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Hamilton City Zoning Code

ARTICLE VI

Rural Development Districts

§ 203-35 Purpose.

A. 
The rural development area recognizes that there are areas within the Pinelands Area which are slightly modified and may be suitable for limited future development subject to strict environmental performance standards. This area is a balance of environment and development values that is intermediate between the pristine forest area and existing growth areas.
B. 
These areas in Hamilton Township represent a development zone that provides the option of rural living concurrently with environmentally sensitive areas.
C. 
Within the rural development area, the following zoning districts have been established:
[Amended 10-15-2007 by Ord. No. 1608-2007]
RD-1
RD-2.5
RD-4
RD-5
RD-20
D. 
In the RD-2.5, RD-4, RD-5 and RD-20 Districts, clustering of single-family detached dwellings in accordance with § 203-196.1 shall be required whenever two or more units are proposed as part of a residential development.
[Added 6-18-2012 by Ord. No. 1722-2012]

§ 203-36 Permitted, accessory and conditional uses.

[Amended 8-17-1992 by Ord. No. 1127-92; 5-17-1993 by Ord. No. 11-48-93; 10-15-2007 by Ord. No. 1608-2007; 6-18-2012 by Ord. No. 1722-2012]
A building or land in the rural growth districts shall be used only for the following purposes:
A. 
Permitted uses shall be as follows:
Districts
Use
RD-1
RD-2.5
RD-4
RD-5
R-20
Agricultural
X
X
X
Agricultural commercial
X
X
X
Agricultural-related employee housing
X
X
X
Forestry (See § 203-175.)
X
X
Home occupation
X
X
X
X
X
Parks and playgrounds
X
X
X
X
X
Places of worship (See § 203-177.)
X
X
X
X
X
Schools (See § 203-180.)
X
X
X
X
X
Clustered residential development (See § 203-196.1.)
X
X
X
X
Single-family residential on existing lots of record (See also Article XVI, § 203-202, and XV, § 203-193.)
X
X
X
X
X
B. 
Accessory uses shall be as follows:
Districts
Use
RD-1
RD-2.5
RD-4
RD-5
R-20
Agricultural (in conjunction with a residential use)
X
X
X
X
X
Farm buildings
X
X
X
Home personal offices
X
X
X
X
X
Private pools (See § 203-178.)
X
X
X
X
X
Professional offices for one professional (See § 203-179.)
X
X
X
Utility sheds, greenhouses, pool houses for residential pools, etc.
X
X
X
X
X
C. 
Conditional uses shall be as follows:
Districts
Use
RD-1
RD-2.5
RD-4
RD-5
R-20
Nonclustered single-family residential (See § 203-34.1.)
X
X
X
X

§ 203-37 Area and bulk requirements; exceptions.

A. 
Area and bulk requirements shall be as follows:
[Amended 8-17-1992 by Ord. No. 1127-92, 10-15-2007 by Ord. No. 1608-2007]
Districts
Requirement
RD-1
RD-2.5
RD-4
RD-5
RD-20
Maximum height
Principal structurea
Stories
2 1/2
2 1/2
2 1/2
2 1/2
2 1/2
 Feet
35
35
35
35
35
Accessory structuree
Stories
1 1/2
1 1/2
1 1/2
1 1/2
1 1/2
 Feet
15
15
15
15
15
Lot requirements
Minimum total lot area 
(acres)b,g
1f
2.5
4
5
20
Minimum lot frontage (feet)
125
150
175
200
250
Maximum lot coverage
 (percent)
10
4.5
3
2.5
0.75
Maximum impermeable coverage (percent)
10
4.5
3
2.5
0.75
Minimum yard requirements
Principal structure
  Front yard setback 
  (feet)c
75d
175d
175d
175d
175d
Side yard setback
(feet)c
50 aggregate, minimum 20 on 1 side
80 aggregate, minimum 30 on 1 side
100 aggregate, minimum 50 on 1 side
115 aggregate, minimum 50 on 1 side
200 aggregate, minimum 75 on 1 side
  Rear yard setback
  (feet)b
75
100
150
200
300
Accessory structures
  Front yard setback
Not permitted in front yard areas
  Side yard setback (feet)
10
20
20
20
40
  Rear yard setback (feet)
10
20
20
20
40
NOTES:
a
The height limits in this article shall not apply to church spires, belfries, chimneys, flues and farm silos, provided that:
A.
The aggregate area covered by all such features, except agricultural structures, shall not exceed 20% of the total roof areas.
B.
The height of such features shall not be 25 feet above roof level.
b
See Article XVI, § 203-202, for undersized lots of record.
c
Projections into front yards by porches, balconies, stairs and canopies shall be limited to 12 feet or the building setback line, whichever is less, in side or rear yard areas, and six feet or the building setback line, whichever is less, in front yard areas. Bay window projections into front and rear yards shall be limited to three feet and in side yards shall be limited to two feet. The length of such window(s) shall not exceed, in total, 30% of the exterior wall on which they are located.
d
See Article XV, Special Regulations, § 203-181, Setback standards for Pinelands-designated scenic corridors.
e
Excluding barns and other related farm buildings, which may be as high as 35 feet.
f
Lots existing at the time of adoption of this chapter that are identified on the Township Tax Maps to encompass an area of 0.91 or more acres shall, for the purpose of this section, be considered a one-acre lot, provided that the following conditions are met:
A.
The lot existed prior to February 7, 1979.
B.
The lot is not under common ownership with any contiguous parcel as of February 7, 1979, or since that date.
g
Notwithstanding the minimum lot areas set forth in Subsection A under lot requirements above, no such minimum lot area for a nonresidential use in the RD-1, RD-2.5, RD-4, RD-5 or RD-20 District shall be less than that needed to meet the water quality standards of Article XV, § 203-186B(4), whether or not the lot may be served by a centralized sewer treatment or collection system.
B. 
Exceptions to front yard and side yard setback requirements for principal and accessory structures shall be as follows:
(1) 
In the Forest Area District, Rural Development Districts and Agricultural Districts, where the parcel of land existed as a conforming lot prior to February 7, 1979, the parcel is not contiguous to other vacant lot(s) in the same ownership and the lot is an undersized lot of record in respect to the zone in which it is located, a single-family residential structure may be expanded or enlarged and accessory structures may be constructed, expanded or enlarged as long as the following front yard and side yard setbacks will be maintained:
[Amended 11-19-2007 by Ord. No. 1613-2007]
(a) 
For lots equal to or less than 2.5 acres, the standards of RD-1 shall apply.
(b) 
For lots equal to or less than four acres but not less than 2.5 acres, the standards of RD-2.5 shall apply.
(c) 
For lots equal to or less than five acres but not less than four acres, the standards of RD-4 shall apply.
(d) 
For lots equal to or less than 10 acres but not less than five acres, the standards of RD-4 shall apply.
(2) 
The RD-1 District setback requirements shall apply to the following parcels in the Hamilton Walk Area of the RD-5 Zoning District:
[Added 5-17-1993 by Ord. No. 1148-93]
(a) 
Block 1144.01, Lots 1 through 11.
(b) 
Block 1144.02, Lots 1 through 28.
(c) 
Block 1144.03, Lots 1 through 16.
(d) 
Block 1144.04, Lots 1 through 19.
(e) 
Block 1144.05, Lots 1 through 18.
(f) 
Block 1144.06, Lots 1 through 17.

§ 203-38 Off-street on-site parking.

A. 
Off-street parking: See § 203-60.
[Amended 7-7-1997 by Ord. No. 1261-97]
B. 
Driveways leading into such facilities shall be clearly marked with the identification of the dwelling to allow easy identification and entry in the event of an emergency.

§ 203-39 Landscaping.

A. 
For new uses in existing cleared areas, the planting requirements for Article XI, Planned Adult Communities, § 203-98B, shall be used.[1]
[Amended 11-5-2001 by Ord. No. 1417-2001]
[1]
Editor's Note: Former Subsection B, pertaining to permanent plantings, which immediately followed this subsection; was deleted 8-4-1997 by Ord. No. 1280-97.
B. 
The site plans or major subdivision plans filed with the Township shall include a landscape plan identifying areas to be cleared and planted and areas where existing vegetation is to be preserved and shall incorporate the elements set forth in § 203-185A(4). The location of proposed plants shall be drawn to scale at maturity and keyed to a plant list. The plant list shall indicate the quantity, botanical and common name, size at installation and root condition (bare root, balled and burlapped) container (including size) for each proposed species along with a schedule for planting. The landscape portion of the application shall also include applicable planting details, cost estimates and pertinent maintenance schedule.
[Amended 7-7-1997 by Ord. No. 1261-97; 8-4-1997 by Ord. No. 1280-97]
C. 
Standards for vegetation removal and management are enclosed as § 203-185.

§ 203-40 Lighting.

[Amended 7-7-1997 by Ord. No. 1261-97]
All lighting for any structure shall be installed so as to preclude any glare or interference upon any surrounding land use or roadway. All lighting shall conform to the requirements as set forth within § 203-167B.

§ 203-41 Signs.

See Article XIII, § 203-143, for sign controls.

§ 203-42 Additional standards.

The CLUZ Impact Zone is indicated on the Zoning Map.[1] The intent herein is to identify areas of potential noise impact for future developments. Of particular interest is safeguarding against excessive noise impact in residential developments being considered in that area. Whenever a residential development is considered within the CLUZ Zone, the applicant must submit the necessary noise impact studies and solutions to the potential alleviation of this problem. Details of the CLUZ Impact Zone are included in Article XV, Special Regulations, § 203-170, CLUZ Impact Area.
[1]
Editor's Note: The Zoning Map is on file in the office of the Township Clerk, where it may be examined during regular business hours.

§ 203-42.1 Nonclustered single-family residential development.

[Added 6-18-2012 by Ord. No. 1722-2012]
A. 
Single-family detached dwellings which are not clustered in accordance with the standards of § 203-196.1 may be permitted as a conditional use in the RD-2.5, RD-4, RD-5 and RD-20 Districts, provided that:
(1) 
The Planning Board finds that:
(a) 
Clustering of the proposed dwellings would be inconsistent with the minimum environmental standards set forth at N.J.A.C. 7:50-6; or
(b) 
Clustering of the proposed dwellings would disrupt the contiguity of the forest ecosystem to a greater degree than nonclustered development.
(2) 
Minimum lot area and bulk requirements shall be consistent with those set forth in § 203-37.