Borough of Saddle River, NJ Affordable Housing District 4

For a minimum of every 25 feet of building length, there shall be one plane-break along the facade, comprised of at least 24 inches in depth. The offset shall extend from grade to the highest story.

Buildings with expansive blank walls on any facade are discouraged. Side and rear elevations should receive architectural treatments comparable to front facades, specifically with respect to window treatments and some form of articulation relief, which may be in the form of a belt course, corner line or similar trim features.

Decorative architectural features at entrances, cornices, and windows, and articulation between dwelling units are encouraged, and shall be architecturally compatible with the overall style, materials, colors and details of the building.

Complementary building colors and materials shall be consistent with the general theme of the development.

Materials: Building facades shall be finished in stone veneer, stucco, brick and/or cast stone. Exterior building materials shall be classified as either primary, secondary, or accent materials. The facade shall be designed in accordance with the following:

The primary material shall cover at least 60% of the building facade.

Secondary materials shall cover not more than 40% of the facade.

Exterior-mounted mechanical and electrical equipment exposed to the public view shall be architecturally screened. Roof-mounted equipment and projections, if applicable, should be painted the same color as the building, and where possible, located in such a manner as to be away from public view.

Varying architectural embellishments to roofs such as dormers, belvederes, masonry chimneys and similar elements are encouraged to be incorporated into the design, provided they are architecturally compatible with the style, materials, colors and details of the building style.

Landscaping standards.

Landscaping shall be provided to promote a desirable visual environment, to accentuate building design, define entranceways, and screen parking areas. Foundation plantings shall be utilized to enhance the site's visual and aesthetic amenity. Landscape features shall also be utilized to mitigate adverse visual impacts, provide windbreaks for winter winds and summer cooling for buildings, and enhance buffer areas. The impact of any proposed landscaping plan at various seasonal intervals shall be considered. Plants and other landscaping materials shall be selected in terms of aesthetic and functional considerations. The landscape design shall create visual diversity and contrast through variation in size, shape, texture and color. The selection of plants in terms of susceptibility to disease and insect damage, wind and ice damage, habitat (wet-site, drought, sun and shade tolerance), soil conditions, growth rate, longevity; root pattern, maintenance requirements, etc., shall be considered. Consideration shall be given to accenting site entrances and unique areas with special landscaping treatment. Flowerbed displays are encouraged.

A landscape plan shall be prepared by a licensed landscape architect, licensed by the New Jersey State Board of Landscape Architects, or other qualified individual. Said plan shall be required at the time of final site plan application.

All portions of the property not utilized by buildings or paved surfaces shall be landscaped utilizing such components as shrubbery, lawn areas, ground cover, existing vegetation, planting of coniferous and/or deciduous trees native to the area, and fencing. Seating areas and sculpture(s) shall also be permitted provided they are incorporated into the design in a comprehensive integrated manner that is consistent with the overall landscape design.

Plants and other landscaping materials shall be selected in terms of its aesthetic and functional considerations, to create visual diversity and contrast through variation in size, shape, texture, and color.

Landscaping shall be designed to achieve the integration of the various elements of site design, and highlight building and parking placement and natural features. Consideration shall be given to accenting site entrances and perimeter site areas with special landscape treatment. Flowerbed displays are encouraged, as is the use of native tree species and the Borough tree (flowering dogwood tree).

Landscaping within sight triangles shall not exceed a mature height of 30 inches. Shade trees shall be pruned up to an eight-foot branching height above grade.

(7)

The use of indigenous/native plant material is to be encouraged to establish sustainable landscapes that blend with the natural environment, reduce the use of pesticides, and reduce irrigation.

(8)

Water conservation measures such as drip irrigation and soil moisture-sensing irrigation systems shall be used where practicable.

(9)

Shade trees shall be a minimum of three-inch caliper with a canopy height of at least the minimum American Nursery and Landscape Association standards for this caliper.

(10)

Ornamental trees shall be installed at a minimum size of eight feet in height.

(11)

Shrubs shall be planted at a minimum size of 18 inches to 24 inches.

(12)

All plant material shall meet the minimum latest American Nursery and Landscape Association standards.

Buffer requirements. Buffers shall comply with the following standards:

Required buffers may be entirely or partially satisfied with existing growth of evergreen and deciduous trees and shrubbery. Buffers which do not provide a suitable screen as required above shall be supplemented by additional evergreen plantings to provide the appropriate visual screen in order to minimize adverse impacts from a site on an adjacent property or from adjacent areas, recognizing the intent here is not to completely screen from view on-site development. Buffer plantings may consist of evergreen and deciduous trees and shrubs, berms, boulders, mounds, or combinations thereof, as approved by the Planning Board. While fencing may be installed to delineate the property line, the use of fencing or walls shall not be relied upon as a primary source of screening.

Where required, buffers shall be measured from property lines and street rights-of-way. Buffer areas may overlap required setbacks.

Planting shall be installed at a variety of sizes which conform to the following minimum sizes:

(a)

Shade trees: three-inch caliper and six feet in height.

(b)

Evergreen trees: six feet to eight feet in height.

(c)

Shrubs: 18 inches to 24 inches in height.

No buildings, structures, accessory structures, parking, or storage of materials shall be permitted within the required buffer, except that active and passive recreation areas, fencing, driveways, retaining walls, lighting, stormwater management facilities and utilities are permitted in the buffer.

Existing vegetation within the required buffer shall be preserved to the extent feasible. It shall be supplemented with shade-tolerant naturalistic massed plantings where necessary to provide screening of adjoining land uses.

Irrigation shall be provided for all buffer plantings and sodded lawn areas in a manner appropriate for the specific plant species. A growth guarantee of one year shall be provided and all dead or dying plants shall be replaced by the applicant, as required, to maintain the integrity of the site plan.

(7)

Landscape plantings. A minimum of 30% of the plantings proposed shall be indigenous to the region.

Landscape plan content. A landscape plan, which shall be required at the time of final site plan application, shall include and identify the following information:

Existing and proposed underground and aboveground utilities such as site lighting, transformers, hydrants, manholes, valve boxes, etc., existing wooded areas, rock outcroppings and existing and proposed water bodies.

Location of existing tree areas noted for preservation within the area of development. All existing tree areas to be saved or removed shall be identified as such.

Existing and proposed topography and location of any proposed landscaped berms.

Location, species and sizes of all proposed shade trees, ornamental trees, evergreen trees and shrubs and areas for lawns or any other ground cover. Different graphic symbols shall be used to show the location and spacing of shade trees, ornamental trees, evergreen trees, shrubs and ground cover.

A plant schedule indicating botanical name, common name, size at time of planting (caliper, height and spread), quantity, root condition and any special remarks (spacing, substitutions, etc.) for all plant material proposed. Plants within the plant schedule shall be keyed to the landscape plan utilizing the first letter of the botanical plant name.

Planting and construction details and specifications.

Lighting.

At the time of final site plan application, lighting fixtures and footcandle standards shall be provided for all areas of the site, to property lines, including around buildings, circulation aisles, parking and recreation areas and open space areas, and shall be consistent with the standards outlined by the Illuminating Engineering Society of North America (IESNA) and regulations of the Borough of Saddle River, and integrated with the overall design theme of the development.

The Borough light fixture (Hadco Baltimore V651 BPS 70 watt), with a maximum twelve-foot height, shall be utilized as the streetlight fixture.

A lighting plan prepared by a qualified individual, such as a professional engineer, shall be provided at the time of final site plan application.

All freestanding outdoor lighting fixtures shall be appropriately shielded and "dark sky" compliant, and no taller than 12 feet in height.

The intensity, shielding, direction and reflecting of lighting shall be subject to site plan approval by the approving authority.

All parking areas, walkways, building entrances, and driveways shall be adequately illuminated during the hours of operation that occur after sunset. Any adjacent residential zone or use shall be shielded from the glare of illumination from site lighting and automobile headlights.

Internal circulation: The property shall have a single driveway providing entrance and exit movements. All two-way vehicular circulation aisles shall be 24 feet in width. One-way aisles may be 12 feet in width.

Parking. The minimum number of off-street parking spaces for multifamily residential housing shall be as provided for in the Residential Site Improvement Standards (N.J.A.C. 5:21).

Sidewalks. Sidewalks shall be required on site as deemed appropriate by the Board.

Curbing. Curbing for interior roadways shall be Belgian block.

Refuse collection. The manner in which refuse material shall be stored and collected shall be depicted on the site plan. If common refuse collection areas are to be provided, their location shall be identified, along with the manner in which the facility(s) shall be screened and landscaped, how garbage truck circulation and pickup shall be accommodated, and the manner in which recyclable material will be stored within the refuse collection area.

Fencing. Decorative fencing may be installed along public roads and along the perimeter of the development, subject to the height limitations of the Borough code.

Signs. A single identification sign shall be permitted, not to exceed three feet by four feet in dimension, placed upon a decorative stone wall, or provided as a monument sign. The top of the sign shall not be more than 4.5 feet from the grade as measured around the sign. The sign shall be placed within a landscaped setting.

Relief from any required site design standard under this section shall be considered a design standard exception pursuant to N.J.S.A. 40:55D-51(b) and not a variance.

§ 210-112 Affordable housing standards applicable to AH-4 Zone.

Pursuant to the Settlement Agreement with Fair Share Housing Center, dated February 4, 2020, as amended, the number of affordable housing units on-site shall be 16. All units shall be affordable family rental units.

All affordable housing units shall be in conformance with the requirements of the New Jersey Fair Housing Act, N.J.S.A. 52:27D-301 et seq. ("FHA"); applicable regulations of the New Jersey Council on Affordable Housing ("COAH"); applicable requirements of the Courts of the State of New Jersey; and all applicable regulations on affordability controls and other regulations of the New Jersey Housing and Mortgage Finance Agency ("NJHMFA") including, without limitation, the Uniform Housing Affordability Controls, N.J.A.C. 5:80-26.1 et seq. ("UHAC"). In the event of a conflict between UHAC and the NJHMFA, the NJHMFA regulations control.

The bedroom distribution of very-low-, low- and moderate-income units for affordable units constructed in the AH-4 District shall be as follows:

No more than 20% of the very-low-, low- and moderate-income units shall be one-bedroom units.

At least 20% of the very-low-, low- and moderate-income units shall be three-bedroom units.

At least 30% of the very-low-, low- and moderate-income units shall be two-bedroom units.

Very-low-, low- and moderate-income unit split: Three of the affordable units will be made available to very-low-income households, defined as households earning 30% or less of the regional median income by household size. The very-low-income units will consist of one one-bedroom unit, one two-bedroom unit, and one three-bedroom unit. Five of the affordable units will be available to low-income households and the remaining eight units will be available to moderate-income households, as defined in the FHA and UHAC and other applicable statutes and regulations.

Procedures regarding affirmative marketing of very-low-, low- and moderate-income units and other requirements of inclusionary development units are subject to and determined by UHAC and COAH rules or other rules determined appropriate by the court, and are as set forth in the Borough of Saddle River affordable housing ordinances.

§ 210-113 Relationship to other Saddle River Borough Land Development Ordinance.

Development within the AH-4 Zone shall be governed by the Saddle River Code, except where the provisions of the Residential Site Improvement Standards supersede or as specified in §§ 210-104 through 210-114. Where the standards set forth herein conflict with those set forth in Chapters 37, 179 and 210 those standards set forth in §§ 210-104 through 210-114 shall govern. With the exception of §§ 210-104 through 210-114, the provisions of Chapter 210 shall apply to development in the AH-4 Zone only where specifically indicated as applicable.

§ 210-114 Application requirements.

Any application for development of the property shall be submitted in accordance with the requirements of Articles I, II and IV of Chapter 37 and Chapter 179 of the Borough of Saddle River Code, except as provided herein. Consistent with N.J.A.C. § 5:93-10.1(b),[1] no unnecessary cost generative requirements shall apply to any development of permitted uses within the AH-4 Zone. The environmental site analysis required as part of the stormwater plan pursuant to § 181-9C(2), shall not be required for a preliminary site plan application, but shall be required at the time of final site plan application. The following checklist items shall not be required at the time of preliminary site plan application:

An original tracing of the map;

A scale of not less than 50 feet to the inch;

Structures to be removed identified with a dashed line and structures to remain indicated by solid lines;

Structures within 25 feet of the property;

Location of all existing and proposed storm drainage structures and utility lines whether publicly or privately owned, with pipe sizes, grades and direction of flow. If any existing utility lines are underground, the estimated location of said utility lines shall be shown;