Union Beach City Zoning Code
§ 13-10.7
TH-2 Townhouse Zone.
a.
Purpose. The purpose of the Townhouse - 2 District is to encourage the development of a livable neighborhood that contains townhouse residential dwelling units. The TH-2 District is intended to provide for moderate density housing that meets strict design standards that promote a desirable visual environment based upon a common architectural theme. It is intended that the development of new townhouse residential dwelling units employ a "Shingle Style" architectural theme, which is prevalent along the New Jersey shore. Design requirements and standards are intended to create a compact and pedestrian friendly form of development while ensuring a high quality of development and the preservation of open spaces for residents.
d.
e.
Bulk and Area Requirements.
1.
Minimum tract size: one acre.
2.
Front yard setback: 35 feet.
3.
Setback from all other tract boundaries and/or right-of-way lines: 20 feet.
4.
Maximum density: 10 townhouses per acre.
5.
Minimum tract width: 150 feet.
6.
Minimum tract depth: 100 feet.
7.
Maximum building coverage for the entire tract: 30%.
8.
Maximum impervious coverage for the entire tract: 60%.
9.
Maximum units per structure: Five dwelling units.
10.
Bedroom mix: No more than 80% - two bedroom and no more than 20% - three bedroom.
11.
Maximum building length: 125 feet.
12.
Maximum principal building height: 35 feet.
13.
Maximum number of stories (principal building): 2.5 stories above a garage.
14.
Maximum accessory building height: 15 feet except a clubhouse may be 28 feet in height.
15.
A structure shall not have more than two connected townhouse units on one facade without providing a variation in setback of at least two feet.
16.
The spacing of residential buildings shall adhere to the following minimums:
(a)
End wall to end wall = One-half height of highest wall (minimum 12 feet).
(b)
End wall to window wall = 1 1/2 height of highest wall (minimum of 30 feet).
(d)
Any building face to residential access street curb: Height of highest wall (minimum 30 feet).
(e)
Any building face to common parking area: 10 feet.
17.
A minimum of 40% of the tract area shall remain as open space.
18.
Parking area setback to property line: seven feet.
19.
Minimum townhouse width: 24 feet.
f.
Townhouse Guidelines. The following requirements for townhouses shall apply to development in the Townhouse - 2 District:
1.
Each application for development should include a site plan, property survey including calculations of existing conditions, i.e., impervious coverage, etc., landscape and lighting plan, grading plan, architectural elevations (for all four building sides), architectural floor plans for each building floor and any additional information deemed necessary by the borough, the board attorney or engineer. All submitted plans shall be sealed by an appropriate licensed professional.
2.
Entrances to townhouses should enhance the pedestrian scale character of the area by strengthening a unit's connection with public streets and internal roadways and by masking the appearance of garage doors.
3.
Townhouses fronting on residential streets should have pedestrian entrances on the street side.
4.
Where townhouses are designed with the end wall adjacent to the public street, the pedestrian entry for the end unit should be designed to also face the street.
5.
Townhouses adjacent to public roads should be designed to make rear building elevations resemble the front of a building. When viewable from a public right-of-way, side elevations should be treated with additional architectural details. Incorporate human-scale elements (windows, doors, roof elements, trellises, etc.) into the building facade visible from the street. Side elevations containing a significant amount of blank wall space are not permitted.
6.
Walls visible from a public street, adjacent off-street parking areas or other residential uses shall include windows and architectural features similar to the front facade of the building, including, but not limited to awnings, cornice work, edge detailing or other decorative finish materials.
7.
Building layout should be designed to maximize waterfront views from public rights-of-way.
8.
The main entrances should emulate the front entrance of single family homes.
9.
Incorporate an architectural theme pursuant to paragraph a., Purpose, with the appropriate variations in design to provide attractiveness to the development design.
10.
Employ features such as front stairs, stoops, gateways, porches, and weather protection to enhance the residential quality of unit and building entries, the visibility of such entries, a comfortable architectural rhythm along the street, and a human scale.
11.
Each townhouse shall have at least one individual private yard area, open patio or court adjoining the unit and having a width of at least 10 feet and an area of at least 100 square feet. Each private yard area, patio, court or deck shall be effectively screened in order to provide a reasonable degree of privacy.
12.
In addition to the above requirements, a storage space with separate access and containing a minimum of 80 square feet of floor area shall be provided for each dwelling unit in the basement of the building in which the unit is located or in the garage serving the unit. Storage space located in a garage shall not encroach upon or be located above a minimum area of 10 feet by 20 feet (10 feet by 20 feet) for the parking of a motor vehicle.
13.
Chimneys, dormers, gables, and similar elements may project into the slope of the roof provided they do not exceed one-half of the roofline. They should also result in an improved design.
14.
All buildings shall have pitched roofs. A varying roofline customary with gable or hip style roofing is encouraged. Functional dormer window features are encouraged.
15.
Roofs should contain an irregular roofline containing cross gables or gambrel roofs. It is appropriate for eaves to be found on several levels and close to the walls. Embellishments may include turrets.
16.
Architectural design and materials used in the construction of accessory buildings shall conform to or complement those used in the construction of principal buildings.
17.
All parking facilities shall be on the same site as the building and located within 150 feet of the nearest entrance of the building they are intended to serve.
(a)
Parking spaces shall be provided in areas designed specifically for parking and there shall be no parallel or diagonal parking.
(b)
All off-street parking areas and internal roadways shall be paved, bounded by permanent curbing and constructed in accordance with the Borough of Union Beach road specifications; provided, however, that, upon recommendation of the borough engineer, the requirement of curbing may be waived or modified when found not to be needed for control of stormwater, protection of pavement and similar purposes.
(c)
Parking areas shall be located at least 10 feet from a building.
(d)
Townhouses shall comply with the minimum parking standards of the NJRSIS (Subchapter 4).
18.
Parking spaces shall not be located in the front yard of the site and any off-street parking spaces must be screened from view of any public road or pedestrian path, by a streetwall or hedge along the frontage. Streetwalls shall be three feet in height and constructed out of brick or stone.
19.
No outside area or equipment shall be provided for the hanging of laundry or the outside airing of laundry in any manner. Sufficient area and equipment shall be made available within each building for the laundering and artificial drying of the laundry of the occupants of each building.
20.
Dwelling units may erect an individual external television antenna or satellite dish provided that it is one meter or less in diameter or diagonal measurement and is installed on the balcony, patio or other area within the exclusive use or control of the unit owner, or upon the roof area of the building containing the unity owner's dwelling unit. This guideline is intended to comply with regulations adopted by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) pursuant to the Telecommunications Act of 1996, which regulations are presently set forth at 47 C.F.R. I.S. If these regulations are amended this guideline will be deemed amended as of the effective date of the amendment to the regulation.
21.
The use of dryvit or similar materials are prohibited. More durable materials shall be incorporated in the harsh marine environment within the TH-2 District.
22.
Adequate trash and garbage pick-up stations shall be provided within a totally enclosed container located in a manner to be obscured from view from parking areas, streets and adjacent residential uses by a fence, wall, planting or combination of the three.
23.
Each townhouse development may have one sign along each public street, which the tract in question abuts, provided there exists at least 250 feet of unbroken frontage. Such signs shall not exceed five feet in height, shall be set back from the street rights-of-way, property lines, and driveways at least 10 feet and shall not exceed an area of 25 square feet and shall be used to display the development's name.
24.
Open space areas where improved, shall be attractively landscaped with grass lawns, trees and shrubs. Provision shall be made for the preservation of existing trees and natural features including those in designated critical areas. All proposed landscaping, including existing and new trees, shrubs and natural screening shall be shown on the site plan submitted to the planning board for approval and prepared by a certified landscape architect.
25.
Setback from the waterfront shall be pursuant to New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection requirements and regulations.
26.
All dwelling units shall be connected to approved functioning water and sanitary systems prior to the issuance of a certificate of occupancy.
g.
Common Facilities.
1.
A nonprofit homeowners' association in accordance with the requirements of the Department of Community Affairs shall own all areas put into common ownership for common use by all residents.
2.
An irrigation system shall be provided where grassed recreation areas occur.
3.
Accessory buildings for the outdoor recreation facilities and for maintenance purposes shall be provided and shall be sufficient to store recreational and maintenance equipment and supplies.
4.
When adjacent to the waterfront, public access to the waterfront shall be provided and shall facilitate wheelchair access.
5.
Sidewalks shall be provided on both sides of streets/private driveways through the development. All developments shall provide pedestrian linkages between public sidewalks and the building entrances. Sidewalk and pathway connections may be required to adjacent uses and activity areas.
6.
A consistent type of pedestrian scale ornamental lighting shall be provided along all streets and sidewalks and within any off street parking lots. Such lighting shall be provided at a frequency and height to provide desired light levels. Freestanding lights shall not exceed 12 feet in height.
7.
Open space areas shall offer a source of passive and/or active recreation, in accordance with the intended character of the neighborhood. Passive recreational areas may include features such as formal seating areas and open lawn area. Active recreational areas may include specific recreation elements such as playgrounds and tennis courts or less formal features such as open play fields and walking paths.