and valuable natural resources and to prevent urban sprawl and degradation of the environment through improper use of land.

To encourage planned developments which incorporate the best features of design and relate the type, design and layout of residential, commercial, industrial and recreational development to the particular site.

To encourage senior citizen community housing construction consistent with provisions permitting other residential uses of a similar density in the same zoning district.

To encourage coordination of various public and private procedures and activities shaping land development with a view of lessening the cost of such development and to the more efficient use of land.

To regulate the location of buildings and establish standards of development; to establish building lines and the location of buildings designed for residential, commercial, industrial, office or other uses within such lines and to fix reasonable standards to which buildings or structures shall conform.

To prohibit uses, buildings or structures which are incompatible with the character of development of the permitted uses within specified zoning districts and surrounding areas.

To regulate alterations of existing buildings; to prevent such additions to, and alterations or remodeling of existing buildings or structures which would not comply with the restrictions and limitations imposed hereunder.

To conserve the value of land and buildings throughout the City.

Within the community's resources, to meet the future housing needs of the citizens of the City and the region and to assure a full range of housing types to meet all income levels.

To promote controlled redevelopment within the community in order to provide a sound economic base.

Any variance or exception granted by the Zoning Board of Adjustment of the City of Asbury Park shall be deemed expired if no construction, alteration, or conversion has been commenced within one (1) year from the date of granting of the variance, subject to the limitations set forth herein.

The time limitation on the exercise of the variance or the exception shall be tolled if the developer or property owner is barred or prevented directly or indirectly from proceeding with the development otherwise permitted, if the developer is otherwise ready, willing and able to proceed with said development, for the following reasons, (N.J.S.A. 40:55D-21):

The one (1) year time period shall be tolled only for as long as the aforementioned conditions of N.J.S.A. 40:55D-21 are in effect and then only as to the remaining portion of said one (1) year time period.

Nothing herein shall preclude an extension of said time period in the discretion of the Zoning Board upon application to said Board and upon notice to adjacent property owners as requested by N.J.S.A. 40:55D-12.

If a variance is granted in conjunction with minor or major site plan approval, those time periods relating to work to be performed pursuant to site plan approval, pursuant to N.J.S.A. 40:55D-1 et seq., shall apply to the variance or variances granted in connection therewith.

If a variance is granted in conjunction with preliminary approval of a major site plan, the applicant may, pursuant to N.J.S.A. 40:55D-49c., apply for extensions on said variance for additional periods of at least one (1) year, but not to exceed a total extension of two (2) years, provided that if the design standards have been revised by ordinance, such revised standards may govern.

If a variance is granted in conjunction with a site plan approval, and final approval is obtained, the developer may obtain an extension with regard to that variance pursuant to N.J.S.A. 40:55D-52d., if the developer can prove to the reasonable satisfaction of the Planning Board that the developer was barred or prevented, directly or indirectly, from proceeding with the development because of delays in obtaining legally required approvals from other governmental entities and that the developer applied promptly for and diligently pursued these approvals. A developer shall apply for the extension before (1) what would otherwise be the expiration date of said variance or (2) the 91st day after the developer receives the last legally required approval from other governmental entitles, whichever occurs later.