Penns Grove City Zoning Code
ARTICLE IV
Dimensional Requirements
§ 450-16 Purpose and intent.
The dimensional requirements for all zoning districts in the Borough of Penns Grove are summarized in the Table of Dimensional Requirements (§ 450-17). The purpose of the summary is as a reference in making comparisons between dimensional requirements in the various districts. Covered in this article are general dimensional requirements for special circumstances applicable to all districts.
§ 450-17 District regulations; Table of Dimensional Requirements. [1]
The regulations for each district pertaining to maximum overall density, minimum lot area, minimum lot area per dwelling unit, minimum lot width, minimum front yard, minimum side yard, minimum rear yard, maximum height and maximum building coverage shall be as specified in this article unless specifically stated for a particular use in the Table of Use Regulations[2] or in Article III or as permitted under Article V, Performance Standards.
[1]
Editor's Note: The Table of Dimensional Requirements is included as an attachment to this chapter.
[2]
Editor's Note: The Table of Use Regulations is included as an attachment to this chapter.
§ 450-18 Maximum density.
The maximum number of dwelling units per acre of land shall not exceed the numbers specified in § 450-17 for the district involved.
§ 450-19 Lot area.
A.
Where a minimum lot area is specified, no principal building or use shall be created or established on any lot of lesser area, except as may be permitted in § 450-17.
B.
The lot area and yards required for any new building or use shall not include any part of a lot that is required by any other building or use to comply with the requirements of this chapter. No required lot area and yard shall include any property, the ownership of which has been transferred subsequent to the effective date of this chapter, if such property was a part of the area required for compliance with the dimensional requirements applicable to the lot from which such transfer was made.
C.
Lot coverage shall not exceed the requirements specified in § 450-17 for the district involved.
§ 450-20 Minimum lot width.
Where a minimum lot width is specified, no principal building shall be erected on any part of a lot which has a width less than specified, except as may be permitted by § 450-21.
§ 450-21 Exceptions to minimum lot areas and lot widths.
A.
The provisions of § 450-17 shall not prevent the construction of a single-family dwelling, provided that the yard requirements are observed, on any lot which was lawful when created and which prior to the effective date of this chapter was in separate ownership duly recorded by plan or deed.
B.
This exception shall not apply to any two or more contiguous lots in a single ownership as of or subsequent to the effective date of this chapter in any case where a reparceling or replatting could create one or more lots which would conform to the provisions of § 450-17.
§ 450-22 Traffic visibility across corners.
A.
In any district, no structure, fence or planting shall be maintained between a plane two feet above curb level and a plane seven feet above curb level so as to interfere with traffic visibility across the corner within that part of the required front or side yard which is within a triangle bounded by the street lot line and a straight line drawn between points on each lot 25 feet from the intersection of said lot lines or extension thereof.
B.
At each point where a private accessway intersects a public street or road, a clear sight triangle of 10 feet measured from the point of intersection of the street line and the edge of the accessway shall be maintained, within which vegetation and other visual obstructions shall be limited to a height of not more than two feet above the street grade.
§ 450-23 Side yards on corner lots.
On a corner lot, the yard facing each street shall equal the required front yard for lots facing that street.
§ 450-24 Spacing of nonresidential buildings on same lot.
Where two or more main buildings for other than residential uses are proposed to be built upon property in one ownership, front, side and rear yards are required only at lot lines abutting other property. See § 450-35 for requirements for residential uses.
§ 450-25 Front yards to be open space.
[Amended 5-5-1998 by Ord. No. 98-4]
Where a minimum depth of front yard is specified in § 450-17, an open space of at least the specified depth shall be provided between the legal right-of-way or the future right-of-way and the nearest point of any building or structure. Only landscaped areas, signs and necessary drives and walks shall be permitted in the required front yard, except as provided in §§ 450-26 and 450-27.
§ 450-26 Projections into front yards.
[Amended 5-5-1998 by Ord. No. 98-5]
Ground story bays and porches not over half the length of the front wall may project into any front yard 3 1/2 feet. Chimneys, flues, columns, sills and ornamental features may project not more than one foot, and cornices and gutters not more than two feet, over a required front yard. Handicap access ramps and landings may project to allow for the minimum length and width as required by the Building Code.[1]
[1]
Editor's Note: See Ch. 223, Construction Codes, Uniform.
§ 450-27 Fences and walls.
[Amended 5-5-1998 by Ord. No. 98-4]
A.
General requirements.
(1)
All permitted fences shall be situated on a lot in such a manner that the finished side of such fence shall face adjacent properties. All fences shall be of a permanent type and appropriate for the intended use. No fence of barbed wire, topped with metal spikes or constructed of any material or in any manner which may be dangerous to persons or animals shall be erected, except that barbed wire may be used as provided in Subsection C(2).
[Amended 7-5-2017 by Ord. No. 2017-5]
(2)
Fences shall be erected or constructed only after a permit for the same has been obtained from the Zoning Officer, in any case, and also from the Construction Code Official if the fence is six feet or more in height.
[Amended 7-5-2017 by Ord. No. 2017-5]
(3)
All fences and walls will be retained in a safe, sound, upright condition and are subject to inspection by the Construction Code Official.
(4)
All fences must be erected not less than four inches within the property line, and no fence shall be erected so as to encroach upon any legal or future right-of-way.
(5)
Fencing requirements for swimming pools shall be maintained in accordance with the provisions of Chapter 404, Swimming Pools, § 404-9.
B.
Fences, terraces and walls in residential districts.
(1)
Subject to § 450-22, the provisions of § 450-17 shall not apply to front fences, hedges or walls four feet or less in height above the natural grade in the required front yard nor to terraces or steps not over three feet high above the level of the floor of the ground story.
(2)
Subject to § 450-22, the provisions of § 450-17 shall not apply to side and rear fences, hedges or walls six feet or less in height above the natural grade in the required side and rear yard nor to terraces or steps not over three feet high above the level of the floor of the ground story.
C.
Fences, terraces and walls in commercial districts. Subject to § 450-48, the provisions regarding fencing in residential districts shall also apply in COS and H-C/I Districts, except that:
(1)
No wall or fence shall be erected or altered to exceed eight feet in height.
(2)
Barbed wire may be used to top fencing in H-C/I Districts, provided that the supports are facing inward and present no harm to the public.
D.
Permit required. No fence or wall shall be erected until a permit is issued by the Zoning Officer. Any person applying for such permit shall supply the Zoning Office with any plans, drawings, specifications and survey plot plans as may be required to verify the location and construction of said fence or wall.
[Amended 7-5-2017 by Ord. No. 2017-5]
§ 450-28 Exceptions to front yard requirements.
Subject to §§ 450-22 and 450-56I, the front yard requirements of § 450-17 shall not apply to off-street parking facilities in R-1 and R-2 Districts.
§ 450-29 Front yard reduction when adjacent to existing front yards.
Where there is an existing building on each of two lots adjacent on either side of a lot on which a proposed building is to be erected, where both such existing buildings have an alignment nearer to the street than the required front depth elsewhere specified in this chapter, and when both such existing buildings are within 100 feet of the proposed building, the average of the existing front yard depths of such adjacent lots shall be the minimum required front yard depth of the lot on which the proposed building is to be erected.
§ 450-30 Buildings and structures in side yards restricted.
Where a minimum width of side yard is specified in § 450-17, no building or structure shall be erected within the specified distance from either side lot line, except as permitted in § 450-31.
§ 450-31 Projections into side yards.
[Amended 5-5-1998 by Ord. No. 98-5]
Bays, balconies, chimneys, flues and fire escapes may project into a required side yard not more than 1/3 of its width and not more than four feet in any case. Ground story bays and porches not over half the length of the side wall may project into any side yard 3 1/2 feet, except as provided in § 450-26 as it applies to handicap access.[1]
[1]
Editor's Note: Original § 200-31, Fences and terraces in side yards, which immediately followed this section, was repealed 5-5-1998 by Ord. No. 98-4. See now § 450-27B(2).
§ 450-32 Buildings and structures in rear yards.
No building or structure shall be built within the minimum depth from the rear lot line specified in § 450-17, except as permitted in § 450-33.
§ 450-33 Accessory buildings, structures and uses in rear yards.
Required rear yards may be occupied by an accessory garage for accessory garage use and other permitted accessory buildings, structures or uses, provided that:
A.
Such accessory building, structure or use shall be situated not less than half the distance required for side yards in the district in which such building, structure or use is located and not less than 15 feet further back from the street line than the rearmost portion of the principal building (note: or not less than four feet from rear lot line); and
B.
Such accessory building, structure or use shall not exceed 15 feet in height.
§ 450-34 Rear yards in triangular lots.
In the case of a triangular lot with no rear lot line, the distance between any point on the building and the corner of the lot farthest from the front lot line shall be at least twice the minimum depth specified in § 450-17.
§ 450-35 Minimum building spacing.
The building spacing percent, as specified in § 450-17, is the minimum percent ratio of horizontal distance between facing walls of any two buildings on one lot, one of which is residential, and the height of the taller of the two buildings.
A.
The minimum horizontal distance between facing walls of any two buildings on one lot, one of which is a residential building, shall be at their closest point at least the greater of 25 feet or the distance which bears the minimum ratio specified in § 450-17, Table of Dimensional Requirements.
B.
Facing walls are defined as walls opposite to and parallel with one another or wall lines or extensions of wall lines of opposite walls which intersect at angles of less than 65°.
§ 450-36 Maximum height of buildings.
A.
No building shall exceed the maximum height of buildings specified in § 450-17, except as specified in § 450-37.
B.
Height shall be measured from the mean elevation of the proposed finished grade at the front of the building to the highest point of the roof for flat roofs, to the decklines of mansard roofs and to the mean height between eaves and ridge for gable, hip and gambrel roofs.
§ 450-37 Height exceptions.
Height limits, specified in § 450-17, may be exceeded by one foot for each foot by which the width of the front, rear and side yards is increased beyond the minimum yard requirements, up to a maximum of 80 feet.
§ 450-38 Lot coverage.
A.
The lot coverage is the maximum percent of the total land area which may be covered by the ground floor area of any building or buildings.
B.
For any building or group of buildings on a lot, neither the building coverage nor the floor area requirements shall exceed the maximum percentiles specified in § 450-17.
(1)
The floor area ratio is the maximum square foot amount of total floor area permitted for each square foot of land area.
(2)
Where a maximum floor area ratio is specified in § 450-17, no development shall be permitted which exceeds the floor area permitted as specified.
