Greenwich Township Gloucester County
City Zoning Code
City Zoning Code
ARTICLE XV
General Regulations
§ 700-45 Nonconforming buildings or uses.
A.
Continuation. Any lawful use of a building or land existing or authorized by a building permit at the effective date of this chapter may be continued although such use does not conform to the provisions of this chapter.
B.
Extension. A nonconforming use of a building or land may not be extended or expanded.
C.
Changes. A nonconforming use of a building or land may be changed to a nonconforming use of the same or a more restricted classification. Whenever a nonconforming use of a building or land has been changed to a use of a more restricted classification or to a conforming use, such use shall not thereafter be changed to a use of a less restricted classification.
D.
Restoration. A nonconforming building wholly or partially destroyed by a fire, explosion, flood or other phenomenon, or legally condemned, may be reconstructed, repaired and used for the same nonconforming use, provided that building reconstruction shall be commenced within one year from the date the building was destroyed or condemned, and shall be carried on without interruption.
E.
Abandonment. It shall be presumed that a nonconforming use has been abandoned when there has been a cessation of the exercise of such nonconforming use for the continuous period of one year. The presumption of abandonment of such nonconforming use shall be conclusive when the Township Zoning Administrator shall give written notice of the abandonment to the owner of the property involved, personally or by certified mail, return receipt requested, and no application for a hearing before the Township Planning Board is filed by the owner or other interested party within 60 days of the service of such notice. The Planning Board shall hold a hearing on the question of abandonment if an application is made therefor within 60 days after service of such notice and, after hearing, shall grant or deny the application. The applicant shall have the burden of producing evidence of lack of abandonment at such hearing.
§ 700-46 Building height regulations.
[Amended 12-28-2000 by Ord. No. 34-2000]
A.
In residential districts, no principal building other than a farm building shall exceed 35 feet in height. For regulations affecting accessory structures see § 700-52 regulating accessory structures. In nonresidential districts the provisions of each zoning district governs.
B.
Mechanical equipment located on the roof of buildings shall be shielded from view in a manner acceptable to the approving agency.
§ 700-47 Nonconforming lots.
A building may be erected on any lot held in single and separate ownership at the effective date of this chapter which is not of the required minimum area or width, when approved by the Planning Board, provided that adequate sanitation provisions shall be made.
§ 700-48 Reduction of lot.
No lot area shall be so reduced that the area of the lot or the dimensions of the open spaces shall be smaller than herein prescribed.
§ 700-49 Contiguous lots.
[Added 12-28-2000 by Ord. No. 34-2000]
When two or more lots are under the same ownership and one or more of these lots are undersized in area or dimension, the land holdings shall be considered as one lot for the purpose of planning.
§ 700-50 Conversion of dwelling to two- or three-family use.
The Planning Board may authorize as a conditional use the conversion of any dwelling existing at the effective date of this chapter on a designated lot into a dwelling for not more than three families, subject to the following requirements:
A.
The lot area per family, yards and building area shall not be reduced to less than the requirements for the district in which such lot is situated.
B.
No structural alteration of the building exterior shall be made, except as may be necessary for purposes of sanitation or safety.
C.
Such conversion shall be authorized only for a large building which has relatively little economic value or usefulness as a single-family dwelling or other conforming use.
§ 700-51 Applicability to public utilities.
[Amended 12-1-2003 by Ord. No. 21-2003]
This chapter shall not apply to existing property or to buildings or structures used or to be used by public utilities in furnishing service if, upon a petition of the public utility, the Board of Public Utility Commissioners shall, after a hearing, of which the Greenwich Township Council and any other municipal agency from whom the appeal is taken and all parties primarily concerned shall have notice, decide that the present or proposed situation of the building or structure in question is reasonably necessary for the service, convenience or welfare of the public.
§ 700-52 Yard exceptions for private garages or accessory building.
[Amended 12-28-2000 by Ord. No. 34-2000]
A.
An accessory structure shall not be located within any front or side yard area.
[Amended 12-1-2003 by Ord. No. 21-2003]
B.
Accessory structures shall be set back from the side and rear property lines a distance of five feet.
C.
An accessory structure must be set back not less than 10 feet further from the street line than the rearmost portion of the principal structure.
D.
An accessory structure may not exceed a height of 17 feet or one story, whichever is less.
E.
An accessory structure may not exceed more than 25% of the rear yard area or accommodate more than 600 square feet, whichever is less.
§ 700-53 Vision obstruction.
On any corner lot, no wall, fence or other structure shall be erected or altered, and no hedge, tree, shrub or other growth shall be maintained, which may cause danger to traffic on a street or public road by obscuring the view.
§ 700-54 Prohibited uses.
A.
No building may be erected, altered or used and no lot or premises may be used in or within 500 feet of a residence district for any use which is noxious or offensive by reason of odor, dust, vibration, illumination or noise or which constitutes a public hazard whether by fire, explosion or otherwise.
B.
Outdoor theaters and amusement parlors or arcades shall not be permitted in any district.
[Added 9-19-1983 by Ord. No. 13-1983]
C.
Class 5 cannabis retail establishments as said terms are defined in Section 3 of P.L. 2021, c. 16,[1] but not the delivery of cannabis items and related supplies by a delivery service are hereby prohibited from operating anywhere in the Township of Greenwich. Furthermore, retail sales in cultivation facilities, manufacturing facilities, wholesaling facilities, and distribution facilities are expressly prohibited.
[Added 7-19-2021 by Ord. No. 8-2021]
[1]
Editor's Note: See N.J.S.A. 24:6I-33.
D.
All cannabis establishments, cannabis distributors or cannabis delivery services are hereby prohibited from operating within the Township of Greenwich in any area other those zoned Business Park and Manufacturing except for the delivery of cannabis items and related supplies by a delivery service.
[Added 7-19-2021 by Ord. No. 8-2021]
§ 700-55 Off-street parking.
A.
Not less than one off-street parking space, with proper access from a street or alley, shall be provided on any lot on which a main building is hereafter erected, and the following types of uses shall provide off-street parking space as indicated, which parking space shall have proper access from a street or alley and shall be located on or near the lot on which such use is situated:
(1)
The required number of parking spaces shall be as prescribed by the Schedule of Minimum Parking Requirements.
(a)
Where a particular development contains more than one use, its minimum parking requirement shall be the sum of the requirements of its component uses.
(b)
Where an applicant can demonstrate that fewer parking spaces would be required, the approving authority may allow a lesser number, provided that the applicant can show on the approved site plan how the required additional spaces could be added, if necessary, without violating the impervious coverage requirements of this chapter.
(2)
Schedule of Minimum Parking Requirements.
Use | Number of Parking Spaces | ||
|---|---|---|---|
Assembly operations | 1 per 800 square feet of gross floor area | ||
Auto sales | 1 per 300 square feet of showroom area and sales office | ||
Bar | 1 per 2 seats | ||
Baseball, soccer, softball or football field | 10 to 15 per field, to be determined at site plan review | ||
Bowling alley | 4 per alley | ||
Car wash | 10 per washing lane | ||
Cemetery | 1 per 400 square foot of gross floor area for office | ||
Clubs | 20, plus 5 per 1,000 square feet of gross floor area | ||
Community center | Minimum of 20, plus spaces for office and plus 20 per 1,000 square feet of gross floor area | ||
Doctor's/dentist's office, in home | 1 per 200 square feet of office | ||
Farm | 2 | ||
Fiduciary institutions | 5.4 per 1,000 square feet of gross floor area, or 8 per teller window | ||
Funeral home | 10, plus 20 per 1,000 square feet devoted to public area | ||
Golf course | 4 per hole | ||
Gymnasium | To be determined at site plan review | ||
Home occupation | Minimum of 3, plus 1 per employee | ||
Hospital | 1.5 per bed | ||
Industrial | 1 per employee on any maximum shift, plus 10% or 3.3 per 1,000 square feet of gross floor area | ||
Library | 1 per 250 square feet of gross floor area | ||
Lumberyard | 1 per 5,000 square feet of gross yard area | ||
Manufacturing | 1 per 800 square feet of gross floor area | ||
Medical center and medical professional office | 1 per 150 square feet of gross floor area, minimum 10 | ||
Mortuary | 10 per viewing room and chapel, minimum of 30 | ||
Motel/hotel | 1 per room | ||
Museum | 1 per each 600 square feet | ||
Neighborhood convenience center | Same as shopping center | ||
Nightclub | 1 per 3 seats | ||
Nursing home | 1 per 2 beds | ||
Offices | 1 per 200 square feet of gross floor area | ||
Park | As approved on site plan | ||
Pool (community) | 1 per 10 square feet of water surface area | ||
Post office | 3.4 per 1,000 square feet of gross floor area | ||
Quarries | To be determined at site plan review | ||
Receiving | 1 per 5,000 square feet of gross floor area | ||
Research | 1 per employee on any maximum shift, or 4 per 1,000 square feet of gross floor area | ||
Restaurant | 1 per 3 seats, plus 1 per employee; 1 per 30 square feet of gross floor area in drive-through establishments | ||
Retail store | 1 per 200 square feet of gross floor area | ||
Residential uses: | |||
Single-family detached | 2 per unit | ||
Duplex single-family and townhouses | 2 per unit | ||
Multifamily apartments | 1.5 per unit up to 1 bedroom and den or 2 bedrooms; each additional bedroom shall require an additional 1/2 parking space | ||
School: | |||
Elementary | 2 per classroom, but not less than 1 per teacher and staff plus 10% | ||
Intermediate | 1.5 per classroom, but not less than 1 per teacher and staff | ||
Secondary | 10 per classroom, but not less than 2 per teacher and staff | ||
Skating rink | 8 per 1,000 square feet of gross floor area | ||
Service station or public garage | 4 per bay and work area | ||
Shopping center | 5 per 1,000 square feet of gross floor area*, excluding theaters | ||
Storage areas | 1 per employee on any maximum shift, plus 10% | ||
Tennis courts | 1.5 per court | ||
Theater | 1 per 3 seats | ||
Truck sales | 1 per 300 square feet of showroom area and sales office | ||
Utilities | 3 per 1,000 square feet of gross floor area | ||
Veterinarian | 6 per doctor | ||
Warehouse | 1 per employee on any maximum shift, plus 10%, whichever is greater | ||
YMCA | 2 per 1,000 square feet of gross floor area | ||
* NOTE: A maximum of 20% of the gross floor area can be office use without additional parking for the office use. Office use above 20% shall require parking at the appropriate scale. |
(3)
Where a particular function contains more than one use, the minimum parking requirements shall be the sum of the component parts. Where an applicant can demonstrate that fewer parking spaces would be required, the approving authority may allow a lower number, provided that the applicant shows on the approved site plan how the required additional spaces could be added if necessary without violating the impervious surface coverage requirements of this chapter.
(4)
Parking for handicapped.
(a)
Parking spaces for handicapped persons shall be 12 feet by 18 feet and shall be provided at the following rate:
Total Number of Spaces | Number of Handicapped Spaces | |
|---|---|---|
1 to 50 | 1 | |
51 to 200 | 2 | |
More than 200 | 1% of total |
(b)
The location of handicapped stalls shall be in an area which is accessible to the building or buildings which the facility serves.
(c)
Each handicapped space or group of spaces shall be identified with a clearly visible sign displaying the international symbol of access.
B.
Driveways, aisles and buffer areas. Location of parking areas shall meet the following requirements:
(1)
No parking shall be permitted in designated fire lanes, streets, driveways, aisles, sidewalks or turning areas.
(2)
No parking spaces shall be located in any required buffer or screen areas.
(3)
Parking spaces for apartments/townhouses shall be within 100 feet of the building being served. Commercial and industrial parking shall be located on the lot, unless a cooperative arrangement has been approved by the Planning Board.
C.
Off-street parking facilities existing at the effective date of this chapter shall not subsequently be reduced to an amount less than that required under this chapter for a similar new building or new use. Off-street parking facilities provided to comply with the provisions of this chapter shall not subsequently be reduced below the requirements of this chapter.
D.
Parking spaces provided to serve professional offices and other accessory uses permitted in residence districts, and parking spaces provided to serve nonconforming commercial or industrial uses in residence districts, shall be located to the rear of the required front yard. Such parking areas shall be appropriately landscaped for the benefit of residential property owners adjoining and directly opposite therefrom.
E.
In order to minimize traffic congestion and hazards, all off-street parking areas for commercial, manufacturing and industrial uses shall be physically separated from a street or sidewalk, except for entrance and exit points, by a curb, planting strip, wall or other suitable barrier not more than three feet in height. All parking areas shall be designed in such a manner as to prohibit vehicles from backing out onto a street. Parking stalls and traffic flow directions shall be clearly marked and well maintained.
§ 700-56 Off-street loading.
A.
Off-street loading and unloading space, with proper access from a street or alley, shall be provided on any lot on which a building for trade or business is hereafter erected or substantially altered.
(1)
Adequate areas shall be provided in all commercial and office districts for the loading and unloading of delivery trucks and other vehicles; the servicing of shops by refuse collection, fuel, fire and other service vehicles. Such areas shall be paved with a hard surface acceptable to the Township Engineer.
(2)
The required number of loading areas shall be as prescribed by the Schedule of Minimum Loading Requirements:
Schedule of Minimum Loading Requirements |
Use | Minimum Number of Spaces* | Gross Floor Area at Which First Berth is Required (square feet) | Gross Floor Area at Which Second Berth is Required (square feet) | Number of Additional Square Feet for Additional Berth | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Assembly operations | 1 | 5,000 | 40,000 | 30,000 | |
Airport | 0 | None required | |||
Auto sales | 1 | 10,000 | 40,000 | 40,000 | |
Bar | 1 | 10,000 | 25,000 | 20,000 | |
Bowling alley | 1 | 10,000 | 100,000 | 100,000 | |
Car wash | 0 | 10,000 | 100,000 | 100,000 | |
Fiduciary institutions | 0 | 10,000 | 100,000 | 100,000 | |
Finishing operations | 1 | 5,000 | 40,000 | 30,000 | |
Golf course | 0 | 10,000 | 25,000 | 40,000 | |
Hospital | 1 | 10,000 | 100,000 | 100,000 | |
Industrial | 1 | 5,000 | 40,000 | 30,000 | |
Library | 0 | None required | |||
Lumberyard | 1 | 10,000 | 25,000 | 20,000 | |
Manufacturing | 1 | 5,000 | 40,000 | 30,000 | |
Medical center | 0 | 10,000 | 100,000 | 100,000 | |
Mortuary | 1 | 10,000 | 100,000 | 100,000 | |
Museum | 1 | N.A. | N.A. | N.A. | |
Neighborhood convenience center | 1 | 5,000 | 40,000 | 40,000 | |
Nightclub | 1 | 10,000 | 25,000 | 20,000 | |
Offices | 0 | 10,000 | 100,000 | 100,000 | |
Park | 0 | None required | |||
Pilot plants | 1 | 5,000 | 40,000 | 40,000 | |
Pool | 0 | 10,000 | 100,000 | 100,000 | |
Receiving | 1 | 5,000 | 40,000 | 30,000 | |
Research | 1 | 5,000 | 40,000 | 40,000 | |
Restaurant | 1 | 10,000 | 25,000 | 20,000 | |
Retail store | 1 | 10,000 | 20,000 | 20,000 | |
School | 1 | N.A. | N.A. | N.A. | |
Service station | 0 | None required | |||
Shipping | 1 | 5,000 | 40,000 | 30,000 | |
Shopping center | 1 | 10,000 | 40,000 | 40,000 | |
Storage area | 1 | 5,000 | 40,000 | 30,000 | |
Theater | 0 | None required | |||
Truck sales | 1 | 10,000 | 40,000 | 40,000 | |
Utilities | 0 | 10,000 | 100,000 | 100,000 | |
Veterinarian hospital | 1 | 10,000 | 100,000 | 100,000 | |
Warehouse | 1 | 5,000 | 40,000 | 30,000 | |
* NOTE: The minimum number of spaces shall prevail for uses that have not attained the gross floor area where the first space is required. Uses not listed shall provide sufficient spaces as determined by the approving authority using the schedule as a guide. |
B.
Location of loading areas shall meet the following requirements:
(1)
No loading area shall be located in any required buffer or screen.
(2)
No off-street loading and maneuvering areas will be located in any front yard or require any part of a street.
(3)
Loading spaces shall abut the building being served and be located to directly serve the building for which the space is being provided.
(4)
Loading spaces for shopping centers may be located in any side or rear yard.
C.
Loading spaces shall be no smaller than 10 feet by 35 feet and shall have a minimum clearance of 14 feet.
§ 700-57 Lighting.
A.
Nonresidential uses.
(1)
All exterior lighting fixtures shall be cutoff luminaries.
(2)
Light fixtures adjacent to residential uses and/or districts shall be shielded to prevent glare.
(3)
Mounting heights for exterior lighting shall comply with the following schedule:
Building Height | Fixture Mounting Height | |
|---|---|---|
Up to 24 feet | 16 feet | |
25 to 34 feet | 18 feet | |
35 feet or greater | 25 feet |
(4)
The lighting intensity for a nonresidential use shall not exceed 60 footcandles.
(5)
The lighting intensity at a property line adjacent to a residential use and/or district shall not exceed 0.25 footcandle.
B.
Streetlights.
(1)
A lighting plan shall be provided with all major subdivision application for review and approval of the Planning Board.
(2)
Residential streets.
(a)
Light standards shall not exceed a height of 16 feet on all residential streets.
(b)
Laminated wood poles shall be used for all streetlighting.
(c)
Streetlighting fixtures shall be the "Traditionaire" or "Acorn" type fixtures.
(d)
Light standards shall be placed at a minimum distance of 400 feet on centers with fifty-watt minimum high-pressure sodium luminaries.
(e)
Lighting at residential street intersections shall be two hundred-watt minimum high-pressure sodium luminaries.
(f)
"Cobrahead" fixtures shall be permitted on an individual basis as determined by the Planning Board.
§ 700-58 (Reserved) [1]
§ 700-59 Temporary use permit.
A temporary permit may be authorized by the Township Council for a nonconforming structure or use, such as a fair, carnival, street banners, use of a portable building as an office during construction of a permanent building and similar temporary uses which it deems beneficial to the public health or general welfare or which it deems necessary to promote the proper development of the community, provided that such nonconforming structure or use shall be completely removed upon expiration of the permit without cost to the Township. Such a permit shall be issued for a specified period of time, not exceeding one year, and may be renewed annually for an aggregate period of not more than three years, including the original authorization.
§ 700-60 Front yard exceptions.
[Amended 5-16-2011 by Ord. No. 11-2011]
The front yard of a proposed building in R-3 Residence Districts and in C-1 Commercial Districts may be decreased in depth to the average alignment of existing buildings within 100 feet on each side of the proposed building and within the same block, if such alignment of existing buildings is less than the front yard requirement for the district.
§ 700-61 Standards for review of conditional uses.
When considering requests for conditional uses, variances, amendments or changes in this chapter or the Zoning Map, the governing body or Planning Board shall be guided by the following standards:
A.
Consideration of the size, scope, nature, character and extent of the use desired and assurance that the use is consistent with the plan for future land use and the spirit, purpose and intent of this chapter.
B.
Consideration of the suitability of the particular property for the proposed use, the character of development of surrounding properties and a determination that the proposed use shall be appropriate in the area and will not substantially injure or detract from the use of surrounding property or from the character of the neighborhood.
C.
A determination that the proposed use will promote the harmonious and orderly development of the district in which it is located and that it will serve the best interests of the Township, the convenience of the community (where applicable) and the public health, safety, morals and general welfare.
D.
Consideration of the suitability of the proposed location of a use with respect to traffic and highways in the area and assurance that adequate access and off-street parking arrangements are provided in order to protect major streets from undue congestion and hazard. Additional parking may be required by the Planning Board if analysis of the proposed type of operation and numbers of employees and visitors involved indicates the above ratio will not generate sufficient parking spaces.
E.
Assurance that the proposed change is reasonable in terms of the logical efficient and economical extension of public services and facilities such as public water, sewers, police and fire protection and public schools.
F.
Consideration, where appropriate, of the standards for site and building plan review included in Chapter 610 of the Code of the Township of Greenwich.
G.
Imposition of conditions, in addition to those required to safeguard the general purpose and intent of the Master Plan and this chapter and use of adjacent properties, which conditions may relate to but not be limited to harmonious design of buildings, appearance, plantings, sight or sound screens, landscaping, hours of operation, lighting, numbers of persons involved, allied activities, ventilation, noise, sanitation, safety, smoke and fume control and minimizing of noxious, offensive or hazardous elements. Generally, the use will serve the best interests of the Township.
H.
The architecture will be compatible with the neighborhood.
§ 700-62 Fences and enclosure walls.
[Amended 10-15-1990 by Ord. No. 14-1990; 12-28-2000 by Ord. No. 34-2000]
A.
No fence may be erected without obtaining a zoning permit from the Zoning Officer.
B.
No fence shall exceed a height of six feet except as provided below:
(1)
Tennis courts may be surrounded by a non-opaque fence with a maximum of 12 feet in height. The fence shall be located within the building setback requirements.
(2)
Licensed cannabis businesses in the BP Business Park District and M-D Manufacturing District shall be enclosed by a security fence with a height of eight feet.
[Added 7-19-2021 by Ord. No. 8-2021]
C.
Fences may not be located within a required front yard area unless they meet the following standards:
(1)
Fences located in a front yard must consist of a nonsolid wood type construction, preferably split rail. (Chain-link fences are prohibited in front yards.)
(2)
No fence may be located within a required site triangle or be erected in a manner that would impede the visibility at street and driveway intersections.
D.
The finished side of the fence must face towards the adjacent property.
E.
No fence shall be topped with or contain barbed wire, metal spikes or constructed in a manner that may be dangerous to a person or animals except as provided below:
(1)
Farms are exempt from this regulation.
F.
No fence shall be permitted to alter or impede the natural flow of water in any stream, creek, drainage swale or ditch.
H.
All fences shall be maintained in an adequate manner so that broken elements are promptly replaced and elements requiring paint are painted as necessary.
§ 700-63 Buffers and tree protection.
[Amended 12-28-2000 by Ord. No. 34-2000]
Buffer areas shall be required as part of any site plan or major subdivision and are required along all lot lines and street lines in accordance with the following standards:
A.
District regulations.
(1)
A landscape buffer of 25 feet, where feasible, shall be provided around the perimeter of all new major subdivisions.
(2)
A landscape buffer of 50 feet shall be provided between any residential use or zone and a nonresidential use or zone.
(3)
A landscape buffer of 25 feet shall be provided along any existing exterior public street in any zone. Berms shall be used where appropriate in conjunction with the landscape buffer.
B.
General standards.
(1)
Buffer areas shall be developed in an aesthetic manner for the primary purposes of screening views and reducing noise penetration beyond the lot. Buffer widths shall be measured horizontally and perpendicularly to lot and street lines. No structure, activity, storage of materials or parking of vehicles shall be permitted in a buffer area. The standards for the location and design of buffer areas are intended to provide flexibility in order to provide effective buffers. The location and design of buffers shall consider the use of the portion of the property being screened; the distance between the use and the adjoining property line; differences in elevations; the type of buffer such as dense planting, existing woods, a wall or fence; buffer height; buffer width; and other combinations of man-made and natural features. The buffer shall be designed, planted, graded, landscaped and developed with the general guideline that the closer a use or activity is to a property line, or the more intense the use, the more effective the buffer area must be in obscuring the light and vision and reducing noise beyond the lot.
(2)
All buffer areas shall be planted and maintained with either grass or ground cover, together with a screen of live shrubs or scattered planting of live trees, shrubs or other plant material meeting the following requirements:
(a)
The preservation of all natural wooded tracts shall be an integral part of all site plans and may be calculated as part of the required buffer area, provided the growth is of a density and the area has sufficient width to serve the purpose of a buffer. Where additional plantings are necessary to establish an appropriate tone for an effective buffer, said plantings may be required.
(b)
Buffers shall consist of a mixture of trees and shrubs which are predominately evergreen. The species used within the landscape buffer is subject to the review and approval of the reviewing agency and Township Planner. All materials shall be of a species common to the area, of nursery stock and free of insect and disease.
(c)
Landscape buffers shall consist of a minimum of two staggered rows of evergreen trees each planted 15 feet apart. Evergreen trees shall have a height of six to eight feet and should be balled, burlapped and sheared.
(d)
Shrubs shall have a minimum height of three feet when planted and be of such density as will obscure, throughout the full course of the year, the glare of automobile headlights emitted from the premises, or in the case of a residential development, onto the premises.
(e)
Any plant material which does not live shall be replaced within one year of one growing season.
(f)
Buffer and screen plantings and landscaping shall be broken at points of vehicular and pedestrian access to assure a clear sight triangle.
(3)
The following regulations are applicable in every zoning district and shall be in addition to the specific landscape and buffer standards contained herein:
(a)
All buffer and/or screen plantings along major highways/arterials may require a berm as an integral part of the landscaping.
(b)
Buffers adjacent to any arterial street right-of-way shall consist of a minimum of two staggered rows of evergreen trees, 15 feet on center, five feet to six feet in height. One deciduous tree with a minimum 2 1/2 inch caliper shall be planted every 30 feet on center; and 2 1/2 inch caliper deciduous trees shall be planted every 50 feet on center.
(c)
Basins shall not be included within the buffer area.
C.
Tree protection, preservation and management.
(1)
Development should be designed to encourage the retention of existing vegetation.
(2)
Trees greater than eight inches at breast height should be maintained and incorporated into the final design of all subdivision and site plans.
(4)
All clearing shall be centered where the proposed site improvements are to be located.
(5)
Street tree requirements may be waived if, after construction, existing woods remain along a majority of the road frontage.
(6)
Maximum effort should be made to save specimen trees identified. No material or temporary soil deposits shall be placed within four feet of shrubs or 10 feet of trees designated to be retained on the preliminary and/or final plan/plat. Protective barriers or tree wells shall be installed around each plant and/or group of plants that are to remain on the site. Barriers shall not be supported by the plants they are protecting, but shall be self-supporting. They shall be a minimum of four feet high and constructed of durable material that will last until construction is completed. Snow fences and silt fences are examples of acceptable barriers.
§ 700-64 Open space.
[Amended 12-28-2000 by Ord. No. 34-2000]
B.
Public open space. Any land offered to the municipality shall meet the following requirements:
(1)
The minimum size of any parcel shall be three acres.
(2)
It shall be an integral part of the development and shall be located to best suit the purpose for which it is intended.
(3)
Any lands offered shall be subject to review by the Planning Board which shall be guided by the Master Plan, the ability to assemble and relate such lands to an overall plan, the accessibility and potential utility of such lands and such existing features as topography, soils, wetlands and tree cover as these features may enhance or detract from the intended use of the lands. The Planning Board may request an opinion from other public agencies or individuals as to the advisability of accepting any lands to be offered.
C.
Private open space. All land not dedicated to and accepted by the Township shall meet the following requirements:
(1)
A homeowners' association shall be established to maintain all private open space and improvements.
(2)
Membership in the homeowners' association shall be mandatory for all residents of the neighborhood.
(3)
The homeowners' association shall be empowered to ensure the payment of dues through deed restrictions on the property of its members.
(4)
All homeowners' documents shall be reviewed by the Planning Board Solicitor and approved by the Planning Board.
§ 700-65 Recreation facilities.
A.
All recreation areas and facilities shall be designed in accordance with the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection publication entitled "Administrative Guidelines: Barrier Free Design Standards for Parks and Recreational Facilities," and the Township construction standards.[1]
B.
For all residential development, the applicant shall propose recreational facilities to serve the population of the development. The developer's recreation plans shall be submitted to the Planning Board for its review and approval. For the purposes of this section, a single-family detached house shall be deemed to contain three persons; a townhouse shall be deemed to contain two and five-tenths persons; and a garden apartment shall be deemed to contain two persons. The Planning Board shall evaluate the said plans in terms of the following considerations:
(1)
District parks and preservation areas. A minimum standard of 10 acres per 1,000 people is recommended. Large tracts of 50 acres or more are preferable to scattered sites. Lands with mature vegetation, high scenic qualities, historical significance or other unique characteristics are especially recommended.
(2)
Neighborhood playgrounds. A minimum standard of two acres per 1,000 people is recommended. Individual sites should be three acres to five acres in size and within walking distance of the people served. Separate play areas for the age groups one through five, six through 10 and 11 through 15 should be included. Equipment for these areas should be based on the recreation needs of each age group. Infants through five-year-olds should have a sand area, small swings, static play animals, a small sliding board, etc. A sitting area for the parents should be provided in close proximity to the play areas. Tricycle space and pavement should be a part of this area. Children six through 10 are interested in movement, slides, seesaws, balance beams, rope climbing areas, chin-up bars, etc. Children 11 through 15 are interested in two kinds of spaces: a general-use field where a frisbee or football can be thrown and a space of identity for the age group. Bicycle paths and hills, jumps, etc., are recommended in this area. Landscaping should provide shade and separation for each area.
(3)
Tennis courts. A recommended standard is one court per 1,000 persons.
(4)
Baseball diamonds. A recommended standard is one diamond for every 3,000 persons.
(5)
Softball diamonds. A recommended standard is one softball diamond for every 1,500 people.
(6)
Basketball courts and court games. A recommended standard is one hard-surface play area with basketball nets for every 2,000 persons.
(7)
Community pool. One Olympic pool for each 25,000 people is a standard. A pool with 4,500 square feet of water surface serves 150 persons at one time. A private pool usually serves 300 families.
(8)
Picnic areas. One acre per 1,000 persons is recommended. This use may be part of the district parks and recreation.
(10)
Bike trails. One mile of eight-foot-wide bituminous trail for each 300 persons is a recommended standard. These should link homes with local recreation and service opportunities.
(11)
Jogging and vita trails. One mile per 1,000 persons is recommended. These should be integrated into district parks.
(12)
Open space trails. One mile per 3,000 persons is recommended for passive recreation.
(13)
Optional facilities.
(a)
One ice-skating rink 85 feet by 150 feet for each 10,000 residents is suggested. Tennis courts may be flooded to provide this facility.
(b)
Canoeing. One person per one-fourth mile of stream; 1/2 mile of stream per canoe.
(c)
Fishing. One acre of public access to a lake; one boat per dock per lake; one parking place per two fishermen.
§ 700-66 Architectural review.
A.
Architectural review and approval of building elevations by the Planning Board or its designee shall include for historic areas:
(1)
The general compatibility of the exterior design, arrangement and materials proposed to be used and any other factor, including aesthetics, which it deems pertinent.
(2)
The historic or architectural significance of the structure and its relationship to the historic value of the surrounding area.
(3)
Period materials are required on historic structures, and new construction adjacent to an historic structure shall provide:
B.
The applicant will submit architectural renderings to the Planning Board for new construction outside of historic areas. This provision does not apply to single-family detached dwellings.
§ 700-67 Energy conservation.
A.
Intent and purpose. Site planning and subdivision layouts, which use natural factors to their advantage, can reduce energy demand by approximately 20%. These benefits accrue both to the homeowner by reducing operating expenses and to all regional energy users by reducing aggregate energy demand.
(1)
Structures oriented towards southern exposure where possible.
(2)
Window openings on northern exposure should be limited in size and number.
(3)
Windbreaks of evergreen material are recommended both on northern exposures of residential structures and on the northern property exposure.
(4)
Deciduous trees are recommended on western exposures to intercept the summer's setting sun to allow energy of the winter sun to pass through.
§ 700-67.1 Use and placement of portable storage units in public areas.
[Added 3-20-2023 by Ord. No. 1-2023]
A. PERSONAL PROPERTY PORTABLE STORAGE UNIT PUBLIC AREA
Definitions. As used in this article, the following terms shall have the meanings indicated:
Any movable items or thing that is subject to ownership.
Any container designed for storage of personal property that is typically rented to owners or occupants of property for their temporary use and which is customarily delivered and removed by truck. For the purpose of this article, a portable storage unit may also be identified as simply a "unit(s)."
Includes any street, sidewalk, highway, public lane, alley, right-of-way, Township parking lot or other public place in the Township.
B.
Permit required. No person shall place or utilize a portable storage unit or permit a portable storage unit to be placed on or along a public area in the Township of Greenwich without first having obtained a permit from the Zoning Office after written approval from the Police Department.
C.
Application for permit; fees; conditions of issuance.
(1)
Applications for a portable storage unit shall be made by submission of the following information to the Township Zoning Office:
(a)
Name and address of the applicant and the owner of the property, if different;
(b)
Street address;
(c)
Size of the portable storage unit to be placed at the site and the proposed location of the portable storage unit;
(d)
Anticipated length of time the portable storage unit will be located at the site.
(2)
The permit shall be valid for a period of seven calendar days and may be renewed upon application to the Zoning Office after written approval from the Police Department for additional seven-day periods not to exceed a total period of 21 days.
(3)
A permit may be revoked at any time during its term if the placement or use of the portable storage unit constitutes a hazard to the health, safety or welfare of the citizens of the Township or for any other reason that constitutes a nuisance.
(4)
No permit shall be issued if the Police Department determines that the issuance of a permit will constitute a danger to public safety or an unwarranted interference with the efficient movement of traffic.
D.
Location, placement and condition of portable storage units.
(1)
Portable storage units may be located in residential zoning districts. Except as provided herein, they shall not be placed in a public area and shall be set back a minimum of 10 feet from any property line. Final placement shall be to the satisfaction of the Zoning Officer.
(2)
Portable storage units may be allowed in nonresidential zoning districts. The units shall be placed only in the rear or side portion of a site. Under no circumstances shall a portable storage unit be placed in an area fronting a street or road or in a grass/landscaped area or in the front parking lot of a commercial establishment. The placement of portable storage units in fire lanes, passenger loading zones, commercial loading zones or public rights-of-way shall be strictly prohibited. Applicants for portable storage units in nonresidential zoning districts must also demonstrate, to the satisfaction of the Zoning Officer, that the specific location/complex has sufficient space to place a portable storage unit and continue to provide adequate parking and public safety access and to comply with all health, safety and welfare concerns.
(3)
Portable storage units shall never be utilized as accessory structures in any zoning district.
(4)
The owner and operator of any site on which a portable storage unit is placed shall be responsible for ensuring that his or her portable storage unit is in good condition, free from evidence of deterioration, weathering, discoloration, rust, ripping, tearing or other holes or breaks. When not in use, the portable storage unit shall be kept locked with a combination-style lock (no key locks). The owner and operator of any site on which a portable storage unit is placed shall also be responsible that no form of waste, refuse or hazardous substance is stored or kept within the portable storage unit.
(5)
A portable storage unit shall have no signage other than a serial number identifying the unit and the name, address and telephone number of the person or firm engaged in the business of renting or otherwise placing the portable storage unit.
E.
Violations and penalties. Each day a portable storage unit is placed or utilized in violation of the terms of this article shall constitute a separate offense. Each offense hereunder is punishable by a fine of not more than $100 per day.