Stafford Township City Zoning Code

Any existing lot of record which has been rendered nonconforming by the adoption of this chapter may have a building permit issued for a permitted use without an appeal for a variance, provided that building coverage is not exceeded and parking requirements are met, and provided further that the lot abuts lots on either side that are developed and the lot is the largest possible assemblage of contiguous land. Where the lot abuts either a vacant lot or an oversized developed lot, the issuance of a building permit shall be delayed until the approving authority determines the reasonableness of requiring the applicant to acquire additional land to reduce or eliminate the nonconformity. Where the resulting lot is still nonconforming, the yard and height provisions may be reduced to the same percentage the area of the undersized lot bears to the zoning district requirements, except that no side yard shall be less than half that required by this chapter or five feet, whichever is greater, and no building shall be required to have a height less than 12 feet. In those areas in which sanitary sewage disposal must be by means of septic systems, no building permit shall be issued for any existing lot of record having an area of less than the minimum allowable lot area required for septic system use by all current applicable state and local requirements. This section does not apply to any property within the Preservation Area Zone or Forest Area Zone. Upon submission of the necessary proofs to show compliance with this section, the Zoning Officer can issue a zoning permit for the subject property.