Lyndhurst City Zoning Code
§ 21-5.14
Design Standards.
[Ord. No. 2567 § 1; Ord. No. 2612, § 1; Ord. No. 2594, § 1; Ord. No. 2622, § 1; Ord. No. 2633, § 1; Ord. No. 2766, § 1; Ord. No. 2839-12; Ord. No. 2867-12]
a.
Residential Structures.
1.
Main Entrance.
(a)
In the R-A and R-C Zones, the entire main entrance wall of all residential structures shall face the approved street upon which they are located, and shall have an articulated facade and architectural setback sufficient to mitigate the bulk and size of the building.
(b)
In the R-B Zone, at least one main entrance of all residential structures shall face the street upon which it is located. The other main entrance, if any, shall not be required to face the street upon which it is located, but the landing and stairs to this entrance shall be located not less than six feet from any property line.
(c)
In all residential zones, the main entrance door of all residential structures shall lead only to a walkway, and not directly to a driveway or off-street parking area.
2.
Building facade shall be consistent with the size, scale, and setbacks of adjacent buildings, including those where there is an aesthetic relationship. Any new building or development plan shall not openly conflict with the dominant design features of the character of the neighborhood. Continuity shall be achieved through consideration of elements of facade composition such as fenestration, cornice, soffit line, and floor-to-floor elevation and the use of related materials; and by maintaining the roof pitch, continuing a line of street trees, placement of sidewalks and driveways, and building orientation.
3.
Flat roofs shall not be permitted in the R-A or R-B Zones. All roofs in the R-A and R-B Zones shall have a minimum 4 1/2 inch on twelve-inch pitch, with the exception that one-family homes 1 1/2 stories in height may have a roof up to a minimum 8 1/2 inch on twelve-inch pitch. Floor space above 2 1/2 stories created by a roof shall be considered an attic, but not a story. A habitable attic shall constitute a story only when it has a stairway as a means of access, and when the ceiling has a height of at least seven feet, six inches above the attic floor, and is no more than one-third the area of the floor below. There shall be no plumbing fixtures in the attic.
4.
No residential structure in the R-A and R-B Zones shall be erected or altered which would result in coverage in excess of 30% of the entire lot. Open decks in R-A and R-B Zones shall not exceed an area of 360 square feet. Decks covered with a roof shall be included in the lot coverage, which shall not exceed 30%. Roofed unenclosed entrance landings shall not be included in lot coverage. A porch shall be included in lot coverage.
5.
The front, rear, or side yard setbacks shall be measured from the cantilevered extension of a residential structure in the R-A and R-B Zones.
6.
The grades at the four corners of a residential structure in the R-A and R-B Zones shall not be higher than eight inches above the adjoining properties at 90° angle to each corner.
7.
Only one electrical and one gas meter shall be permitted for each dwelling unit in a one- or two-family dwelling.
b.
Nonresidential Structures. Buildings shall be designed so as to prevent exterior elevations from containing large expanses of blank or featureless wall on the front, side, and rear elevation where visible. All mechanical equipment shall be hidden from view from the street by maintaining such equipment at the rear or on the top of the building.
[Amended 4-11-2023 by Ord. No. 3149-23]
1.
In addition, structures located in the Business District shall have building facades consistent in design and color with adjacent buildings and those buildings where there is an aesthetic relationship. Continuity shall be achieved through consideration of elements of facade composition such as fenestration, cornice, soffit line, awnings, signage and facade color, all of which shall be compatible with adjacent buildings.
2.
In addition, the facades of structures located in the business district shall be one solid, neutral color and the color should be limited to: cream, light to medium beige (tan), light to medium grey. Any facade existing on the effective date of adoption of this section, which does not conform to any provision hereof and which has previously been approved by the Building Department, shall be deemed a nonconforming use and may be continued. Any legal nonconforming facade of any premises involving a change in tenancy of said premises, requiring any painting, or involving a change of appearance, signage, awning, shall revoke the nonconforming rights. Permits are required from the Building Department before any painting may be done to the facades of any structures located in the Business District.
c.
Location and Topographical Survey Required.
1.
For new construction, a foundation location survey showing all building corners of the foundation shall be submitted to the construction official after backfill and before framing commences. A land surveyor licensed in the State of New Jersey shall prepare the survey. The proposed foundation location as shown on the original plot plan shall also be shown on the foundation location survey.
2.
The Township of Lyndhurst also requires a topographical survey showing the height of the built in garage floor (if there is one) and grade at four corners of the foundation and the average height of the curb in front of garage. A built in garage floor shall be a minimum of six inches above the average curb height in front of garage. Compliance with the applicable requirements contained in this chapter must also be shown, including those set forth in the definitions of "story above grade," "basement," "grade plane" and "building height."