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Hope Township City Zoning Code

§ 20-8.1

Use and Activities Permissible Within Family Amusement Parks.

[Ord. #97-13, § 5; Ord. #01-04, § 2; amended 4-14-2021 by Ord. No. 2021-04]
a. 
Principal Uses:
1. 
Buildings, amusement rides, amusement games and other structures organized, oriented and operated for the enjoyment of children accompanied by their families and/or guardians. For pre-existing amusement parks, in addition to the existing rides, not more than 14 additional licensed amusement games and an additional 50 arcade games. Amusement games and arcade games are subject to limitations set forth in the Amusement Games Ordinance. For the purposes of this section, the term "amusement ride" shall be defined as provided in the rules and regulations promulgated by the New Jersey Department of Labor.
2. 
Food and soft drink concessions for park patrons.
3. 
Educational and historical displays, museums, entertainment shows, theatrical productions and attractions oriented to children and their families.
4. 
Grounds and facilities equipped for the conduct of outdoor sports geared for the enjoyment of children of 12 years of age and under accompanied by their families and/or guardians.
5. 
Picnic areas including accessory structures such as gazebos and similar facilities for preparation and consumption of food and beverages provided, however, that the facilities are for use by park patrons.
6. 
Shops, booths and outdoor areas for the sale of athletic goods, souvenirs, toys or similar merchandise to park patrons. Only retail uses deemed to be accessory and appurtenant to the amusement park shall be permitted. General retail sales and services are expressly prohibited.
7. 
Aquatic activities including water slides, wading areas and the like provided, however, that no swimming pool facilities shall be constructed on site with the principal use for swimming activities.
8. 
Any use not expressly permitted shall be prohibited.
b. 
Accessory uses.
1. 
Storage buildings and garages.
2. 
Other accessory uses customary and incidental to the principal permitted use including fences, ride control booths, restroom facilities and similar structures.
3. 
First-aid structures.
c. 
Review Procedures.
1. 
Uses and facilities existing at the time of passage of this subsection within any existing amusement park are permitted to continue without site plan or other municipal approvals. However, any additional or substitute amusement rides, attractions and any other structures will require construction permits, zoning permits and site plan approval as required by applicable ordinances, codes and statutes of Hope Township, Warren County and the State of New Jersey, except as provided in this chapter.
2. 
Exceptions to site plan approval requirement. No site plan approval will be required for the replacement of an amusement ride within a circle of 50 feet in diameter, centered on the location of any existing amusement ride. Existing railroad rides shall be deemed excepted from this requirement. In the event an amusement ride exceeds the area of a circle 50 feet in diameter, then the replacement may cover a similar area.
3. 
No site plan approval shall be required for the location of amusement rides. A zoning permit shall be required for any new amusement ride. The permit shall be issued based upon compliance with all applicable bulk and design standards of this section. The term "amusement ride" shall include any reasonably necessary surface or subsurface improvement, such as concrete supports or utilities. Any amusement ride requiring variances or waivers shall require site plan review by the Planning Board. Nothing herein shall be construed as exempting other buildings and structures from site plan approval.