[HISTORY: Adopted by the City Council of the City of Long Branch 1-26-1971 by Ord. No. 590 as Sec. 14-5 of the 1971 Code. Amendments noted where applicable.]
The City Council hereby finds that uniformity in the exterior design and appearance of buildings erected in the same residential neighborhood for occupancy as dwellings adversely affects the desirability of immediate and neighboring areas for residence purposes and by so doing impairs the benefits of occupancy of existing residential property in such areas, impairs the stability and value of both improved and unimproved real property in the areas, prevents the most appropriate use of real property, prevents the most appropriate development of the areas, produces degeneration of residential property in such areas with attendant deterioration of conditions affecting the health, safety and welfare of the city and its inhabitants in that it deprives the municipality of tax revenue which it otherwise could receive and destroys a proper balance in relationship between the taxable value of real property in such areas and the cost of the municipal services provided therefor. It is the purpose of this chapter to prevent these and other harmful effects of uniformity in the exterior design and appearance of buildings erected in the same residential neighborhood for occupancy as dwellings and thus to promote and protect the health, safety and welfare of the city and its inhabitants.
As used in this chapter, the following terms shall have the meanings indicated:
MAIN ROOF
A. 
FLAT AND SHED ROOFS:
(1) 
That portion of the roof having a common plate height and covering the largest volume of enclosed space, exclusive of the floor area, below finished grade at the front elevation.
(2) 
All flat roofs shall be deemed identical in the distance of the roof above the plate line.
B. 
GABLE, HIP, MANSARD OR OTHER ROOFSThat portion of the roof having a common plate and ridge height and covering the largest volume of enclosed space, exclusive of the floor area, below finished grade at the front elevation. Dormers and intersections with other parts of the roof within a common plate line will be deemed part of the main roof.
NEIGHBORING BUILDING
Any building in existence or for which a building permit has been issued at the time application is made for a building permit for the proposed building site and which is located on:
A. 
Either side of a street on which the proposed building site abuts and within 300 feet thereof, exclusive of intervening streets, the distance being measured along the street center line from its intersection with the projection line of the neighboring building; or
B. 
Another street which intersects a street on which the proposed building site abuts and adjoining any neighboring building defined by Subsection A above.
PROJECTION LINES
Straight lines perpendicular to the center line of the adjacent street and embracing the proposed building site or a neighboring building.
PROPOSED BUILDING SITE
That area of land which it is proposed to enclose within a building.
Except as otherwise provided in this chapter, no building permit shall be issued for the erection of any one-family residence unless it differs from any neighboring building in at least four of the following respects:
A. 
The height of the bottom of the main eave line above the first floor or the height of the main roof ridge above the top of the plate must differ in height by at least two feet.
B. 
The length of the main ridge or, in the case of a flat roof, the length of the main roof must differ by at least four feet.
C. 
The length between outside walls of the building, measured under the main roof at right angles to the building width, the difference must be at least three feet.
D. 
The width between outside walls of the building, measured under the main roof at right angles to the building length, the difference must be at least three feet.
E. 
Portions of the building not located under the main roof shall differ in at least two of the following ways:
(1) 
Horizontal distance between the portion and the nearest corner in the front elevation of the building under the main roof shall differ by at least three feet, measured at right angles to the front elevation.
(2) 
Height of the eave line of the portion, measured above the first floor under the main roof, shall differ by at least two feet.
(3) 
Length of front elevation of the portion shall differ by at least three feet.
F. 
In the front and each of the side elevations, the distance between door and window openings must differ in at least two of the following:
(1) 
The horizontal distance between openings must differ by at least two feet.
(2) 
The horizontal distance between openings and the following architectural elements must differ by at least two feet:
(a) 
Corners of the building under the main roof.
(b) 
Corners of the building not under the main roof, including projecting chimneys.
(3) 
The vertical distance between floor level and the lower edge of window openings of each floor must differ by at least one foot.[1]
[1]
Editor's Note: Former Section 14-5.4, Administration, which immediately followed this subsection, was deleted at time of adoption of Code (see Ch. 1, General Provisions, Art. I).