To encourage action to guide the appropriate use or development of all lands in the Borough in a manner which will 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 ensure that the development of Somerville does not conflict with the development and general welfare of neighboring municipalities.

To promote the establishment of appropriate population densities and concentrations that will contribute to the well-being of persons, neighborhoods and the entire municipality as well as the preservation of the environment.

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

To provide sufficient space in appropriate locations for a variety of residential, recreational, commercial and industrial uses and open space, both public and private, according to their respective environmental requirements.

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 to prevent urban sprawl and degradation of the environment, including but not limited to the air, water and visual environment, through improper use of land.

To encourage diverse types of housing construction.

To establish orderly and uniform procedures relating to land use and development regulation.

To promote utilization of renewable energy sources.

To promote the maximum practicable recovery and recycling of recyclable materials from municipal solid waste.

To encourage sustainable development which improves the quality of human life while living within the carrying capacity of the supporting eco-systems. The Borough will promote development that reduce auto-dependency, employs LEED green building design, uses alternative energy, reduces greenhouse gas emissions and conserves natural resources.

To promote green/sustainable business which is any organization that participates in environmentally friendly or green activities to ensure that all processes, products, and manufacturing activities adequately address current environmental concerns while maintaining a profit.

General applicability. The provisions of this chapter are applicable to all land use and development within the Borough of Somerville, except such land use or development as may be specifically exempted herein or exempted by the operation of law or by court order. The provisions of this chapter shall be held to be minimum requirements adopted for the promotion of the public health, safety and general welfare.

Applicability to permits. No zoning permit, building permit, demolition permit, certificate of occupancy, certificate of continued occupancy or sign permit shall be issued until all the requirements of this chapter, any other applicable Borough or State regulations and ordinances, Planning Board or Board of Adjustment decisions and resolutions, and necessary resolutions of the Borough Council have been and are fully complied with.

Conflict with other laws. This chapter is not intended to repeal, abrogate, annul or in any way impair or interfere with existing provisions of other laws or ordinances, except those repealed expressly or by necessary implication hereby, or to affect any private restrictions placed upon property by covenant, deed or other private agreement unless repugnant hereto. Whenever a requirement of this chapter conflicts with another requirement of this chapter or with the requirements of any other laws or ordinances, the highest or most restrictive standard shall apply unless prohibited by law.

Severability. In the event that any section, part or provision of this chapter shall be held to be unconstitutional or invalid by any court, such holding shall not affect the validity of this ordinance as a whole, or any part thereof, other than the part so held to be unconstitutional or invalid.

Repealer. All of the provisions of Chapter 102 of the Code of the Borough of Somerville in effect at the time of adoption of this new and amended Chapter 102 are hereby repealed.