The goal of the rural residential district is to encourage development on lost sizes that preserve the rural and scenic quality of the landscape while creating attractive rural residential developments that are in concert with, and in recognition of, critically sensitive environmental conditions that exist in the district.

A.

Customary agricultural uses including accessory uses on the same lot with and customarily incidental to the principal use. This shall not be construed to include piggeries. However, it may include a roadside stand for the sale of farm products grown on the farm and conducted solely by the farm operator;

B.

Single-family detached dwellings;

C.

Migrant housing facilities shall be permitted on farms that already have such housing and utilize migrant workers in their operation. Such migrant housing may be increased twenty (20) percent and constructed in the general vicinity of the existing structures. In no instance shall migrant housing be located closer than two hundred (200) feet to an adjoining residence;

D.

Township buildings, parks, playfields or other township facilities and services.

(Ord. 7-05 § 4 (part), 2005; prior code § 14-4.1)

A.

Customary accessory uses;

B.

Private garages;

C.

Private swimming pools, in conformance with Section 16.18.150;

D.

Horses and ponies on residential use lots. See Section 16.60.040(J);

E.

Renewable energy facilities in accordance with Sections 16.85.020 and 16.85.030;

F.

Retaining wall structures, in conformance with Section 16.18.160.

(Ord. 7-05 § 4 (part), 2005; prior code § 14-4.2)

(Ord. No. 34-2010, § II, 12-28-2010; Ord. No. 4-2022, § 1, 4-12-2022)

In accordance with Chapter 16.84:

A.

Churches;

B.

Schools.

C.

Commercial solar energy operations in accordance with Sections 16.85.020 and 16.85.040.

(Ord. 7-05 § 4 (part); prior code § 14-4.3)

(Ord. No. 34-2010, § II, 12-28-2010)

A.

Minimum Lot Area. Lot areas shall not be less than two acres, eighty seven thousand one hundred twenty (87,120) square feet per family, for every single-family structure being erected or used in whole or in part as a dwelling. If a designated minimum lot area of two acres cannot meet the standards established for septic disposal systems pursuant to N.J.A.C.7:9A, then the minimum lot area shall be adjusted to such larger size and configuration as is necessary in order to meet said standards.

B.

Septic Disposal Systems. All lots and densities shall be based upon the criteria established in the New Jersey Geological Survey's GSR 32 and the Trela/Douglas nitrate dilution model, as contained in the "NJDEP's Guidance for 50 or More Realty Improvement Certifications", using a basin factor of 1.3. Additionally, the grading plan for the building lot shall not exceed a height of fill of fifty-four (54) inches above the natural grade at the septic system location. Community septic systems are prohibited. Two test pits shall be excavated at the proposed septic location.

C.

Minimum Frontage and Depth Requirements. Each lot shall have a frontage on at least one fully constructed street of not less than two hundred ten (210) feet. The lot depth shall not exceed three times the lot frontage. On cul-de-sac lots, the lot depth shall not exceed four times the lot frontage.

D.

Minimum Front Yard. There shall be a front yard on each lot facing a street on which the lot fronts of not less than one hundred fifty (150) feet in depth.

E.

Minimum Side Yard. There shall be a minimum of thirty-five (35) feet per any single side yard, with an aggregate side yard total of not less than one hundred (100) feet for each lot.

F.

Minimum Rear Yard. There shall be a minimum rear yard on each lot of not less than seventy-five (75) feet.

G.

Impervious Coverage. The maximum impervious coverage on any lot (to include buildings and permanent structures, driveways and in-ground pools) shall be no greater than twenty (20) percent.

H.

Building Height. Buildings and other structures shall not exceed thirty-five (35) feet.

I.

Minimum Yard Setbacks for Accessory Buildings. Front yard: Accessory structures shall be prohibited from being placed forward of the rear plane of any dwelling constructed on the lot. Side yard: ten (10) feet. Rear yard: ten (10) feet. In the case of accessory buildings used for the care and housing of small animals, than such additional setback requirements as are set forth under subsection K. "Small animals", shall be complied with.

J.

Crawl Space/Basement Limitations. The crawl space or basement finish floor elevation shall be set at a minimum of two feet above the seasonal high water table unless meeting Section R405 of the International Residential Building Code, latest New Jersey edition. The seasonal high water table for each dwelling or building shall be determined by conducting a soil boring test witnessed by a designated township official.

K.

Small Animals. Small animals, other than household pets, such as livestock, horses, ponies, cows, sheep, goats, etc. shall be permitted on residential use lots provided the following standards are met:

1.

A minimum lot area of two acres, exclusive of impervious coverage areas, shall be required for the support of the first animal. An additional twenty-two thousand (22,000) square feet shall be required for each additional animal. A maximum of three animals shall be permitted on residential use lots.

2.

A pen or corral containing at least one thousand two hundred (1,200) square feet, including a stable under a roof of at least one hundred (100) square feet, shall be required for the first animal. Each additional animal shall require another four hundred (400) square feet of pen or corral and one hundred (100) square feet of stable.

3.

No pen, corral or stable shall be closer than thirty (30) feet to any adjacent property lines, or closer than seventy-five (75) feet to any neighboring residential structure.

4.

Stables, pens and corrals, and the area within and outside of each, shall be built, maintained, cared for and kept clean so as to not create offensive odors, the breeding of flies or other pests or nuisances, or any other unhealthy or unsanitary condition.

L.

Open Space.

1.

The minimum upland area required shall be consistent with the requirements as set forth in the recreational sections of the ordinance codified in this chapter.

2.

The lot area of any lot shall not include wetlands although the buffer to a wetland, as may be required by the Department of Environmental Protection, may be included in the lot area, provided a minimum upland area of forty (40) feet is available adjacent to the rear of the house to accommodate ancillary structures such as decks, pools, etc.

3.

The open space may be offered to the township for dedication, or to be maintained by a homeowners association.

M.

Conservation Alternative Plan. Within the RR zone, a conservation alternative plan is permitted. The purpose of the conservation alternative plan is to address the management, preservation and conservation of natural resources and open spaces with the rural residential zone district.

1.

Conservation alternative plans are permitted, provided that the total number of residential units allowable under the conservation alternative plan development shall not exceed the number of units that would otherwise be allowable in the RR zone district using the conventional development standards set forth under Section 16.60.040.A., or the maximum number of units permitted under Section 16.60.040.B., whichever has the fewest number of lots.

2.

Conservation alternative plans should minimize potential adverse impacts on existing farm operations, form connections between preservation parcels, and create preservation parcels that are suitable for agriculture, open space or protect sensitive environmental features.

3.

A conventional development plan shall accompany the submission of a conservation alternative plan. The conventional plan shall include the development layout that conforms to the criteria as established under Section 16.60.040, including all proposed grading, on-site detention basin(s), and calculations to support the size of the basin. Further, the plan shall provide the area necessary for recreation in accordance with Section 16.38.020 of the Land development Code.

4.

Area, yard and dimensional requirements for conservation alternative plans, shall be as follows:

a.

Minimum Lot Area. The lot area shall not be less than one acre, forty-three thousand five hundred and sixty (43,560) square feet per family, for every single-family home being erected or used in whole or in part as a dwelling. If the designated minimum lot area of one acre cannot meet the standards established for septic disposal systems pursuant to N.J.A.C.7:9A, then the minimum lot are shall be adjusted to such larger size and configuration as is necessary in order to meet said standards.

b.

Minimum Frontage Requirement. Each lot shall have frontage on at least one fully constructed street of not less than one hundred twenty-five (125) feet.

c.

Impervious Coverage. The maximum impervious coverage (to include buildings and permanent structures, driveways and in-ground pools) shall be no greater than twenty (20) percent.

d.

Minimum Front Yard. There shall be a front yard on each lot which fronts on a street of not less than seventy-five (75) feet.

e.

Minimum Side Yards. There shall be an aggregate side yard total of not less than thirty-five (35) feet on each lot, with a minimum of fifteen (15) feet on any one side yard.

f.

Minimum Rear Yard. There shall be a rear yard on each lot of not less than seventy-five (75) feet.

g.

Building Height. Buildings and other structures shall not exceed thirty-five (35) feet in height.

h.

Minimum yard setbacks for accessory buildings:

Accessory structures shall be prohibited from being placed forward of the rear plane of any dwelling constructed on the lot.

5.

Upon mutual agreement by and between the developer and the planning board, if it is determined that an off-site recreational facility would best serve the interests of the prospective residents of the proposed development, the applicant/developer of a conservation alternate plan shall be permitted to make a contribution in-lieu of all or part of the requirements set forth in Section 16.38.020, by contributing to off-tract recreational improvements pursuant to the terms and conditions as set forth under Section 16.19.070. Any such contribution in-lieu shall exclude the estimated cost of land, if appropriately provided pursuant to Section 16.60.040.M.3. However, all remaining recreational improvements as described in Section 16.19.070 shall be included in calculating the recreational in-lieu contribution fee.

(Ord. 7-05 § 5 (part); Ord. 1-05 § 1: Ord. 12-2004 § 1 (part); Ord. 10-2004 § 1 (part); prior code § 14-4.4)