Bernardsville City Zoning Code
§ LD-12-12.19
Downtown Zone Standards.
[Added 10-13-2020 by Ord. No. 2020-1852]
Development regulations for each Downtown subzones are hereby established as follows:
a.
Downtown Core Subdistrict (D-C).
1.
Description and Intent. The Downtown Core sub-district encompasses the heart of downtown Bernardsville. The district is centered around Olcott Square at the intersection of Mine Brook Road, Mt. Airy Road, Anderson Hill Road, and Morristown Road. The district features a variety of building types, but generally buildings are built close to the sidewalk with parking located behind. The intent is to preserve the historic character of the area and to ensure new development is compatible. The district also includes the area around Quimby Lane, an area the Borough envisions to be redeveloped with a mixture of uses and the character of a European village.
2.
Permitted uses: Uses as permitted in § 12-12.6, § 12-12.8 and § 12-12.9.
3.
Conditional uses: Conditional uses as permitted in § 12-12.7.
4.
Prohibited uses: As regulated by § 12-12.10.
5.
Lot coverage: Maximum 90%.
6.
Building setbacks.
(a)
Front yard.
(1)
Non-residential and mixed use buildings: Minimum: two feet; Maximum five feet. For non-residential and mixed-use buildings, the area between the building facade and the sidewalk shall be hardscaped to match or complement the sidewalk
(2)
Residential buildings: Minimum: five feet; Maximum 10 feet.
(b)
Side Yard. Minimum: zero feet; Minimum to adjacent residentially zoned property: five feet.
(c)
Rear Yard. Minimum: five feet; Minimum to adjacent residentially zoned property: 20 feet.
(d)
Distance between buildings on same lot: Minimum 10 feet.
(e)
Frontage buildout: Minimum 80% of the front facade shall extend along the front setback line.
7.
11.
Required Building Transparency.
(a)
Primary Street Ground Level - Non-residential: Minimum 70%; Maximum 80%; Maximum sill height at window 2 1/2 feet; For non-residential uses, located within a building designed to resemble a single-family residential building type with a porch frontage, required transparency may be reduced to 20%.
(b)
Secondary Street Ground Level - Non-residential: Minimum 20%; Maximum 80%.
(c)
Primary Street Ground Level - Residential: Minimum 20%; Maximum 60%.
(d)
Secondary Street Ground Level - Residential: Minimum 15%; Maximum 60%.
(e)
Upper Level: Minimum 15%; Maximum 50%.
14.
Parking lot screening from public right-of-way: Minimum planting height three feet; Maximum planting height four feet; Parking lots with less than five spaces are exempt from this requirement.
15.
Architecture.
(a)
Permitted foundation materials: Brick masonry, stone masonry, cement-parged concrete block.
(b)
Permitted facade materials: Brick masonry, stone masonry, stucco, wood siding/shingles for buildings designed to resemble a single-family residential building type only, fiber-cement siding/shingles to resemble a single-family residential building type only.
(c)
Permitted facade accent materials: Cast stone, wood, fiber-cement trim, siding, and panels, composite trim, siding, and panels, architectural metal.
17.
Sidewalks. Eight-foot sidewalk as measured from the top edge of the curb face shall be provided. Where the sidewalk along a property frontage is less than eight feet, the front facade must be setback an additional distance to ensure a ten foot minimum clear sidewalk width.
18.
Signage as permitted pursuant to § 12-23.15.
b.
Downtown Corridor Subdistrict (D-Co).
1.
Description and Intent. The Downtown Corridor subdistrict extends along Morristown Road east of the core and serves as a portion of the eastern gateway into Bernardsville. The area has a more auto-dependent character than other subdistricts. The intent is to limit the future expansion of this character while recognizing that the corridor will remain auto-oriented for the foreseeable future.
2.
Permitted uses: Uses as permitted in § 12-12.6, § 12-12.8 and § 12-12.9.
3.
Conditional uses: Conditional uses as permitted in § 12-12.7.
4.
Prohibited uses: As regulated by § 12-12.10 and residential on a ground floor.
5.
Lot Coverage: Maximum 80%.
9.
Ground floor above sidewalk measured at doorway: zero feet.
11.
Required Building Transparency.
(a)
Primary Street Ground Level - Non-residential: Minimum 40% Maximum 80%; For non-residential uses located within a building designed to resemble a single-family residential building type with a porch frontage, required transparency may be reduced to 20%.
(b)
Secondary Street Ground Level - Non-residential: Minimum 20%; Maximum 80%.
(c)
Primary Street Ground Level - Residential: Minimum 20%; Maximum 60%.
(d)
Secondary Street Ground Level - Residential: Minimum 15%; Maximum 60%.
(e)
Upper Level: Minimum 15%; Maximum 50%.
14.
Parking lot screening from public right of way: Minimum planting height three feet; Maximum planting height four feet; Parking lots with less than five spaces are exempt from this requirement.
15.
Architecture.
(a)
Permitted Foundation Materials: Brick masonry, stone masonry, cement-parged concrete block.
(b)
Permitted Facade Materials: Brick masonry, stone masonry, stucco, wood siding/shingles for buildings designed to resemble a single-family residential building type only, fiber-cement siding/shingles to resemble a single-family residential building type only.
(c)
Permitted Facade Accent Materials: Cast stone, wood, fiber-cement trim, siding, and panels, composite trim, siding, and panels, architectural metal.
17.
Sidewalks. Eight-foot sidewalk as measured from the top edge of the curb face shall be provided. Where the sidewalk along a property frontage is less than eight feet, the front facade must be setback an additional distance to ensure a ten foot minimum clear sidewalk width.
18.
Signage as permitted pursuant to § 12-23.15.
c.
Downtown Gateway Subdistrict (D-G).
1.
Description and Intent. The Downtown Gateway subdistrict extends along Morristown Road near its intersection with Finley and east to the Borough limits near Madisonville Road. This area serves as the eastern gateway into Bernardsville. The area has a more auto-dependent character than other subdistricts. The intent is to encourage a slightly more intense development pattern in this area, in particular, office uses, but with an appropriate transition to surrounding residential areas.
2.
Permitted Uses: Uses as permitted in § 12-12.6, § 12-12.8 and § 12-12.9.
3.
Conditional Uses: Conditional uses as permitted in § 12-12.7.
4.
Prohibited Uses: As regulated by § 12-12.10.
5.
Lot Coverage: Maximum 85%.
7.
11.
Required Building Transparency.
(a)
Primary Street Ground Level - Non-residential: Minimum 60%; Maximum 80%.
(b)
Secondary Street Ground Level - Non-residential: Minimum 20%; Maximum 80%.
(c)
Primary Street Ground Level - Residential: Minimum 20%; Maximum 60%.
(d)
Secondary Street Ground Level - Residential: Minimum 15%; Maximum 60%.
(e)
Upper Level: Minimum 15%; Maximum 50%.
14.
Parking lot screening from public right of way: Minimum planting height three feet; Maximum planting height four feet; Parking lots with less than five spaces is exempt from this requirement.
15.
Architecture.
(a)
Permitted Foundation Materials: Brick masonry, stone masonry, cement-parged concrete block.
(b)
Permitted Facade Materials: Brick masonry, stone masonry, stucco, wood siding/shingles for buildings designed to resemble a single-family residential building type only, fiber-cement siding/shingles to resemble a single-family residential building type only.
(c)
Permitted Facade Accent Materials: Cast stone, wood, fiber-cement trim, siding, and panels, composite trim, siding, and panels, architectural metal.
17.
Sidewalks. Eight foot sidewalk as measured from the top edge of the curb face shall be provided. Where the sidewalk along a property frontage is less than eight feet, the front facade must be setback an additional distance to ensure a ten foot minimum clear sidewalk width.
18.
Signage as permitted pursuant to § 12-23.15.
d.
Downtown Claremont Road Subdistrict (D-Cl).
1.
Description and Intent. The Downtown Claremont Road subdistrict contains a mixture of uses in a form that creates an appropriate transition between the core of downtown and the single-family neighborhoods to the north. New development in the area would ideally feature a mixture of uses and be compatible in scale and character with existing development.
2.
Permitted uses: § 12-12.6, § 12-12.8 and § 12-12.9.
3.
Conditional uses: Conditional uses as permitted in § 12-12.7.
4.
Prohibited uses: As regulated by § 12-12.10 including artisan manufacturing and public parking garages which are also prohibited.
5.
Lot Coverage: Maximum 80%.
6.
Building Setbacks.
(a)
Front Yard. Minimum: five feet; Maximum 25 feet.
(b)
Side Yard. Minimum: five feet.
(c)
Rear Yard. Minimum: five feet; Minimum 20 feet to residentially used or zoned property.
(d)
Distance between buildings on same lot: Minimum 10 feet.
(e)
Frontage buildout: Minimum 70% of the front facade shall extend along the front setback line.
7.
11.
Required Building Transparency.
(a)
Primary Street Ground Level - Non-residential: Minimum 50%; Maximum 80%; Maximum 2 1/2 feet sill height; For non-residential uses located within a building designed to resemble a single-family residential building type within a porch frontage, required transparency may be reduced to 20%.
(b)
Secondary Street Ground Level - Non-residential: Minimum 20%; Maximum 80%.
(c)
Primary Street Ground Level - Residential: Minimum 20%; Maximum 60%.
(d)
Secondary Street Ground Level - Residential: Minimum 15%; Maximum 60%.
(e)
Upper Level: Minimum 15%; Maximum 50%.
14.
Parking lot screening from public right of way: Minimum planting height three feet; Maximum planting height four feet; Parking lots with less than five spaces is exempt from this requirement.
15.
Architecture.
(a)
Permitted Foundation Materials: Brick masonry, stone masonry, cement-parged concrete block.
(b)
Permitted Facade Materials: Brick masonry, stone masonry, stucco, wood siding/shingles, fiber-cement siding/shingles.
(c)
Permitted Facade Accent Materials: Cast stone, wood, fiber-cement trim, siding, and panels, composite trim, siding, and panels, architectural metal.
17.
Sidewalks. Five-foot sidewalk as measured from the top edge of the curb face shall be provided. Where the sidewalk along a property frontage is less than five feet, the front facade must be setback an additional distance to ensure a seven foot minimum clear sidewalk width.
18.
Signage as permitted pursuant to § 12-23.15.