Bound Brook City Zoning Code
21-10.17A OS-C
Open Space/Civic District.
[Added 12-18-2018 by Ord. No. 2018-30]
a.
Intent. The intent of the OS-C Open Space/Civic District is to codify the vision outlined in the 2017 Master Plan Reexamination Report, adopted by the Planning Board on June 8, 2017, consistent with widely accepted contemporary planning principles and best practices, as well as with the State of New Jersey's smart growth planning policies, as expressed in the 2001 State Development and Redevelopment Plan, and with the Somerset County smart growth planning policies, as expressed in the 2017 Supporting Priority Investment in Somerset County document. Specifically, the OS-C Open Space/Civic District is intended to:
1.
Provide a zoning district for lands devoted to public and private parks and open space, whether used for active or passive purposes; trails; campgrounds; amphitheaters; sculpture parks; community gardens, and other similar uses; agricultural and forested land; and lands occupied or to be occupied by public buildings or uses, other civic buildings or uses, cemeteries and similar uses.
2.
Promote safe and convenient public access to the riverfront and to the preserved areas adjacent to the Middle Brook and Bound Brook and encourage amenities and activities that will attract the public and enhance and reclaim these underutilized areas.
3.
Promote a multipurpose trail along the Raritan River and the two brooks with connections to the adjoining towns.
4.
Promote landscape and habitat restoration in appropriate locations.
5.
Provide opportunities for special outdoor events.
b.
Permitted uses.
1.
The following principal uses are permitted, either individually or combined:
(a)
Civic and governmental uses.
(b)
Educational uses.
(c)
Recreational and sports-related uses.
(d)
Cemeteries, including supporting offices and limited retail sales of funerary items.
(e)
Temporary uses, such as circuses, concerts and other performances, amusement rides, farmers markets, flea markets, book fairs, art fairs and similar uses, subject to a temporary use permit from the Borough.
(f)
Mobile uses, such as food trucks, mobile retail and similar uses, subject to a mobile use permit from the Borough.
(g)
Tree and plant nurseries.
(h)
Community gardens.
(i)
Sculpture parks.
(j)
Solar arrays, wind turbines and other green energy facilities.
2.
Uses customarily incidental with the principal permitted uses listed above are also permitted.
c.
Permitted building types. The following building types are permitted:
d.
Bulk standards. There are no specific bulk standards for this district, given the wide variety of conditions it covers. Nevertheless, buildings and structures in this district must be sensitive to surrounding land uses and structures, where such exist, and must not encroach on appropriate standards of light and air affecting other properties.
f.
Design standards.
1.
Utility boxes. Ground-mounted electrical or other utility boxes shall be thoroughly screened from view wherever they are located.
2.
Reforestation and habitat restoration. Reforestation and habitat restoration plans shall be prepared by a licensed landscape architect or ecologist and approved by the Planning Board.
3.
Trails. Trails shall facilitate pedestrian and bicycle circulation. Trails in the public right-of-way or created on public easements shall have a minimum, unobstructed width of six feet, and shall be designed to provide access to the riverfront, public open space, civic and recreational facilities and other destinations and ensure uninterrupted connectivity for pedestrians and bicycle.
4.
Pervious pavement. The use of pavers and other forms of low-maintenance pervious pavement is required throughout.
5.
Public realm obstructions. Trash receptacles, bicycle parking, vending racks, and other obstructions to the public realm shall be placed in locations where they are least intrusive, most convenient to their users and least disruptive of pedestrian and bicycle circulation. Benches shall be placed in strategic locations, next to destinations or in locations with scenic views.