Little Falls Township
City Zoning Code

There shall be no dwelling unit in the basement; however, this restriction shall not prohibit the use of basements for storage, game rooms and like purposes.

Not less than 65% of the total number of dwelling units shall be one-bedroom or studio apartments, except in the case of mixed developments, i.e., high-rise apartments and townhouses. Under no circumstances shall any dwelling unit contain more than two bedrooms.

The development shall provide two parking spaces in enclosed garages or paved parking areas for each dwelling unit. All parking areas shall be constructed in accordance with the Township road specifications in existence on the date of site plan approval. Parking spaces shall be nine feet by 18 feet per RSIS and shall be clearly marked. Aisle widths for perpendicular parking shall be at least 24 feet. All parking areas shall be adequately drained and lighted. No parking shall be permitted in any front yard or front court or within 10 feet of any dwelling unit.

Garages and parking structures shall be no more than two stories in height above ground. The architectural design and materials used in the construction thereof shall conform to the design and building materials used in the construction of the high-rise structures. No part of any garage or other accessory building shall be used for living purposes.

Upon site plan review, the Planning Board shall recommend to the governing body those roads or streets within the proposed development which should be dedicated to the Township as municipal streets, and the governing body shall consider the recommendation at a public hearing. If the governing body decides that the public interest requires that any such roads or streets become municipal streets, the applicant shall be required to execute and deliver all instruments required to effectuate such dedication including the submission to the Planning Board of a map complying in all respects to the requirements of the Map Filing Law (N.J.S.A. 46:23-9.9 et seq.), which map shall be signed by the appropriate Planning Board officers and filed on record in the Office of the Registrar of Passaic County prior to the issuance of any building permits. The governing body shall act on the recommendation of the Planning Board in this regard no later than the second meeting after receiving such recommendation, and failure to act within such time shall be deemed a denial of such recommendation.

The dedication of any street or streets or the acceptance thereof by the appropriate municipal body pursuant to this subsection, and the resulting division of any lot, shall in no way bring about a violation of the minimum area, width and depth requirement or the coverage requirement set forth in the Schedule of Use, Area and Bulk Regulations included at the end of this chapter.

Any road or portion thereof not so dedicated or not accepted by the governing body as a municipal street or road and all other accessways, parking areas, sidewalks, curbs or other paved areas shall be maintained and repaired by the owner, and failure to maintain the same shall be deemed a violation of this chapter.

As to those roads not so dedicated and accepted as set forth in Subsection A above, the owner shall cause to be furnished to the Township such resolutions and agreements as may be required in order to meet the provisions of Title 39 of the New Jersey Statutes Annotated.

No dwelling structure shall be constructed without a central heating system or systems sufficient to permit each dwelling unit to be maintained at a temperature of 72° F. when the outside temperature is between 72° F. and 0° F., and the temperature for each dwelling unit shall be regulated by a control or controls located therein.

Central or individual air-conditioning units shall be provided so as to permit each dwelling unit to maintain a temperature of 72° F. when the outside temperature is between 72° F. and 90° F., and where central systems are employed, the temperature for each dwelling unit shall be regulated by a control or controls located therein; and where individual units are employed, such units shall be of the flush type so as to provide for minimum protrusion from the windows or walls of the dwelling units.

Any proposed owner or builder of a high-rise apartment development shall, before undertaking any work in connection therewith, file with the Construction Official the required site plan review applications on forms to be supplied by the Secretary of the Planning Board, accompanied by 19 copies each of the proposed site plan indicating thereon the topography of the premises in question, the topography and location of buildings on all properties within 200 feet of the subject premises property lines, typical elevation of the buildings, landscaping plan and map showing proposed utility lines for water, sewer, storm drains, gas and electricity. The exhibits shall be prepared, signed and sealed by a duly licensed engineer or architect, as the case may be, and shall be distributed by the Secretary of the Planning Board to the following:

Within 60 days, or such additional time to which the applicant may agree, after the first regular meeting of the Planning Board following the proper filing of the application and exhibits as set forth in Subsection A above, the Planning Board shall act thereon by either disapproving or recommending approval thereof to the governing body if the Planning Board finds that the application and exhibits conform to the requirements and standards established by this chapter and otherwise comply with the ordinances of the Township and all applicable laws of the State of New Jersey.

In addition to the foregoing requirements, the Planning Board shall review the application and exhibits for compliance with the following standards:

When requested by the Planning Board, landscaping plans shall be subject to review by the Shade Tree Commission, which Commission shall take into consideration the recommendations of the Planning Board with respect to the provision of shade trees[1] along the interior development and pedestrian walks; the grading, seeding and planting of flowers and shrubs in the open spaces adjacent to and between buildings, border strips along the roadways, driveways and walks; treatment of garbage and parking areas; and approaches to structures and entrance areas.

In addition to the foregoing, the Planning Board shall assure satisfactory and harmonious relations between the high-rise apartment development and the existing and prospective development of contiguous lands and adjacent neighborhoods. The Planning Board shall review the design and type of construction of the proposed buildings in relation to their district and immediate neighborhood; and where it shall be deemed that the design or construction is so similar or dissimilar to adjacent or neighborhood buildings so as to be incongruous with the character of surrounding development or seriously detrimental to other properties, or to involve exceptional risks of public health or safety, site plan approval should be denied.

Signs shall be permitted as follows:

The applicant shall notify by personal service or certified mail, return receipt requested, at least 10 days prior to the meeting of the Planning Board at which action is desired, all property owners within 200 feet of the high-rise property, as their names and addresses appear on the municipal tax records, of the pendency of the application. Such notice shall state the time and place of the hearing, a brief description of the nature of the project and that copies of exhibits concerning same are on file with the Secretary of the Planning Board for public inspection. The applicant shall also cause notice of the application and date of hearing to be published in a newspaper of general circulation in the Township at least five days but no more than 10 days prior to the hearing and file an affidavit of such mailing and publication with the Secretary of the Planning Board prior to the hearing.

If, in the judgment of the governing body, the required landscaping and all other improvements cannot be installed or completed prior to qualification by the developer for a certificate or certificates of occupancy, and so long as the public interest will not be impaired, such building permit or certificate of occupancy may be issued upon posting of a performance bond with sufficient surety, in an amount and for a term specified by the appropriate Township authority and subject to the approval of the Township Attorney, insuring the completion of the incomplete items.

Upon completion and approval of all on-site and off-site improvements, including but not being necessarily limited thereto, utilities, roads, curbing, gutters, sidewalks, paved areas and all appurtenances, whether or not dedicated and accepted by the Township, and upon the posting of a maintenance bond or bonds in sufficient amounts and for a term of not less than two years and subject to the approval of the Township Attorney and which provide therein for the proper maintenance, care and repair of such improvements, the performance bond or bonds shall be released.