Springfield Burlington County
City Zoning Code
City Zoning Code
ARTICLE XXIX
VPAH Veterans Preference Family Affordable Housing
[Added 3-11-2026 by Ord. No. 2026-04[1]]
[1]
Editor’s Note: This ordinance also repealed former Art. XXIX, AH Affordable Housing District, added 7-8-2009 by Ord. No. 2009-06.
§ 215-151 Purpose.
The purpose of the VPAH zoning district is to provide an opportunity for the production of needed affordable housing and to facilitate the development of a 100% affordable family rental community consistent with the intent of the Township's Master Plan and Housing Element and Fair Share Plan. It is the further intent of this article to provide a preference to low- and moderate-income veterans for up to 50% of the affordable housing units developed within the VPAH district as permitted by the Fair Housing Act (N.J.S.A. 52:27D-311). Through the adoption of the VPAH zone, the Township supports the extension of sanitary sewer service and public water service to serve the VPAH zoning district only, in order to enable efficient satisfaction of the Township's fair share affordable housing obligation with the smallest feasible and contextually appropriate footprint.
§ 215-152 Affordable housing requirements.
A.
All of the housing units must be affordable to low- and moderate-income households and shall be subject to affordability controls consistent with the Uniform Housing Affordability Controls ("UHAC" regulations at N.J.A.C. 5:80-26.1 et seq.).
B.
The development shall be subject to the requirements of the Fair Housing Act and Township's affordable housing ordinance (Chapter 35) including, but not limited to, requirements for phasing, bedroom mix, low/moderate income split, very-low-income requirements, adaptability requirements, affirmative marketing, controls on affordability, and rent increases.
C.
A 40-year affordability deed restriction (with the option to extend an additional 15 years) with covenants restricting rentals, conveyance and improvements, and requiring notice of foreclosure and bankruptcy shall be provided for review by the Township as a condition of major subdivision or major site plan approval and shall be filed prior to the issuance of the first Certificate of Occupancy.
D.
Bedroom distribution of the affordable housing units will be consistent with UHAC requirements (N.J.A.C. 5:80-26.4(e)) as follows:
(1)
At a minimum, the number of bedrooms within the restricted units shall equal twice the total number of restricted units;
(2)
At least 30% of all restricted units, rounded up or down to the nearest whole number in either direction, shall be two-bedroom units;
(3)
At least 20% of all restricted units, rounded up or down to the nearest whole number in either direction, shall be three-bedroom units;
(4)
No more than 20% of all restricted units, rounded up or down to the nearest whole number in either direction, are efficiency or one-bedroom units;
E.
Income breakdown for the affordable housing units will be consistent with UHAC requirements (N.J.A.C. 5:80-26.4(g)):
(1)
At least 13% of restricted units are very-low-income units;
(2)
At least 50% of all restricted units are low-income or very-low-income units;
(3)
At least 50% of all restricted one-bedroom units, rounded up or down to the nearest whole number in either direction, are low-income units or very-low-income units;
(4)
At least 50% of all restricted two-bedroom units, rounded up or down to the nearest whole number in either direction, are low-income units or very-low-income units;
(5)
At least 50% of all restricted three-bedroom units are low-income units or very-low-income units;
(6)
Any very-low-income units are distributed between each bedroom count as proportionally as possible, to the nearest whole unit, to the total number of restricted units within each bedroom count.
§ 215-153 Permitted principal uses.
A.
Multi-family affordable apartment residences.
B.
Farms and farm buildings.
§ 215-154 Permitted accessory uses.
A.
Common indoor and outdoor recreation facilities for the use and enjoyment of residents and their guests, including but not limited to tot lots, playgrounds, dog parks, passive recreation areas with shade structures, pavilions, gazebos, outdoor seating, etc.
B.
Community building, clubhouse, leasing office, maintenance building to serve the residents of the development.
C.
Stormwater management structures and facilities including green infrastructure, all in accordance with Chapter 179 of the Township Code.
D.
Public water and public sewer utility infrastructure to serve the VPAH district.
E.
On and Off-Street Parking in accordance with Article XV and as set forth below.
F.
Fences and walls in accordance with the requirements of Article XVII.
G.
Permanent Signs (including development identification signage, monument signage, wayfinding signage) in accordance with the requirements of Article XX and below.
H.
Electric Vehicle Charging and Service Equipment.
I.
Temporary sales and contractor signs, set back a minimum of 10 feet from the right-of-way when approved by the Land Use Board, and removed at the time of the last certificate of occupancy for the development.
J.
Temporary construction, sales, and leasing trailers not to exceed 1,440 square feet each, set back a minimum of 50 feet from perimeter property lines and shown on an approved site plan; and temporary parking and fencing for the temporary construction trailer, sales, leasing trailers.
K.
Trash and recycling enclosures as set forth below.
L.
Mailbox clusters and package drop off locker/locations.
M.
Fire suppression equipment and sheds.
§ 215-155 Dimensional regulations.
Within the VPAH zoning district, the following bulk, area, and dimensional requirements shall apply:
A.
Maximum density for multi-family residential apartments: seven dwelling units per gross acre.
B.
Minimum lot (tract) size: 10 acres.
C.
Minimum lot width: 300 feet.
D.
Minimum lot frontage: 300 feet each street.
E.
Minimum Front yard building setback: 100 feet.
F.
Minimum Side yard setback: 50 feet.
G.
Minimum Rear yard setback: 50 feet.
H.
Minimum Accessory structure setback: 50 feet from side and rear, not permitted in front yard.
I.
Minimum Front Yard Parking Setback: 75 feet.
J.
Minimum Side and Rear Yard Parking Setback: 50 feet.
K.
Maximum Impervious coverage: 50%.
L.
Maximum building height: 45 feet (maximum of three stories).
M.
Minimum distance between buildings:
(1)
25 feet side to side.
(2)
25 feet side to rear.
(3)
50 feet front to front.
N.
Minimum building setback from internal driveways and parking: 10 feet.
O.
Maximum building length: 250 feet on a single plane.
§ 215-156 Site and building requirements.
Where any of the following standards conflict with requirements elsewhere in Chapter 215, the standards below apply within the VPAH zoning district.
A.
Indoor and outdoor amenities must be provided for the benefit of the residents of the development and must be available to all tenants of residential units. Outdoor amenities may include passive and/or active recreation.
B.
Community buildings shall meet the setback requirements for principal buildings.
C.
Parking and driveways.
(1)
Parking for residential uses shall comply with the New Jersey Residential Site Improvement Standards (RSIS) pursuant to N.J.A.C. 5:21-1.1 et seq.
(2)
There is no additional parking requirement for recreational and common facilities associated with the residential development and available only for the residents of the development.
(3)
All driveways within the development shall be in conformance with New Jersey Residential Site Improvement Standards.
(4)
A temporary loading space shall be provided for each building to facilitate parking for moving trucks and delivery vehicles.
(5)
A maximum of two driveways are permitted along Old York Road. Driveways shall be separated by a minimum of 200 feet.
(6)
If the entire VPAH zoning district is not developed concurrently, opportunities for driveway and sidewalk connections to future phases shall be provided.
(7)
A bicycle parking rack shall be provided for use by the residents and visitors.
D.
Sidewalks are required within the development along main access drives, between buildings, and connecting to recreation and parking areas.
E.
Shade trees shall be provided at 40 to 50-foot intervals along the property frontage, set back five feet from the property line, where existing trees are not maintained.
F.
Landscape and buffers.
(1)
Along the Old York Road frontage a landscaped buffer a minimum of 25 feet in width shall be designed with a combination of evergreen and deciduous trees, berms, and/or open fencing (not to exceed four feet in height) to provide a filtered visual screen and to define the development. Where existing vegetation provides a buffer that achieves the visual screening and development definition objectives, it may remain and should be protected during construction.
(2)
All disturbed pervious areas shall be planted with a variety of evergreen and deciduous trees, shrubs, perennials, ground cover, and grasses.
(3)
A minimum of 75% of all landscape materials shall be native species. More than 75% is preferred, but some species may be adaptive species. No invasive species are permitted.
(4)
Where the multi-family use adjoins single-family residential lots or farms not in the VPAH zone, a 25-foot wide landscaped buffer within the setback area is required on the property being developed. For each 100 linear feet the buffer shall include two shade trees (minimum 2.5" caliper) and 20 evergreen trees (minimum 6'). Where existing vegetation provides a buffer that achieves the visual screening and development definition objectives for the buffer, it may remain and should be protected during construction, and no additional buffer plantings shall be required.
(5)
The landscape plan shall include foundation plantings around buildings that include evergreen shrubs, perennials and/or ground cover.
G.
Building design and architectural standards.
(1)
Architectural elevations showing all sides of each building must be submitted along with a site plan application.
(2)
Architectural design features shall be employed to create visual interest at the pedestrian or street level, with prominent entryways and first floor windows.
(3)
Buildings must be designed to avoid long, monotonous, uninterrupted walls or roof planes. Building wall offsets, including windows, projections, and recesses shall be used in order to add architectural interest and variety, and to relieve the visual effect of a simple long wall.
(4)
All sides of a building visible to the public must be designed with treatment similar to the primary front facade.
(5)
Buildings shall have peaked roofs. Variations in rooflines (parapets or other architectural screening) shall be used to completely screen HVAC and roof-mounted mechanical equipment.
(6)
Utilities entering/exiting buildings, including gas and electric meters must be located on the short end of buildings, and must be adequately shielded with evergreen landscaping or a green screen wall.
H.
Enclosures for trash and recyclables.
(1)
Trash enclosures or central trash compaction and recycling areas are required and must comply with the requirements of Chapter 177 of the Township Code except as modified below.
(2)
Trash enclosures or compactors must be sufficiently sized to contain both trash and recyclable materials. Dumpsters or other trash containers are not permitted to sit in the open anywhere on the site.
(3)
Trash enclosures or central trash compaction/recycling areas shall be masonry structures or fenced enclosures, with an exterior facade to complement the principal building. Chain link gates must be black vinyl coated.
(4)
Trash enclosures shall be set back a minimum of 50 feet from side and rear property lines and may not be located within the front yard setback area.
(5)
Trash enclosures shall be a minimum of six feet in height, or higher as needed to shield the dumpster or compactor.
(6)
Trash enclosures for multi-family residential units must include a door or opening for pedestrian access in addition to truck access.
(7)
The area around trash enclosures shall be landscaped with evergreen and flowering shrubs.
I.
Sign requirements.
(1)
One freestanding monument style sign is permitted along each street frontage.
(2)
Maximum sign height: 10 feet.
(3)
Maximum sign area: 60 square feet per side.
(4)
Minimum setback: five feet from right-of-way and 10 feet from driveway.
(5)
The sign base shall be designed to complement the site design and building architecture.
(6)
The area around the base of the sign shall be landscaped with a variety of native evergreen shrubs and perennials.
