Metuchen City Zoning Code

Single-family detached dwellings.

Borough-operated public facilities.

A community residence for the developmentally disabled or victims of domestic violence.

Driveways, parking lots, carports containing not more than two motor vehicles and garages containing not more than three motor vehicles.

Storage and maintenance sheds.

Gardens and landscaped areas, including fountains, ponds and other water features.

Greenhouses and other structures used for horticultural purposes.

Patios, freestanding decks, gazebos, cabanas and other recreational or ornamental buildings or structures.

Swimming pools, tennis courts and racquetball courts, pursuant to § 110-192.

Other uses deemed to be permitted accessory uses.

Churches and other places of worship, including buildings used in connection with religious activities, pursuant to § 110-87A. Any existing church or any place of worship, including buildings used in connection with religious activities, shall be hereby excepted and deemed to continue as a permitted use whereby any addition or expansion of the use shall require site plan approval only, without the necessity of a conditional use application.

Religious or nonprofit nursery schools, day-care centers and nursing and convalescent homes, pursuant to § 110-87A.

Public, nonprofit private and parochial school buildings and convents, pursuant to § 110-87A.[1]

Senior citizen shared living residences pursuant to § 110-87V.

Any conditional use permitted in an R-1 Residential District.

Offices and apartments, provided that such are located on a lot fronting on Main Street between the Lehigh Valley Railroad line to the north and the B-2 Neighborhood Business District to the south, pursuant to § 110-87U.

(Reserved)

Any principal use permitted in an R-1 Residential District.

Townhouses.

Any accessory use permitted in an R-1 Residential District for single-family detached dwellings.

Garages containing not more than three motor vehicles for each townhouse unit.

Common open space, social and recreational facilities for townhouses.

Any principal use permitted in an R-1 Residential District.

Two-family detached dwellings.

Any principal use permitted in an R-3 Residential District.

Townhouses.

Garden apartments.

Three- and four-family apartments.

Affordable senior housing.

Any accessory use permitted in an R-1 Residential District for single-family and two-family dwellings.

Garages containing not more than three motor vehicles for each townhouse and apartment unit.

Common open space, social and recreational facilities.

Planned unit residential development, pursuant to § 110-91.

Borough-operated public facility.

Permitted principal uses:

Permitted accessory uses:

The total number of parking spaces required for all uses or combination of uses shall be as follows:

A maximum of 25% of the required number of parking spaces may be located on-street, provided that the minimum paved width of that street is 30 feet.

Concept plan compatibility. The Lawler Tract should be developed in a manner that is consistent with an overall design and general configuration shown in the Schematic Design Blueprints drawn by Clarke and Caton, dated August 29, 1994, and submitted to and approved in concept by the Borough Council on September 7, 1994. This Concept Plan provides for the specific location for primary access from Central Avenue, the generally O-shaped street layout, the general locations of the proposed dwelling units, the general location of a recreational area and the detention basin.

Vehicular access. No paved portion of any public or private street or driveway shall be located within eight feet of an existing adjacent residential property line, except in such cases where the Board determines that it shall be necessary for an existing or future roadway connection, nor within five feet of an existing adjacent nonresidential property line.

Building location. A building shall be located to front towards and to relate to a street or other logically organized space. Spatial relationships among buildings shall be geometrically logical and architecturally formal. Buildings may also be oriented to front toward a parking area.

Parking lot location. Parking lots may be located in any or all of the yard areas surrounding the buildings.

Building setbacks. The minimum distance between buildings and vehicular driveways, parking areas and streets within the site shall be 25 feet, which distance shall be measured from building to curbline. Yard setback requirements shall be encompassed within the building setback minimum distance and shall not be in addition thereto.

Spacing of buildings.

Building type mix. There shall be no requirement as to any minimum mix among apartments, townhouses or other multifamily attached housing on the tract.

Dwelling unit mix. For affordable units, the dwelling unit mix shall be in accordance with the then-applicable Council on Affordable Housing (COAH) requirements. With respect to market rate dwelling units, no more than 1/3 of the total units on-site shall be three bedrooms, and no more than 1/3 of the total units constructed on the site shall be one-bedroom.

Number of dwelling units. No building shall contain more than 18 attached units.

Dwelling unit size and location.

Storage space. Other than normal closet space, there shall be no dwelling unit storage space requirement.

Private open space. Each dwelling unit shall be provided with a private outdoor patio or balcony area consisting of a minimum of 64 square feet. The minimum length of any individual dimension of such area shall not be less than six feet. A minimum of one light fixture shall be provided to light such area.

Enclosure of yard areas. No enclosure of the front, side or rear yards of any dwelling unit or building shall be required by way of evergreen hedge, brick wall, wrought iron fence or other demarcated or fixed structure or landscaping.

Pedestrian walkway materials. Formal walkways shall be constructed of brick, slate, cobblestone, concrete, bluestone or some combination of the above or similar materials that are architecturally compatible with the style, materials, colors and details of the buildings.

Massing. A building shall not be permitted to have a total measurement greater than 230 feet in length along any wall, roof or footprint plane. Building wall offsets, including both projections and recesses, shall be provided along any building wall measuring greater than 50 feet in length in order to provide architectural interest. The maximum spacing between such offsets shall be 45 feet. The minimum projection or depth of any individual offset shall not be less than two feet.

Continuity of treatment. The architectural treatment of a facade shall be compatible in terms of style, materials, colors or details around all sides of a building. Different sides of a building may face or relate to different conditions. For example, the front may relate to a street, while the rear may relate to a quiet garden space.

Roof. The minimum permitted roof pitch shall be five on 12. Individual gables on a building may vary in pitch.

Minimum tract area shall be 20,000 square feet. For the purposes of calculating tract area, lots separated by street rights-of-way may be considered part of the same tract.

Minimum frontage on Safety Place: two hundred fifty (250) feet.

The design of the townhouse structures shall be oriented to front toward Safety Place and back toward the Northeast Corridor Railroad right-of-way.

Townhouse structures shall have a minimum setback of 25 feet from any adjacent lot occupied by a single-family home.

Parking for the townhouses may be located both on Safety Place and on portions of the tract located across Safety Place from the townhouse structures.

Retail shops and stores.

Personal service businesses.

Physical fitness studios.

Indoor amusement businesses, including arcades, virtual reality, escape rooms, and other similar uses.

Eating and drinking establishments, except fast-food restaurants and drive-in restaurants, provided that such shall not have an outdoor dining area within 50 feet of residentially zoned land.

Brew pubs, distilleries and wineries.

Banks and other financial institutions, except drive-in banks.

Offices, except located on the ground floor of a building fronting on Main Street.

Flex space, including demonstration kitchens, event rental space, party rental space, and other similar uses.

Nursery schools and day-care centers.

Apartments, except located on the ground floor of a building.

Borough-operated public facilities.

Massage and somatic therapy establishments.

Driveways, parking lots, loading areas and multilevel parking facilities, except where such is located to have ingress and/or egress on Route 27 (Middlesex Avenue) and the same can be provided from another street or municipal parking lot abutting the site.

Plazas, courtyards, alleys and other similar type public and semipublic spaces.

Other uses deemed to be permitted accessory uses.

Dry-cleaning establishments, pursuant to § 110-87B.

Inns and hotels, pursuant to § 110-87C.

Religious affiliated office or counseling center, pursuant to § 110-87D.

Two-family detached dwellings, pursuant to § 110-87E.

Class 5 Cannabis Retailers, provided that they are located on a lot fronting on Middlesex Avenue and comply with the requirements of Chapter 75, Article I, § 75-5C of the Code of the Borough of Metuchen.

Retail shops and stores, provided that such shall not generate objectionable noise, odors, smoke or glare or require extensive loading areas within proximity of residential uses on adjacent lots.

Personal service businesses.

Physical fitness studios.

Eating and drinking establishments, except fast-food restaurants and drive-in restaurants, provided that such shall not have an outdoor dining area within 50 feet of residentially zoned land or require extensive loading areas within proximity of residential uses on adjacent lots.

Banks and other financial institutions, except drive-in banks.

Offices.

Nursery schools and day-care centers.

Apartments, except located on the ground floor of a building.

Borough-operated public facilities.

Massage and somatic therapy establishments.

Affordable senior housing.

Driveways and parking lots.

Other uses deemed to be permitted accessory uses.

Dry-cleaning establishments, pursuant to § 110-87B.

Two-family detached dwellings, pursuant to § 110-87E.

Class 5 Cannabis Retailers, provided that they are located on a lot fronting on Central Avenue or Jersey Avenue or Amboy Avenue and comply with the requirements of Chapter 72, Article I, § 72-5C of the Code of the Borough of Metuchen

Minimum tract area shall be 20,000 square feet.

Minimum frontage: one hundred twenty-five (125) feet on Main Street and frontage on any other street shall not be permitted.

The design of the courtyard apartment structure shall be oriented to front internally on the site and frame a courtyard space oriented away from any adjacent lot occupied by a single-family home.

Courtyard apartment structures shall have a minimum setback of 25 feet from any adjacent lot occupied by a single-family home.

Retail shops and stores, provided that they are located fronting on Main Street.

Personal service businesses.

Physical fitness studios.

Indoor amusement businesses, including arcades, virtual reality, escape rooms, and other similar uses, provided that they are located on a lot fronting on Middlesex Avenue east of Factory Street, Amboy Avenue or Lake Avenue.

Eating and drinking establishments, except fast-food restaurants and drive-in restaurants, provided that such shall not have an outdoor dining area within 50 feet of residentially zoned land.

Brew pubs, distilleries and wineries, provided that they are located on a lot fronting on Middlesex Avenue east of Factory Street, Amboy Avenue or Lake Avenue.

Banks and other financial institutions, except drive-in banks.

Offices.

Flex space, including demonstration kitchens, event rental space, party rental space, and other similar uses.

Funeral homes and mortuaries.

Nursery schools and day-care centers.

Social halls, clubs, lodges and places of public assembly.

Apartments, if located on upper floors above another permitted use at the ground level.

Affordable senior housing.

Borough-operated public facilities.

Driveways, parking lots and loading areas.

Other uses deemed to be permitted accessory uses.

Any conditional uses permitted in the B-2 Zone.

Drive-in banking facilities pursuant to § 110-87J, on the condition that the property fronts on Central Avenue, Middlesex Avenue between Central Avenue and the Lehigh Valley Railroad right-of-way (abandoned) or the westerly side of Lake Avenue.

Downtown Gateway Overlay District, pursuant to § 110-87AA.

Class 5 Cannabis Retailers, provided that they are located on a lot fronting on Middlesex Avenue, Lake Avenue, or Amboy Avenue, and east of Factory Street and comply with the requirements of Chapter 72, Article I, § 72-5C of the Code of the Borough of Metuchen.

Personal service businesses.

Offices.

Banks and other financial institutions.

Eating and drinking establishments, except fast-food restaurants and drive-in restaurants, provided that such shall not have an outdoor dining area within 50 feet of residentially zoned land.

Health clubs, gyms, fitness centers and spas.

Borough-operated public facilities.

Affordable senior housing.

Driveways, parking lots and loading areas.

Other uses deemed to be permitted accessory uses.

Plazas, courtyards, alleys and other similar type public and semipublic open spaces.

(Reserved)

Inns and hotels on parcels of land with a minimum lot frontage of 300 feet on a minor arterial street as designated in the Borough of Metuchen Master Plan, provided that no parking lot shall be located within 25 feet of a lot line on which there is a residential use.

New automobile dealerships, provided that they are located on parcels of land with a minimum lot frontage of 300 feet on a minor arterial street as designated in the Borough of Metuchen Master Plan and provided that they were in existence as of August 1993.

(Reserved)

Automobile washing establishments, pursuant to § 110-87H.

Automobile repair establishments, pursuant to § 110-87I.

Drive-in bank facilities, pursuant to § 110-87J.

Downtown Gateway Overlay District, pursuant to § 110-87AA.

Class 5 Cannabis Retailers, provided that they are located on a lot fronting on Essex Avenue, west of the Bonhamtown Railroad eastern spur and comply with the requirements of Chapter 72, Article I, § 72-5C of the Code of the Borough of Metuchen.

Personal service businesses.

Offices.

Banks and other financial institutions.

Eating and drinking establishments, except fast-food restaurants and drive-in restaurants, provided that such shall not have an outdoor dining area within 50 feet of residentially zoned land.

Health clubs, gyms, fitness centers and spas.

Planned unit residential development use, in accordance with the uses specified and the bulk standards described in § 110-91E of this chapter and which shall be permitted on a tract with a minimum lot size of five acres.

Affordable senior housing.

Driveways, parking lots and loading areas.

Other uses deemed to be permitted accessory uses.

Plazas, courtyards, alleys and other similar type public and semipublic open spaces.

Inns and hotels on parcels of land with a minimum lot frontage of 300 feet on a minor arterial street as designated in the Borough of Metuchen Master Plan, provided that no parking lot shall be located within 25 feet of a lot line on which there is a residential use.

New automobile dealerships, provided that they are located on parcels of land with a minimum lot frontage of 300 feet on a minor arterial street as designated in the Borough of Metuchen Master Plan and provided that they were in existence as of August 1993.

Townhouses, pursuant to § 110-87G.

Retail shops and stores, provided that they are located fronting on New Street or Pearl Street.

Personal service businesses.

Physical fitness studios.

Indoor amusement businesses, including arcades, virtual reality, escape rooms, and other similar uses.

Eating and drinking establishments, except fast-food restaurants and drive-in restaurants.

Brew pubs, distilleries and wineries.

Banks and other financial institutions, except drive-in banks.

Offices.

Flex space, including demonstration kitchens, event rental space, party rental space, and other similar uses.

Nursery schools and day-care centers.

Apartments, except located fronting on Middlesex Avenue unless substantial buffering is provided.

Affordable senior housing.

Borough-operated public facilities.

Massage and somatic therapy establishments.

Driveways, parking lots, loading areas and multilevel parking facilities, except where such is located to have ingress and/or egress on Route 27 (Middlesex or Lake Avenues) and the same can be provided from another street or municipal parking lot abutting the site.

Other uses deemed to be permitted accessory uses.

Plazas, courtyards, alleys and other similar type public and semipublic open spaces.

Planned unit residential development, pursuant to Article 19 of this chapter.

Dry-cleaning establishments, pursuant to § 110-87B.

Inns and hotels, pursuant to § 110-87C.

Mixed-use neighborhoods, pursuant to § 110-87Y.

Planned unit commercial development, pursuant to Article 19 of this chapter.

Downtown Gateway Overlay District, pursuant to § 110-87AA.

Class 5 Cannabis Retailers, except within Block 115 and comply with the requirements of Chapter 72, Article I, § 72-5C of the Code of the Borough of Metuchen.

Planned unit residential development, pursuant to § 110-91.

Borough-operated public facilities.

Two-family detached dwelling, pursuant to the following specific conditions:

Three- to four-family detached dwelling, provided that the lot that fronts on Central Avenue is a minimum of 10,000 square feet in area.

Accessory dwelling units designed as carriage houses are permitted in the F-1 Zone as a bonus under one of the following conditions:

Offices.

Banks and other financial institutions, except drive-in banks.

Motels and hotels.

New automobile dealerships.

Borough-operated public facilities.

Drive-in banks, pursuant to § 110-87J.

Light industrial uses, pursuant to § 110-87K.

Warehouses, pursuant to § 110-87W.

Gasoline service stations, pursuant to § 110-87F.

Wireless communications facilities pursuant to § 110-87X.

Sports and athletic facilities.

Offices.

Banks and other financial institutions, except drive-in banks.

Funeral homes and mortuaries.

Nursery schools and day-care centers.

Assisted-living facilities.

Clubhouses.

Driveways, parking lots, loading areas and other uses deemed to be permitted accessory uses.

Drive-in banks, pursuant to § 110-87J of this chapter.

Offices for executive, administrative, professional and business purposes.

Properly certified scientific, research or testing laboratories, provided that all activities and equipment are housed within the principal structure(s) and that no hazardous, noxious or offensive conditions or noise are generated outside the principal structure(s).

Distribution centers involving the handling and distribution of wholesale goods to purveyors but not for resale to the general public or individual members of "wholesale clubs."

Light Industrial plants of a type which have no nuisance problems and which carry on processes within completely enclosed buildings, including the assembly of articles of merchandise from the following previously prepared or refined materials: canvas, cellophane, cloth, cork film, felt, glass, tanned leather, paper, plastics, metals or sheet metal, textiles, wax, wire, wood and yarns.

Included are the following permitted industrial uses:

Planned unit residential development in the R-5 Overlay Zone at a maximum permitted density of six dwelling units per gross acre in accordance with § 110-91A, PURD in R-5 Overlay Residential District.

[1]Affordable senior housing.

Borough-operated public facilities.

Accessory storage within a wholly enclosed permanent building of goods and materials intended for processing on the premises.

Driveways, parking lots and loading areas.

Other uses deemed to be accessory uses that are normally ancillary to the permitted principal uses, except that factory-outlet-type retail stores and sales shall not be considered an accessory use.

Warehouse and mini-storage warehouses with individualized compartments pursuant to § 110-87W.

Automotive repair establishments inclusive of detailing and customizing but not including body repair or painting, pursuant to § 110-87I.

Machine shops pursuant to § 110-87M.

(Reserved)

Dance halls and discotheques, pursuant to § 110-87Q.

Go-go dancing establishments and cabarets, pursuant to § 110-87R.

Artist's body painting studios, tattoo shops, modeling studios and massage parlors, pursuant to § 110-87S.

Adult bookstores, adult gift shops and adult motion-picture theaters, pursuant to § 110-87T.

Wireless communications facilities pursuant to § 110-87X.

Off-track betting parlor.

For properties having required frontage on Middlesex Avenue, drive-in bank facilities, pursuant to § 110-87J.

For properties not abutting a residential district, contractor's establishments.

Class 3 Cannabis Wholesalers, provided that they are located on a lot fronting on Liberty Street, Aylin Street, Leonard Street or Norcross Avenue and comply with the requirements of Chapter 72, Article I, § 72-5C, of the Code of the Borough of Metuchen.

Residences of any type except as permitted in the R-5 and R-6 Residential Overlay Districts.

Retail businesses of any type.

Religious institutions and schools.

Any process or storage use that may be noxious or injurious by reason of the production or emission of dust, smoke, refuse matter, gas fumes, noise, vibration or similar substances or conditions is specifically prohibited.

Refining, processing, distribution, transmission and storage of crude oil or refined petroleum products or the manufacture of bottled fuel gas or any of the principal products or by-products of the petrochemical industry.

Billboards and painted exterior wall signs.

Trucking depots or terminals or truck maintenance facilities.

Bus depots or terminals or bus maintenance facilities.

(Reserved)[2]

Processing, bottling, canning or manufacture of any food product.

Storage tanks are specifically prohibited except when the material stored or storage of material is not the principal use of the site but only provides for an ancillary or utility function and not a process function to the principal use.

The manufacture of chemicals.

The manufacture of cellulose products, resins, dye stuff, glue, vegetable, animal or mineral fats or oils, explosives, combustible gases, soap and other surfactants, fertilizer, asphalt and tar products.

The manufacture of cardboard, paper, paper pulp or paper products.

The manufacture or production of metals and alloys in ingot form.

The slaughtering, tanning and/or processing of animals or fowl.

The processing, sale, storage, auctioning or reclamation of junk of any kind, including automobile wrecking and/or storing; recyclable materials storage, processing or incineration.

The manufacturing or refining of asphalt; blast furnaces, boiler works and forge shops; the manufacture or processing of cork, linoleum or oil cloth and glue or gelatin; the tanning of hides and skins; slaughterhouses; the manufacture of paint, oils, lacquer or varnish.

The manufacture or bulk storage of fireworks and explosives, illuminating gas or poisonous gases.

Any use involving the storage or manufacture of radioactive materials.

Metal fabrication of trailers, truck bodies or other transportation equipment.

Manufacture or processing of concrete or concrete products.