Swedesboro City Zoning Code
ARTICLE V
R-3 Multiple-Family Residence District
§ 340-12 Use and area regulations.
A.
Establishment criteria. R-3 Multiple-Family Residence Districts are designed to make special provision for low lot coverage, low-density apartment or townhouse development in limited areas of a predominantly single-family residential environment, where multiple-family development is considered appropriate by virtue of such criteria as direct access to major traffic or intercommunity streets; proximity to public transportation; availability of public sewer and water facilities; adequacy of or provision for schools, recreation and other community facilities; environmental amenities and safety; and economic viability.
B.
Use regulations. In R-3 Multiple-Family Residence Districts, a building may be erected or used, and a lot may be used or occupied, for any of the following purposes and no other:
(1)
An apartment house or group of apartment houses, including townhouse-type apartments designed as a unified project, under private ownership or under condominium ownership.
(2)
A townhouse development, with each townhouse designed to be sold in single ownership or in condominium ownership.
(3)
A mix of townhouse and apartment/condominium units in a building.
(4)
An accessory use on the same lot with and customarily incidental to the foregoing uses, which may include the following:
(5)
Signs, as permitted in residence districts.
(6)
A single-family detached residence, as part of a unified project under private or condominium ownership. Single-family detached residences otherwise shall comply with the zoning requirements of the Residence District R-1.
(7)
Model houses and/or sales office/trailers and/or service offices/trailers and/or construction office/trailers.
(8)
Schools and other public facilities.
(9)
Utility facilities, including sewer plants and conveyancing facilities, including pumping stations and cable television systems, and all appurtenances thereto.
(10)
Agricultural uses.
(11)
Commercial facilities. The size and function shall be in proportion to the project, and such uses shall be designated as an integral part of the total project.
(12)
Unless otherwise specifically permitted within this chapter, no more than one principal dwelling or principal building shall be permitted on one lot, and no more than one principal use shall be permitted on one lot.
[Added 3-3-2014 by Ord. No. 4-2014]
C.
Site development standards. For any apartment building, townhouse or group of buildings on a lot, the following standards shall apply:
(1)
Tract area. A minimum tract area of not less then three acres shall be required for any development, provided that a parcel of less than three acres in an R-3 Residence District which is contiguous to an existing multiple-family development may be approved where the development proposed is determined by the Planning Board to be compatible with the existing development.
(2)
Density. The acreage used in determining density shall exclude, wetlands, floodplains and severe slopes. The maximum number of dwelling units in any development shall be determined by the lot-area-per-family requirements in accordance with the following:
1-, 2- and 3-Story Buildings | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Unit Type, by Number of Bedrooms | Density Area per Unit (square feet) | Maximum Number of Dwellings (per acre) | |
Efficiency or 1-bedroom | 4,000 | 10.9 | |
2 bedrooms | 4,500 | 9.7 | |
3 bedrooms | 5,500 | 7.9 | |
Each additional | Add 1,000 | ||
(3)
Building and lot coverage. Not more than 20% of the developable (excluding wetlands, floodplains and severe slopes) project area shall be occupied by buildings, and a total of not more than 50% of the developable project area shall be occupied by buildings, parking areas, driveways, sidewalks and other paved or impervious surfaces.
(4)
Minimum floor area.
(a)
The minimum livable floor area required for each dwelling unit shall be not less than:
(5)
Yards and building placement. The following requirements shall apply with respect to yards and building placement:
(a)
Perimeter yards of not less than 75 feet shall be maintained along all existing public street lines, and yards of not less than 50 feet shall be maintained along any other property line. This fifty-foot property line setback may be reduced to 30 feet with fencing and/or landscaping if approved by the Planning Board. Parking shall be permitted in the setbacks.
(b)
Within any development, no building shall be closer than 25 feet to an internal street, measured from the right-of-way line in the case of a public street, and from the curb or cartway line in the case of a private street. On corner lots, the building setback from the side street shall be no closer than 12 feet to the public right-of-way line.
(c)
No residential building shall be closer than 15 feet to a common-use parking area.
(d)
The distance at the closest point between the front or rear face of any building and any face of an adjacent building shall be not less than 50 feet, provided that if neither of the buildings is more than 30 feet in height, and not more than one of the buildings has windows facing the area between the buildings, the distance between may be reduced to not less than 30 feet. The minimum distance between the ends of two adjacent buildings shall be not less than 25 feet.
(e)
No apartment building, townhouse or single-family detached dwelling erected in an R-3 Multiple-Family Residence District shall be located within 100 feet of the boundary line of a lot which includes a public school, library or other public-assembly building, or within 100 feet of the right-of-way of a railroad.
(6)
Height. No apartment, townhouse or single-family detached dwelling shall exceed three stories or a maximum of 40 feet in height.
(7)
Parking space.
(a)
At least two parking spaces shall be provided for each dwelling unit, except only 1.5 spaces shall be required for each senior citizen unit.
(b)
Off-street parking areas shall be curbed and paved with an appropriate all-weather asphalt, bituminous or cement paving, and shall be adequately illuminated at night, with exterior lighting arranged to protect adjoining residences or highways from direct glare or hazardous interference.
(c)
All open off-street parking areas shall be screened with evergreen shrubbery or trees not less than five feet in height when planted, or other suitable landscaping approved by the Planning Board, along all street and adjacent property lines.
(8)
Loading and unloading areas. Provisions shall be made for the off-street loading and unloading of trucks and other vehicles serving the apartment area. Such areas shall be so arranged that they may be used without blocking or otherwise interfering with the use of street, parking facilities or pedestrianways.
(9)
Improvement standards, bonding and inspection. All streets, both internal and external, including grading and paving, driveways, parking areas, sidewalks, curbs, gutters, streetlighting, shade trees, water mains, water systems, culverts, storm sewers, sanitary sewers, pumping stations, drainage structures and recreational facilities, and such other improvements as may be found to be necessary in the public interest, shall be installed at the expense of the developer, provided that such standards may be modified by the Planning Board on recommendation by the Borough Engineer. Such improvements shall be completed to the satisfaction of the Mayor and Borough Council before a certificate of occupancy may be issued. In lieu of total completion of the above, an adequate performance bond guaranteeing the completion thereof may be accepted. Such bond is subject to approval by the Borough Solicitor as to form and surety, in an amount established by the Planning Board based on the estimated cost of improvements as approved by the Borough Engineer. The installation of all required improvements affecting the public interest shall be subject to the inspection and approval of the Borough Engineer.
D.
Single-family units. Single-family units shall comply with the following regulations:
(1)
The unit lot size shall be 5,000 square feet, including any easements, and all lots must be serviced by centralized and/or public water and sewer facilities, which utility lines must be underground.
(2)
Each lot shall have a minimum width at the building line of 40 feet and a minimum width at the curbline of not less than 20 feet.
(3)
Each lot shall have a minimum depth of 80 feet.
(4)
The maximum building coverage on a lot shall be 40%.
(5)
Each dwelling shall have a front yard setback of 25 feet.
(6)
Each lot shall have a minimum side yard setback of four feet, and there shall be a minimum width of 12 feet between buildings.
(7)
Each lot shall have a minimum rear yard of 20 feet.
(8)
The maximum residential building height shall be 35 feet.
E.
Required utilities, recreation areas and special design requirements:
(1)
Sewer and water. No application for a permit for an apartment building or multiple-family or townhouse project shall be considered unless such building or project can be served by the Borough sewer and water system. The installation of public water, sewerage and drainage facilities shall be in accordance with the specifications of the appropriate governmental authorities. Such improvement shall be made at the sole expense of the developer. All townhouse units to be sold in single ownership or in condominium ownership shall each have individual water and sewer service lines and shall have individual meters.
(2)
Underground utilities. All telephone and electric transmission service lines connecting individual buildings of the site with the street transmission lines, and between buildings on the site, shall be installed underground. Each apartment building shall contain a single concealed master television antenna or cable television service.
(3)
Recreation areas and natural features. At least 10% of the total area shall be reserved and developed for outdoor recreation purposes by the developer. Such recreation areas and facilities, such as swimming pools, tennis courts, play areas and sitting areas, shall be of such dimensions and in such locations that they are adequate and suitable for the intended purpose. Such areas shall be subject to the approval of the Planning Board. Natural features such as trees, streams, hilltops and scenic areas shall be preserved in designing a project. With Planning Board approval, a contribution in lieu of developed recreational facilities is permissible.
(4)
Air conditioning. Air conditioning shall be installed in each apartment building, either as a central system or as individual units, provided that each dwelling unit shall have individual air-conditioning controls. There shall be no window-installed units, and all exterior equipment relating to a central system shall be suitably enclosed or screened.
(5)
Heating. Each dwelling unit within a multiple-family dwelling rough or an apartment building which is heated by a central heating source shall have a separate thermostat to control heat.
(6)
Soundproofing. In multiple-family and apartment buildings, each dwelling unit shall be designed and constructed with a soundproofing barrier between adjoining units, both horizontally and vertically.
(7)
Laundry facilities. In apartment developments, adequate laundry facilities consisting of automatic washing and clothes drying machines in a laundry room shall be provided or a washer and dryer shall be installed in each dwelling unit, or hookup provision made for the installation of such facilities.
(8)
Refuse disposal. Provision for the disposal or incineration of refuse shall be made within each apartment building, or such refuse shall be conveyed to a central point or points to facilitate collection. Disposal arrangements in rental units shall be the responsibility of the owner. Any incineration equipment which is installed shall meet state air sanitation control standards.
(9)
Storage space. A minimum of 300 cubic feet of storage space for such items as bicycles, tires, lawn care equipment and items of dead storage shall be provided for each dwelling unit. In case of dwelling units, no parts of which are located on the ground floor or which have no first floor entrances, such storage areas shall have convenient access from the first floor or basement levels in the apartment building or in a storage area attached thereto. When specifically authorized by the Planning Board, such storage areas may be permitted in a separate building. Any common storage rooms or facilities shall be divided into compartments for each dwelling unit, shall be located in a clean and dry area and shall be provided with appropriate locks.
(10)
Architectural considerations.
(a)
In order to encourage an attractive building arrangement, variations in the setback or alignment of buildings erected on the same frontage or attached to other buildings shall be provided, parallel arrangement of buildings shall be avoided, and desirable variations in such things as the facade, construction and rooflines of apartment buildings and single-family attached units or townhouses shall be encouraged. Individuality in buildings shall be achieved also by use of varying external materials, colors, landscape elements and other design details. The exterior walls of all apartment buildings shall be of brick or stone, or brick or stone facing, or other suitable maintenance-free material approved by the Planning Board, except that decorative trim may be used for not more than 20% of the exterior surface of any facade. Exterior walls shall not be of exposed cinder block.
(b)
No two apartment buildings shall be attached in a straight, unbroken row, and townhouses or townhouse-type buildings shall be designed with visible offsets or setbacks or with variations in building alignment and orientation. No single structure shall contain more than 10 townhouse units.
(c)
The combined lengths of the walls of any apartment building or cluster or group of attached apartment buildings extending along any one frontage or facing in the same general direction shall not exceed 240 linear feet, provided that the Planning Board may modify the requirements of this provision in any case where such modification is felt to be desirable from the standpoint of an improved pattern of development.