Woodstown City Zoning Code
ARTICLE XIII
Conditional Uses
§ 67-73 Findings and intent.
Because of the complexity of factors which affect the use of land, it is not appropriate to definitively determine all of the uses permitted in each zone. Recognizing that certain uses, activities and structures are necessary to serve the needs and convenience of the borough and region and, at the same time, realizing that such uses may be or may become harmful to the public health, safety and general welfare if located and operated without proper consideration of existing conditions and character of surrounding property, such uses are hereby designated conditional uses and listed as such under the appropriate zone district in the Schedule of District Regulations.[1] The intent of this Article is to establish a procedure for the Planning Board to consider these specified uses on a case-by-case basis. Decisions of the Planning Board on conditional uses shall be rendered after public hearing and shall be based on the standards specified in this Part 3.
[1]
Editor's Note: The Schedule of District Regulations is included as an attachment to this chapter.
§ 67-74 Considerations and standards.
In all requests for conditional uses, the burden of proof shall be on the applicant. The considerations and standards upon which the conditional use shall be heard and decided shall be as follows:
B.
All regulations and standards specified in this chapter which are applicable to the proposed use shall apply. The area, bulk and height regulations for each district shall apply as minimum requirements except in the following instances:
(2)
For commercial and industrial uses, the area and dimensional standards of the most restrictive commercial or industrial district shall apply, except if the prevailing zone district standards are more restrictive.
C.
The design, arrangement and nature of the particular use is such that the public health, safety and welfare will be protected and reasonable consideration is afforded the neighborhood and the zoning district with regard to conservation of property values, avoidance of congestion of vehicular traffic or the creation of any unnecessary hazard.
D.
Nonresidential buildings shall be oriented so as not to face building frontage or public entranceways in the direction of a residential neighborhood. Special consideration shall be given to the buffering and screening of all such uses from any residential use.
E.
Building and structural design shall be compatible with surrounding land uses.
F.
Whenever possible, commercial and industrial conditional uses shall gain access from roads of minor collector status or above. Traffic intensive uses, defined as generating more than 50 trips per day, shall be located on a major collector or arterial road. Applications for commercial or industrial uses which do not meet these criteria shall include a detailed traffic report prepared by a qualified traffic engineer. The traffic report shall include traffic-generation calculations, peak-hour calculations and an evaluation of the internal traffic circulation plan and external access roads to handle the anticipated traffic. This traffic report shall be used to determine the appropriate level of off-tract road improvements required.
G.
The Planning Board may impose any modification or conditions it may deem necessary to carry out the intent of this chapter or to protect the health, safety and general welfare of the public.