Englishtown City Zoning Code
§ 620-20.1
AHOZ-3 Third Round Carry-In Affordable Housing Overlay Zone.
[Added 3-11-2026 by Ord. No. 2026-03]
A.
Purpose and intent.
(1)
The Third Round Carry-In Affordable Housing Overlay Zone (AHOZ-3) is established to provide a realistic opportunity to address the Borough's remaining Third Round affordable housing unmet need carry-in obligation of 84 units through inclusionary redevelopment and municipally sponsored affordable housing.
(2)
This Overlay Zone supplements, but does not replace, the underlying zoning district.
B.
Applicability and obligation finding.
(1)
The provisions of this Overlay Zone shall apply to the Park Avenue/Conover Street Intersection Cluster, including Block 22, Lot 1, and Block 23, Lot 7.
(2)
The Overlay Zone encompasses approximately 6.65 acres of land.
(3)
Redevelopment of this area at the densities permitted herein provides a realistic opportunity to yield approximately 75 to 100 total dwelling units, resulting in approximately 15 to 20 affordable housing units.
(4)
Affordable housing units produced pursuant to this overlay shall be credited first toward satisfaction of the Borough's Third Round carry-in obligation, consistent with the Borough's Housing Element and Fair Share Plan and applicable law.
C.
Permitted principal uses.
(1)
Multifamily residential dwellings.
(2)
Mixed-use buildings with residential units above nonresidential ground floor space.
(3)
Municipally sponsored or nonprofit-developed 100% affordable housing developments.
D.
Affordable housing requirements.
(1)
Market-rate residential development shall provide:
(a)
15% affordable units for rental developments;
(b)
20% affordable units for sale developments.
(2)
All affordable units shall comply with the Uniform Housing Affordability Controls (UHAC), including:
(a)
A minimum of 13% very-low-income units;
(b)
Required bedroom distribution;
(c)
Deed restrictions and affordability control periods.
E.
Bulk standards.
(1)
Density.
(a)
Base density: 12 to 16 dwelling units per acre.
(b)
Bonus density: up to 18 dwelling units per acre where at least 20% of affordable units are affordable to very-low-income households (<30% AMI).
(2)
Height.
(a)
Two to three stories permitted by right.
(b)
A fourth story permitted where bonus affordability standards are satisfied and stepbacks are provided.
(3)
Floor area ratio. Maximum FAR of 1.8.
(4)
Lot coverage. Maximum lot coverage of 70%.
(5)
Setbacks. Minimum front, side, and rear yard setbacks shall be as required in the underlying zoning district, except where modified herein, and may be reduced by the Planning Board as part of site plan approval where necessary to accommodate building articulation, pedestrian-oriented design, or mixed-use configuration, provided that such reductions do not result in undue adverse impacts on adjoining properties.
(6)
Open space. A minimum of 15% of the gross tract area shall be devoted to usable open space. Usable open space may be provided in a flexible manner and may include, but is not limited to, courtyards, rooftop amenity areas, landscaped plazas, pedestrian greens, landscaped buffers, and stormwater management features designed as accessible or visually integrated amenities, as approved by the Planning Board. The Planning Board shall determine compliance based on overall site design, functionality, and contribution to resident livability, rather than the specific form or location of the open space.
F.
Parking standards.
(1)
Shared or pooled parking facilities permitted.
(2)
Parking reductions allowed for mixed-use or downtown-adjacent development.
(3)
Additional reductions may be granted upon submission of a professional parking demand analysis.
G.
Design standards.
(1)
Building massing shall transition sensitively to adjacent residential neighborhoods.
(2)
Pedestrian connections to downtown and Main Street shall be incorporated.
(3)
Facade articulation, varied materials, and stepbacks shall be required to reduce perceived bulk.
(4)
Landscaped buffers shall be provided along site edges abutting residential zoning districts.
H.
Incentives and administration.
(1)
Density and height bonuses permitted for developments providing deeper affordability.
(2)
Development fees may be reduced or waived for municipally sponsored or nonprofit-developed 100% affordable housing.
(3)
Developments utilizing the AHOZ-3 shall receive priority docketing before the Planning Board.
