Clinton Township City Zoning Code
ARTICLE XXIIG
AH -10 Affordable Housing District
§ 165-155.71 Purpose.
The purpose of this article is to establish regulations and standards controlling development in the AH-10 Affordable Housing District (the "AH-10 Zone"), which comprises a ±2.4-acre tract of land situated along Grayrock Road and designated on the Clinton Township Tax Maps as Block 77.01, Lots 2, 3 and 4, including standards for the development of low- and moderate-income housing units in accordance with the provisions set forth below and in accordance with the New Jersey Fair Housing Act, N.J.S.A. 52:27D-301 et seq., and the regulations of the Council on Affordable Housing ("COAH") for the second round, set forth at N.J.A.C. 5:93.
§ 165-155.73 Permitted accessory uses.
A.
Private garages.
B.
Storage and maintenance sheds.
C.
Off-street parking as hereinafter regulated.
E.
Private recreation buildings and facilities, including ancillary indoor and outdoor private recreational amenities, primarily intended for use by residents of the development.
F.
Community center/room serving the residents of the development.
G.
Gazebos, pergolas and similar outdoor landscape structures.
H.
Uses which are customarily incidental to the principal permitted uses in the zone, including, but not limited to, leasing, management, maintenance, and operations offices.
I.
Employee/superintendent occupied dwelling unit.
J.
Dumpster enclosures.
K.
Green infrastructure and stormwater infrastructure.
§ 165-155.74 Area and bulk requirements.
B.
Minimum lot area: one acre.
C.
Minimum lot width: 175 feet.
E.
Minimum side yard setback: 20 feet.
F.
Minimum rear yard setback*: 50 feet.
NOTE: *The lots' or tract's Old Highway 22 frontage shall constitute the rear lot line for purposes of determining required rear yard setbacks.
G.
Maximum building coverage: 25% of the gross tract area.
H.
Maximum impervious coverage: 75% of the gross tract area.
I.
Maximum building height. No building shall exceed a height of three habitable stories or 48 feet. The maximum building height shall be calculated from the front building elevation facing Grayrock Road measured from grade to the highest point of the roof. Stories shall not include basements or cellars.
J.
Accessory buildings and structures. All accessory buildings shall comply with § 165-97, Accessory buildings and structures. Except as otherwise regulated in this section, accessory buildings and structures shall only be permitted in side yards and in the area between principal buildings and the Old Highway 22 right-of-way which shall constitute the rear yard of the lot or tract. Unenclosed decks, patios, porches, balconies and similar design elements may protrude a maximum of five feet from a principal building wall into a required side or rear yard setback. Retaining walls, utilities and utility structures shall be permitted in all required setbacks.
K.
Surface parking area requirements.
(1)
Prohibited in front yards.
(2)
From principal building walls: 10 feet.
(3)
Minimum side yard setback: 10 feet.
(4)
Minimum rear yard setback: 20 feet.
(5)
Surface parking areas visible from a public right-of-way shall be screened with landscape plants installed at a minimum three feet in height providing year-round screening.
M.
Garages. Garages and interior parking facilities or structures shall only have side or rear access. Front facing garage entrances are prohibited. Garage entrances facing Old Highway 22 shall be permitted.
§ 165-155.75 Affordable housing requirement.
A.
All residential development in the AH-10 Zone shall require a 20% affordable housing set-aside for a zone-wide yield of seven units, three of which shall built on Lots 2 and 4, and four of which shall be built on Lot 3. The distribution of units shall include a minimum of 13% very-low-income units included in a minimum of 50% low-income units, and maximum of 50% moderate-income units. Affordable housing requirements shall be implemented in accordance with the rules and regulations of Section 42 of the Internal Revenue Code, 26 CFR 1.42-1 et seq., and the New Jersey Uniform Housing Affordability Controls, N.J.A.C. 5:80-26.1 et seq.
§ 165-155.76 Parking, loading and circulation.
A.
Off-street parking and loading. Parking and loading requirements of the AH-10 Zone shall comply with New Jersey Residential Site Improvement Standards ("RSIS"), N.J.A.C. 5:21, for townhouse and/or multifamily low- and moderate-income housing, as determined to be applicable. All parking areas shall be adequately landscaped, screened and lighted.
B.
Site access. Vehicular access shall be provided exclusively from Grayrock Road limited to a single two-way driveway for an individual development.
C.
Sidewalks shall be installed by the developer in the public right-of-way along the lot's Grayrock Road and Center Street frontages, as applicable.
§ 165-155.77 Building design requirements.
A.
Buildings in the AH-10 Zone shall be developed with consideration to form, mass, architectural features and design elements consistent with the Township's agricultural history, to be incorporated as follows:
(1)
All buildings should relate harmoniously with other on-site and surrounding features and buildings.
(2)
Building materials and colors shall be consistent with the Township's agricultural heritage.
(3)
Architectural features shall be used to create interest and variety and shall include staggered unit setbacks, changing rooflines and roof designs, and alterations in building height. Flat roof buildings and structures are prohibited.
(4)
Large horizontal buildings shall be broken into segments having vertical orientation with alternating front and rear facade setbacks to generate the appearance of smaller individual buildings/units. No more than 30 feet of front or rear building wall is permitted without providing a break in the facade of an acceptable method of articulation.
(5)
Buildings with expansive blank wall are prohibited.
(6)
Buildings should be encouraged to incorporate elements that provide a visually attractive environment through the use of varied decorative and architectural features at entrances, cornices, windows and rooflines.
(7)
Development with consideration of human scale should be encouraged through the use of strategically placed windows, doors, porches and columns.
(8)
To the extent practicable, buildings shall be oriented to maximize daylighting and provide opportunities to maximize the potential of photovoltaic (solar array) equipment.
(9)
Building construction shall utilize green building or sustainable building methods to the extent practicable and as the development budget allows. While this is consistent with the Townships' longstanding tradition of environmental stewardship, it is recognized such strategies may also be utilized to reduce the operating and maintenance costs of low- and moderate-income households.
B.
The standards and requirements set forth in this section are site plan requirements, and deviations from these standards and requirements shall require an exception pursuant to N.J.S.A. 40:55D-51.
§ 165-155.78 Landscaping, buffers and screening.
A.
Any development plan for the tract shall include a formal landscape plan signed and sealed by a landscape architect licensed in the State of New Jersey. Landscape requirements for the AH-10 Zone are as follows:
(1)
Landscaping shall be provided to promote a desirable visual environment, accentuate building design, define entranceways, screen parking, building wall and equipment, mitigate adverse visual impacts, provide windbreaks for winter winds and shade for summer cooling.
(2)
Plants and other landscape materials shall be selected in terms of both aesthetic and functional considerations consistent with the rural character of the district and its surroundings.
(3)
The landscape design shall create visual diversity and contrast through variation in size, shape, texture and color.
(4)
The selection of plants should be selected based on resistance to disease, insect, deer and other pest damage, wind and ice damage, habitat, soil conditions, growth rate, longevity, root pattern, maintenance requirements, and other pertinent factors.
(5)
Site entrances and unique site areas should be accentuated with special landscaping treatments.
(6)
The landscape plan shall include a variety of trees, shrubs, groundcover, grasses, annual and/or perennial beds and/or any other plant material, as determined to be appropriate in generating seasonal interest.
(7)
Existing mature trees shall be preserved to the extent possible, particularly within the existing vegetated buffers.
(8)
Screening shall provide a year-round visual buffer in order to minimize adverse impacts from the site on adjacent properties and public rights-of-way. Existing vegetation may provide sufficient screening where demonstrated by the developer, and/or supplemented where necessary.
(9)
The main entrance road to the tract should include street trees on each side of the roadway, and such trees shall be of a different variety from those planted in the parking area.
(10)
Rows of parking longer than 15 spaces shall have landscape islands at least six feet in width to break up the pavement.
(11)
Landscaping within site triangles shall not exceed a mature height of 30 inches. Shade trees shall be pruned up to an eight-foot branching height above grade.
(12)
Street trees shall be installed along the site's Grayrock Road and Center Street frontages at a maximum spacing of 40 feet and a species to be approved by the Board landscape architect. Street trees shall be installed along the lot's Old Highway 22 frontage at the Board's discretion.
(13)
Tree spacing along roadways, driveways and parking areas should be a maximum of 40 feet, unless other vertical elements such as decorative lighting fixtures are installed between the trees, then a maximum spacing of 60 feet should be permitted.
(14)
Trees along the parking areas and main entrance driveway should be planted in a formal arrangement, while informal planting may be provided along the tract boundaries, open spaces and other landscaped areas.
(15)
Trees shall be installed with a minimum caliper of 2.0 inches to 2.5 inches.
(16)
Areas not improved with buildings, structures, and other man-made improvements should be landscaped with a combination of plant material, street furniture or other design amenities as determined to be appropriate.
(17)
Accessory structures and outdoor equipment, including trash enclosures and air-conditioning units shall be appropriately screened with permanent fencing and/or landscape plants.
B.
The standards and requirements set forth in this section are site plan requirements, and deviations from these standards and requirements shall require an exception pursuant to N.J.S.A. 40:55D-51.