Englishtown City Zoning Code

The Fourth Round Affordable Housing Overlay Zone (AHOZ-4) is hereby established to provide a realistic opportunity for the creation of affordable housing in satisfaction of the Borough of Englishtown's Fourth Round affordable housing unmet need, as identified in the Borough's Fourth Round Housing Element and Fair Share Plan (HEFSP), and in compliance with the New Jersey Fair Housing Act (N.J.S.A. 52:27D-301 et seq.), the Mount Laurel doctrine, and the Uniform Housing Affordability Controls (UHAC).

This Overlay Zone supplements, but does not replace, the underlying zoning district. Property owners may continue any permitted use in the underlying zone or may elect to develop in accordance with the standards of this overlay.

The Borough has identified a Fourth Round affordable housing unmet need of 27 units.

The provisions of this Overlay Zone shall apply to the Harrison Avenue/Center Street Industrial Cluster, including Block 14, Lots 6 and 6.01, and Block 9, Lot 11.

The Overlay Zone encompasses approximately 6.62 acres of land.

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.

The affordable housing yield enabled by this overlay exceeds the statutory minimum requirement applicable to overlay zoning pursuant to N.J.S.A. 52:27D-311 and shall be credited toward satisfaction of the Borough's Fourth Round obligation.

Multifamily residential dwellings.

Mixed-use buildings containing residential dwelling units above nonresidential.

Municipally sponsored or nonprofit-developed developments consisting of 100% affordable housing.

Any residential development containing five or more dwelling units shall provide affordable housing.

Minimum set-aside requirements shall be as follows:

All affordable units shall comply with the Uniform Housing Affordability Controls (UHAC), including:

Density.

Height.

Floor area ratio. Maximum FAR of 1.8.

Lot coverage. Maximum lot coverage of 70%.

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.

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.

Shared or pooled parking facilities shall be permitted.

Parking reductions may be approved for mixed-use or downtown-adjacent sites.

Additional reductions may be granted upon submission of a professional parking demand analysis.

Ground-floor facades fronting on public streets shall incorporate transparent glazing.

Primary pedestrian entrances shall be oriented toward public streets.

Building facades shall incorporate articulation, varied materials, and stepbacks to reduce visual bulk.

Landscaped buffers shall be provided where overlay sites abut residential zoning districts.

Sidewalks and pedestrian connections to the downtown core shall be incorporated into site design.

Developments utilizing the AHOZ-4 shall be entitled to expedited site plan review and priority docketing before the Planning Board, subject to submission of a complete application.