Little Falls City Zoning Code
ARTICLE XVIA
Multi-Family/Senior Zone MFS
§ 280-136.1 Purpose.
The purpose of the MFS Zone is to create an opportunity for the construction of low- and moderate-income and senior housing in the Township of Little Falls and thereby address the unmet-need portion of the fair share housing obligation of the Township of Little Falls under the New Jersey Fair Housing Act. This zone shall be additionally regulated by the Little Falls' Affordable Housing Ordinance.[1]
§ 280-136.2 Geographic scope.
The MFS Zone is identified by the following properties: Block 168, Lots 35-41, Lots 46-63, and Lots 65-74, as they appear on the Township's Official Tax Map.
§ 280-136.3 Permitted uses and structures.
A.
In the Multi-Family/Senior Zone (MFS),[1] no lot, plot, parcel or tract of land shall be built on, altered, or have a structure erected and used for any purpose other than that of:
(1)
Multiple-family residential units.
(2)
Senior housing with a minimum age for at least one occupant of 55 years.
[1]
Editor's Note: See also the Schedule of Use, Area and Bulk Regulations included as an attachment to this chapter.
B.
Permitted uses, however, may be developed with more than one building. Senior residences must be developed in a separate building from any multifamily dwellings.
§ 280-136.4 Permitted accessory uses.
A.
Accessory uses for low- and moderate-income housing and multifamily dwellings shall permit and may include the following:
(1)
Public utilities and essential services.
(3)
Accessory surface and/or garage parking. Subsurface parking shall not be counted as a story for the purpose of this use when less than 1/2 of such subsurface parking height is below the established curb level or below the finished lot grade level where curb level has not been established.
(4)
A sign identifying the multiple-family residential development and located at the entrance or entrances to such development. The size, design, location, landscaping and maintenance of such sign or signs shall be in accordance with the requirements of Article XX, Signs, of this chapter and the specifications and conditions of the Planning Board.
(5)
Retention and detention drainage facilities.
B.
Accessory uses for senior housing shall permit and may include:
(1)
Off-street parking and loading.
(2)
Public utilities and essential services.
(4)
Indoor and outdoor recreation areas for residents for the facility and their guests.
(5)
Indoor common laundry facilities for use by residents and staff.
(6)
A sign identifying the senior housing development, and located at the entrance or entrances to such development. The size, design, location, landscaping and maintenance of such sign or signs shall be in accordance with the requirements of Article XX, Signs, of this chapter and the specifications and conditions of the Planning Board.
(7)
Retention and detention drainage facilities.
§ 280-136.5 Low- and moderate-income housing requirements.
A.
The residentially zoned properties shall be permitted to be developed at a maximum gross density of 30 units per acre. Said development shall consist of multifamily residential and senior housing facilities where the senior facility will have no more than 10 units total on the site.
B.
Twenty percent of the total number of units constructed within the MFS Zone shall be affordable to low- and moderate-income households. When calculating the required number of affordable units, any computation resulting in a fraction of less than 0.5 shall be rounded down; any computation resulting in a fraction of 0.5 or greater shall be rounded up; provided, however, that a minimum of one affordable unit shall be required as part of any project constructed within the MFS Zone.
C.
Rooms. Each apartment unit in each apartment building shall contain separate bedroom, separate bathroom and separate kitchen/dining facilities. This provision shall not be interpreted to preclude efficiency apartments.
D.
The housing units set aside for low- and moderate-income households shall be constructed, marketed, and rented or sold in accordance with applicable COAH regulations (or any other applicable state regulations adopted to implement the requirements of the New Jersey Fair Housing Act), including:
§ 280-136.6 Bulk standards.
The applicable bulk standards are as follows and also appear on the Township of Little Falls Bulk Schedule Table:[1]
A.
Minimum lot area: 79,000 square feet.
B.
Minimum lot width: 325 feet.
C.
Minimum lot depth: 200 feet.
D.
Minimum front yard: 25 feet.
E.
Minimum side yard: 25 feet.
F.
Minimum rear yard: 25 feet.
G.
Maximum building coverage: 40%.
H.
Maximum impervious coverage: 75%.
J.
Distance between buildings: The minimum distance between buildings shall be 50 feet, except that the side-to-side minimum distance between buildings shall be 25 feet.
[1]
Editor's Note: The Schedule of Use, Area and Bulk Regulations is included as an attachment to this chapter.
§ 280-136.7 Buffer required.
A landscaped buffer a minimum of 15 feet in width and eight feet in height at planting shall be provided for any development permitted in this Multi-Family/Senior District which is adjacent to a single-family residential use. Said buffer shall be subject to review and approval by the Planning Board/Zoning Board pursuant to site plan review.
A.
No use or structure, including parking or loading areas, shall be permitted within the required buffer area, but the Planning Board may, upon a finding of reasons therefor, permit a portion of a buffer area to be used for utility easements or streets to ensure access to or from adjacent property, and the Board may also permit a portion of a buffer area to be used for a detention or retention basin, provided that the basin is designed as a landscaping feature, and further provided that the landscaping plan for the buffer area is determined by the Planning Board to meet the objective of a buffer area.
§ 280-136.8 Parking.
A.
Parking may be provided as both surface parking and garage spaces.
B.
All required parking must be provided on site.
C.
Parking is prohibited in any required front yard setback.
D.
Parking shall be located to the rear of a building and/or the interior of the site where its visual impact to adjacent properties and the public right-of-way will be minimized. Parking is prohibited in any front yard.
E.
The minimum setback from a building to a parking area or paved area shall be 10 feet.
F.
Adequate fire and emergency access must be provided subject to the Little Falls Fire Department.
G.
Parking spaces are to be a minimum of nine feet by 18 feet (9x18).
H.
One-car garage spaces shall be a minimum of 10 feet wide and a maximum width of 12 feet.
I.
On-site parking shall not be provided for any use or to any party other than a resident of the site, nor shall parking areas be used for any purpose other than parking.
J.
Required parking.
(1)
Apartment uses: shall adhere to the standards in the Residential Site Improvement Standards. However, in accordance with those standards that state that alternate parking standards shall be accepted if the applicant demonstrates that these standards better reflect local conditions and factors such as household characteristics, mass transit options, urban versus suburban location, and off-street parking resources, the Planning Board may grant deviations and exceptions.
(2)
Senior units: Parking shall be required at 1.5 spaces per unit.
(3)
Signage shall be provided where parking spaces are to be reserved for residents and/or for areas used for visitor parking.
§ 280-136.9 Site plan review.
All of the foregoing shall be subject to site plan review.