Somers Point City Zoning Code
ARTICLE IX
HC-2 Highway Commercial - Two District
§ 114-53 Intent; applicable regulations.
A.
Intent. The purpose of the Highway Commercial — Two District is to encourage major commercial concentration with easy highway access, with sufficient controls.
B.
Regulations in district. The use, height and area regulations of §§ 114-53 through 114-60, inclusive, and those regulations set forth elsewhere in this chapter, where applicable to these sections, and the general regulations of Article XX are the regulations in the HC-2 Highway Commercial — Two District.
§ 114-54 Permitted uses.
A building or land shall be used only for the following purposes:
B.
Accessory uses. Any accessory use and building reasonably and customarily incidental to any of the principal uses permitted, provided that they do not create conditions detrimental to the health, safety or general welfare of the community. They shall be understood to include:
(1)
Appropriate facilities for placement of trash and garbage and collection and removal thereof, provided that:
(2)
Private swimming pools intended for the use of motel guests, provided that:
(a)
The water edge of the pool shall be at a minimum of 25 feet from all property lines.
(b)
Adequate fencing with a lock shall be provided to prevent unauthorized use. Such fencing shall surround the pool itself.
(c)
Pool lighting shall be designed and located to prevent glare on contiguous properties.
(d)
The machinery used in connection with said swimming pool shall be housed in a soundproof structure.
(e)
Safety lighting shall be provided to illuminate the pool when not in use during hours of darkness.
(3)
Utility sheds for the storage of maintenance tools and equipment, to be used solely on the property on which they are located, provided that they comply with all other sections of this article.
(4)
Coffee shops and restaurants, provided that such uses shall be located in the lobby area and shall comprise no more than 15% of the lobby level nor more than 5,000 square feet, whichever is less.
C.
Conditional uses.
(1)
Fast-food restaurants subject to the same requirements for fast-food restaurants established by § 114-35C(3).
[Added 7-9-1992 by Ord. No. 20-1992; amended 4-8-1999 by Ord. No. 4-1999]
§ 114-55 Area and bulk requirements.
Area and bulk requirements shall be as follows:
E.
Front yard setback, all uses: 50 feet minimum.
F.
Side yard setback.
G.
Rear yards: subject to plan review by the Planning Board.
I.
Density, motels: maximum of 100 units per net acre.
J.
Common open space. A minimum of 30% of the total lot area shall be provided and maintained as common open space. Such space may include playgrounds, pools and miniparks intended for the use of registered guests, but shall not include parking.
§ 114-56 General regulations.
B.
A perimeter roadway of 20 feet, minimum width, shall be provided around all sides of the structure for the purpose of emergency access. This roadway may also serve as the access road to exterior parking areas. This regulation applies to motels only.
C.
For all uses within this district there shall be one on-site off-street loading area, 14 feet wide by 30 feet long, for each 10,000 square feet or each part thereof. This loading space shall be screened from view.
D.
All motel uses within this district shall be required to submit an impact statement as part of the site plan review process. The statement will include information called for in Article XXII, § 114-143B(18), and additionally shall include the following for all uses:
(1)
A general lighting and graphics program.
(2)
Fire protection, police and other security systems.
(3)
A circulation and off-street parking plan.
(4)
A solid waste management and disposal plan, including provisions for all wastes resulting from on-site uses.
(5)
A landscaping and preservation plan, including existing natural features.
(6)
An off-tract traffic survey showing the impact of the proposed facility on existing roadways.
(7)
An energy conservation program for operation.
§ 114-57 Landscaping.
B.
Regulations governing motel uses.
(1)
All areas not covered by driveway or pedestrian walkways shall be landscaped. A complete site plan showing all proposed planting shall be reviewed and approved by the Planning Board.
(2)
All perimeter setbacks shall have a buffer strip 10 feet wide, consisting of evergreens of four feet minimum height at planting placed in double alternating rows six feet on center in each row with smaller evergreens or other deciduous plant material in between. Buffer strips shall be set back 10 feet from the property lines where they abut a street.
(3)
All irregularly shaped areas in parking lots not used for parking shall be landscaped and bordered with brick or other natural materials.
(4)
All planting required shall be replaced and maintained regularly.
§ 114-58 Off-street parking.
Parking requirements shall be as follows:
B.
Motels: 1.1 on-site off-street parking spaces per unit. For motels converted to condominium units, either for sale or for rent, two off-street on-site parking spaces per unit, plus one off-street on-site visitor's parking space for every four units shall be required.
[Amended 7-9-1992 by Ord. No. 20-1992]
C.
Coffee shops and restaurants: one off-street on-site parking space for each five seats devoted to service.
[Amended 6-22-2023 by Ord. No. 10-2023]
D.
For exterior parking areas, parking is permitted in stalls at angles of 45° to 90°, subject to review and approval by the Planning Board.
E.
Widths and lengths of access lanes will vary with angle, subject to review and approval by the Planning Board.
F.
Exterior parking areas will be located a minimum of 30 feet from the building.
G.
Five percent of all parking required shall be provided for and reserved for the handicapped.
§ 114-59 Lighting.
Adequate lighting to ensure safe pedestrian and vehicular travel shall be provided subject to Planning Board review as part of the site plan process. The following standards shall apply:
A.
Lights shall be directed towards the structure and designed to prevent glare.
B.
Light standards shall not be more than 25 feet in height, and their bases shall be landscaped and maintained.
C.
Standards will be set back a minimum of 30 feet from the street right-of-way line.
D.
Light standards will be at least 50 feet apart.
§ 114-60 Signs.
The following signs shall be permitted:
A.
One freestanding sign for any single property. This sign shall identify only the principal establishment located on the property. Such sign shall:
(1)
Not exceed the permitted height of 25 feet.
(2)
Not be greater in total area than 48 square feet per face.
[Amended 7-24-1986 by Ord. No. 13-1986]
(3)
Be set back from the street right-of-way such distance as the Construction Official, after consultation with the Planning Board Engineer and City Traffic Officer, shall determine.
[Amended 7-24-1986 by Ord. No. 13-1986]
(4)
Be landscaped at its base and maintained.
(5)
Be mounted a minimum of 10 feet from the ground so as not to impede visibility.
(6)
Have either an interior light source or an exterior light source designed to prevent glare.
(7)
Have no moving or flashing effect.
(8)
Be kept in good repair.
B.
One sign attached to the building for identification of principal or accessory uses. Such sign shall:
D.
All signs within this district are subject to review by the Planning Board as part of the site plan process.