This article shall be known and may be cited as "Intent and Purposes Article of the Township of Manchester Municipal Land Use and Development Regulations Chapter."
It is the intent and purpose of this chapter:
A. 
To encourage municipal action to guide the appropriate use and development of all lands in Manchester Township in a manner which will promote public health, safety, morals and general welfare;
B. 
To secure safety from fire, flood, pollution, panic and other natural and man-made disasters;
C. 
To provide adequate light, air and open space;
D. 
To ensure that the development of Manchester Township does not conflict with the development and general welfare of neighboring municipalities, the county and the state as a whole;
E. 
To promote the establishment of appropriate population densities and concentrations that will contribute to the well-being of persons and neighborhoods in the community and preservation of the environment;
F. 
To encourage the appropriate and efficient expenditure of public funds by the coordination of public development with land use policies;
G. 
To provide sufficient space in appropriate locations for a variety of agricultural, commercial and industrial uses and open space, both public and private, according to their respective environmental requirements in order to meet the needs of all Manchester Township citizens;
H. 
To encourage the location and design of transportation routes which will promote the free flow of traffic while discouraging location of such facilities and routes which result in congestion or blight;
I. 
To promote a desirable visual environment through creative development techniques and good civic design and arrangements;
J. 
To promote the conservation of open space and valuable natural resources and to prevent urban sprawl and degradation of the environment through improper use of land;
K. 
To encourage planned developments which incorporate the best features of design and relate the type, design and layout of residential, commercial, industrial and recreational development to the particular site;
L. 
To encourage senior citizen community housing construction consistent with good planning, site development and the natural environment;
M. 
To encourage coordination of various public and private procedures and activities shaping land development with a view of lessening the cost of such development and to promote the more efficient use of land;
N. 
To do all things authorized in the general purposes and powers section as more fully set forth in N.J.S.A. 40:55D-1 et seq.;
O. 
To implement the objectives of the Pinelands Protection Act and the Pinelands Comprehensive Management Plan and comply with minimum standards of the Plan;
P. 
To protect, preserve, and enhance the unique and significant ecological, natural and other resources of the Pinelands area;
Q. 
To accommodate regional growth in an orderly way by encouraging appropriate patterns of compatible residential, commercial and industrial development in or adjacent to areas already utilized for such purposes which are conducive to the protection of the Pinelands environment;
R. 
To encourage innovations in residential development by permitting greater variety in design and layout of buildings and by the conservation and more efficient use of open space auxiliary to said buildings; and
S. 
To avoid scattered or strip commercial development by encouraging commercial growth in the areas so designated at major intersections.
In their interpretation, the provisions of the Manchester Township Municipal Land Use and Development Regulations chapter shall be held to be minimum requirements. It is not the intent of this chapter to abrogate any permit or approval granted and previously issued pursuant to law relating to the use of buildings or land, nor shall it be interpreted to interfere with the provisions of existing codes, laws or ordinances regarding building construction, health, safety, or sanitation, or with any private restrictions placed upon a property by covenant or deed.
[Amended 3-14-2016 by Ord. No. 16-015]
A. 
It is intended that in interpretation of this chapter, any use not specifically permitted in an adopted Township zoning schedule shall be deemed prohibited.
B. 
In the event that there is a conflict between the language in the chapter and an adopted Township zoning schedule, the schedules control the determination of a permitted use.
A. 
Any single-family dwelling on a conforming lot under this chapter which was constructed and in existence at the time of the adoption of the amendment of the Zoning Ordinance in December 1975, and which would be nonconforming solely by reason of the increase in front yard setback in the Zoning Ordinance of December 1975 and under this chapter, shall not be deemed nonconforming.
B. 
Any nonconforming single-family residential accessory building which is nonconforming solely by way of setback, and where it can be determined that said structure has been in existence for 10 years or more and no complaints have been received and/or code enforcement actions taken, may be grandfathered by way of a zoning application made to the Zoning Office and any construction permits when required.
[Added 8-10-2020 by Ord. No. 20-026]
[Amended 11-28-2005 by Ord. No. 05-053]
The New Jersey Residential Site Improvement Standards (RSIS) approved on January 6, 1997 and effective on June 3, 1997, as may be amended, prepared in accordance with N.J.S.A. 40:55D-40.4 as contained in the New Jersey Administrative Code under N.J.A.C. 5:21, are hereby adopted by reference. The provisions of the residential site improvement standards shall supersede any and all contrary or inconsistent provisions of this chapter.