An ordinance to limit and restrict to specified zones and to regulate therein, development, buildings and structures according to their construction, and the nature and extent of their use, and the nature and extent of the uses of land in the Township of Ocean, Monmouth County, New Jersey, including the right to regulate and restrict: the area, depth and width of all parcels of land; the size, height, number of stories, and sizes of buildings, and other structures; the percentage of lot area that may be occupied by buildings and structures; the size of yards, courts and other open spaces; the density of population; the visual environment; and the location, use and extent of use of buildings, structures and land for trade, industry, residence, and other purposes.

The short title by which this chapter shall be known is "The Land Development Ordinance of the Township of Ocean."

This chapter is adopted pursuant to the Municipal Land Use Law of the State of New Jersey, N.J.S.A. 40:55D-1 et seq. in order:

To promote the public health, safety, morals, and general welfare;

To secure safety from fire, flood, panic, and other natural and man-made disasters;

To provide adequate light, air, and open space;

To insure the development of the Township of Ocean does not conflict with the development and general welfare of neighboring municipalities, Monmouth County, and the State of New Jersey as a whole;

To promote the establishment of appropriate population densities and concentrations that will contribute to the well-being of persons, neighborhoods, communities, and regions and to the preservation of the environment;

To encourage the appropriate and effective expenditure of public funds by the coordination of public development with land use policies;

To provide sufficient space and appropriate locations for a variety of agricultural, residential, recreational, commercial and industrial uses, and open space, both private and public, according to the respective environmental requirements in order to meet the needs of the Township's citizens;

To encourage the location and design of transportation routes which will promote the free flow of traffic while discouraging location of such facilities and routes which result in congestion or blight;

To promote a desirable visual environment through creative development techniques, and good civic design and arrangements;

To promote the conservation of historic sites and districts, open space, energy resources, and valuable natural resources in the Township, and to prevent urban sprawl and degradation of the environment through improper use of land;

To encourage senior citizen community housing construction consistent with provisions permitting other residential uses of a similar density in the same zoning district;

To encourage coordination of the various public and private procedures and activities shaping land development with a view of lessening the cost of such development and the more efficient use of land;

To promote utilization of renewable energy sources; and

To promote the maximum practicable recovery and recycling of recyclable materials from municipal solid waste through the use of planning practices designed to incorporate the State Recycling Plan goals.

It is not intended by this chapter to repeal, abrogate, annul or in any way impair or interfere with existing provisions of other laws or ordinances, except those specifically repealed by this chapter.

Where this chapter imposes a greater restriction upon the use of buildings or premises or upon the height of buildings or lot coverage, or requires greater lot area, or larger yards, or other open space as are imposed or required by such rules, regulations, or permits or by such private restrictions, the provisions of this chapter shall prevail.