A.
In order to provide for the safety and general welfare
of the public, all subdivisions which will result in five or more
dwelling units shall set aside areas for off-street recreation and/or
play areas. The requirements for recreation and open space shall be
dependant upon the type and number of residential units proposed in
a development, it being the intent to correlate the open space and
recreational facilities to the likely future population within the
development. The location, form and design of such areas shall be
approved by the Board. If that area of land to be set aside constitutes
an area of less than one acre, in lieu thereof and prior to preliminary
approval, the Board may require the developer to contribute to the
municipality, for the purpose of recreation, a cash sum or other appropriate
gift in an amount equal to the fair market value of the area of land
that would otherwise have been required to have been set aside for
an off-street recreation and/or play area.
B.
Any area which is specifically required and designated
for recreational purposes shall be adequate for that purpose and shall
have improvements required by this chapter.
C.
Wherever possible, recreation sites should be located
adjacent to school sites. In the case of large subdivisions, consideration
should be given to decentralizing several smaller recreational areas
throughout the development. The method of preserving such areas for
recreation, open space, whether by easement, deed restriction, dedication,
homeowners' association or other means, shall be approved by the Board.
D.
In the selection of the location of such open spaces,
consideration shall be given to the preservation of natural features.
A.
Prior to final approval or as otherwise directed by
the Board, the applicant shall submit, for approval by the Township
Manager, manufacturer's descriptive data and supporting information
for all park and recreation equipment and playground apparatus.
B.
All equipment installed on all recreation facilities
described herein shall be anchored in the ground by means of setting
each post, pole or pipe in not less than 1/3 cubic yard of concrete.
Concrete shall not be exposed or within 12 inches of the surface.
C.
Each post, pole or pipe shall have attached not less
than one steel rod 3/8 inch in diameter affixed by means of inserting
said steel rod through a hole or holes drilled in the post, pole or
pipe and perpendicular thereto. Said steel rod shall have a length
equal to three times the diameter of the post or six inches, whichever
is longer.
Tot-lots shall be a minimum size of 2,500 square
feet, excluding areas required for fencing, buffering or walkways,
and shall contain, as a minimum, the following improvements (unless
satisfactory substitutes are approved by the Township Manager or Board):
A.
Four-foot-high wooden fence (chain link fence with
gate, if the tot-lot is adjacent to a roadway). If located near residential
areas, a landscape buffer or screen in addition to the fence. A minimum
of two shade trees shall be planted to provide shade for the benches,
table and play structures.
B.
Two benches, each to be eight feet long and constructed
of metal supports with wood, aluminum or coated metal seats and backs.
C.
Two table and bench sets constructed of metal bases
with wood, aluminum or coated metal seats and tops.
D.
One trash receptacle with retractable bottom, ten-gallon
capacity.
E.
The ground surface under and within a minimum of six
feet of all play equipment shall be covered and continually maintained
with safety sand or other loose, soft surfacing to a depth of 12 inches
minimum.
F.
Playground equipment to provide, at the minimum, with
individual items or modular systems, the following play activities:
Playgrounds shall be not less than three acres
in size, excluding areas required for fencing, buffering or walkways,
and shall contain, as a minimum, the following improvements:
B.
Not less than one play lot which shall contain, as
a minimum, the following improvements:
(1)
One play set with climbing platforms, slides and four
heavy-duty swings with slash-proof belt-type seats.
(2)
Three benches, each eight feet long and constructed
of metal supports with wood, aluminum or coated metal seats and backs.
(3)
Three movable table and bench sets constructed of
metal bases with wood, aluminum or coated metal seats and benches.
(4)
One bicycle rack not less than 10 feet in length,
of heavy-duty aluminum or other metal construction.
(5)
Shade trees to provide shade for benches, tables,
bike rack and play equipment.
C.
Playing fields and courts.
(1)
Two basketball courts or two tennis courts, or one
of each.
(2)
Not less than 2.25 acres of seeded or sodded open
space (not otherwise utilized as tot-lot and/or playground) which
shall, as a minimum, contain one of the following:
(a)
One baseball and one softball field. These may
share all or portions of the same open area.
(b)
One football and one soccer field. These may
share all or portions of the same open area.
(c)
Where playing fields as noted above share all
or portions of the same area, the layout of such fields shall be subject
to the approval of the Township Manager or Board.
The tennis courts shall be of regulation size,
and where two courts are provided, they shall be constructed side
by side in pairs, and shall be constructed as follows:
A.
The courts shall be four inches of bituminous stabilized
base on a properly prepared subgrade as set forth by the Engineer,
on 1 1/2 inches of FABC leveling course, and a one-inch SP-1
top course and shall be vinyl latex color-coated with light green
for the in-play and brick red for the out-of-play area. The sealer
shall be California Products Corporation or equal as approved by the
Township Manager or the Engineer.
B.
One set of ground sockets set in concrete on each
court.
C.
One set of tennis posts 3 1/2 inches outside
diameter with heavy-duty nylon tennis nets on each court.
D.
One reel per court.
E.
Tennis courts shall be surrounded with a fifteen-foot-high
black or green vinyl-coated chain link fence with an entrance gate
and buffer plantings as designated by the Township Manager or the
Board.
F.
Night-lighting with timer control at the discretion
of the Township Manager with recommendation from the Board.
G.
One bench, six feet long and constructed of metal
supports with wood, aluminum or coated metal seats and backs shall
be installed at each court.
H.
Shade trees shall be planted adjacent to the benches.
Basketball courts shall be a minimum size of
50 feet by 84 feet and shall contain, as a minimum, the following
requirements:
A.
Two fan-shaped aluminum basketball backstops.
B.
Two four-and-one-half-inch outside diameter basketball
posts with forty-eight-inch extension.
C.
Two double-ring and double-brace goals with metal
nets.
D.
The courts shall be four inches of bituminous stabilized
base course on a properly prepared subgrade as set forth by the Engineer,
1 1/2 inches of FABC leveling course, and a one-inch SP-1 top
course.
E.
Night-lighting with timer control. Times at courts
to be designated by the Township Manager.
The baseball/softball fields shall have a minimum
slope of 2%, not to exceed 3%, with grading to be approved by the
Engineer, and shall contain, as a minimum, the following requirements:
A.
Baseball/softball field combinations should conform
to the recommended standards in design.
B.
One backstop with four panels: two ten-foot back panels
and two side panels 10 feet high with complete overhang over the back
and side panels.
C.
Two side fences, four feet high and 20 feet long,
with chain link fencing on both sides of the side panels.
D.
Two fifteen-foot aluminum players' benches.
E.
The infield should be covered with infield dirt as
specified by the Engineer.
Football/soccer fields should be a minimum size
of 1 3/4 acres and shall have a minimum slope of 2% and maximum
slope of 3% and shall be approved by the Engineer. All fields should
be designed so as to face approximately North to South and should
contain, as a minimum, the following requirements:
Multipurpose fields shall be a minimum size
of 250 feet by 420 feet, exclusive of area required for fencing, screening,
buffering and parking facilities or other ancillary facilities. They
shall have a minimum slope of 2% and a maximum slope of 3%, and shall
contain, as a minimum, the following improvements:
A.
Pedestrian and bicycle trails when constructed as
one trail shall be a minimum of six feet wide. Fitness trails are
to be a minimum of three feet wide. Trails should be constructed free
of branches or other obstructions to a height of 8 1/2 feet.
Trails are to have a minimum slope of 2% and should follow the existing
topography where possible. Trails should be constructed of two-inch
FABC-1 surface course over six inches of compacted quarry blend. Paths
should be gently curved and located to avoid cutting existing trees.
Paths should either be circular trails or have a specific destination.
They should be located near streams, lakes, ponds or other natural
features. When the trails cross roadways in a development, appropriate
depressed curbing, signs and crosswalk striping shall be provided.
B.
Walkways and bicycle paths shall have information
signs. If trails are designed to be specifically used for bicycles,
then a sign marked with the international bicycling symbol shall be
used. The path system shall meet the following requirements:
(1)
Fitness trail shall consist of 20 wooden units with
information signs explaining the use of each apparatus.
(2)
Pedestrian walkways shall have one bench, each to
be six feet long and constructed of metal supports with wood, aluminum
or coated metal seats and backs, for every 1/2 mile of trail.
(3)
Shade trees shall be planted at bench and sign locations
if they are in open areas.
(4)
Information signs shall be placed at various points
of natural or cultural interest along the trail.
A neighborhood park shall be the minimum size designated in Chapter 160, Zoning, of this Code. Included in the minimum acreage is fencing, screening, and other landscaped borders to be located along any adjacent roadways or residential properties. The park shall contain, as a minimum, the following requirements:
C.
Multipurpose paved courts: two basketball courts and
two tennis courts.
D.
Multipurpose field: one baseball/softball field and
one combination football/soccer field.
E.
Picnic area: a minimum of 1/2 acre which shall have,
as a minimum, five table and bench sets constructed of metal bases
with wood, aluminum or coated metal seats and tops, and three grills.
The picnic area should be located in close proximity to the tot-lot
and near the playground.
F.
Shade trees: planted near all use areas and parking
lots.
G.
Parking area: a minimum of 10 parking spaces and not
less than one car per 300 persons of population served. Two of those
parking spaces shall be designated for the disabled.
All tot-lots, playgrounds, tennis/basketball
courts, parks and other recreation areas shall be barrier-free so
as to allow accessibility for the disabled. Such areas are to be fully
accessible both in the active areas as well as in the passive areas
and shall comply, as a minimum, with the requirements set forth in
N.J.A.C. 5:23-7.100 et seq. and any amendments thereto and the Americans
With Disabilities Act.
A.
Shade trees shall be planted around all tot-lots,
playgrounds, tennis courts, basketball courts, baseball, softball,
football, soccer and multipurpose fields, and along all pedestrian
walkways, jogging paths, bicycle trails and fitness trails. They shall
be planted in areas not already containing acceptable trees.
B.
All required shade trees planted in and around all
properties shall conform to the following standards:
(1)
Trees shall be single trunk forms, with a minimum
trunk diameter (caliper) of three to 3 1/2 inches, measured at
a point six inches above ground level.
(3)
Shall not possess hazardous characteristics, such
as bee-attracting, poisonous or bear thorns, when used in areas designated
for sitting or play.
C.
Shade trees shall be installed at such locations as
set forth below:
(1)
Along all park and recreational area boundaries, including
but not limited to playgrounds, tot-lots and multipurpose fields,
at intervals of not more than 25 feet between each tree. The boundaries
may not necessarily be defined by lot or property lines.
(2)
At intervals of not greater than 25 feet along the
boundaries of all field areas, including but not limited to football,
soccer, baseball and softball fields. Trees shall not be located within
20 feet of the playing area thereof.
(3)
Along all pedestrian walkways, jogging paths, bicycle
trails and fitness trails at intervals of not more than 60 feet between
each tree. In satisfaction of this requirement, naturally growing
trees meeting minimum size requirements as set forth herein and located
within 20 feet of the center line of the paths or trails and within
10 feet of the location where a tree is required to be planted shall
be considered to satisfy the requirement of this subsection on a tree-for-tree
basis. Trees proposed to satisfy the street tree or buffer requirements
may also be applied to this requirement, if they meet the dimensional
requirements contained herein.
(4)
Not less than two trees at each end and four trees
at each side of every basketball or tennis court, except where multiple
courts are constructed and courts are therefore joined together. Trees
which would otherwise be planted along such joined sides may be eliminated.
(6)
One tree within six feet of one end of each bench
and/or table. Trees used to satisfy any of the above requirements
may also be applied to this requirement.
A.
Certain of the zoning districts established in this
Code permit an increase in the number of development units contingent
upon the developer's payment of certain supplemental recreation fees
to the Township. These fees are intended to:
(1)
Ensure adequate recreational areas and facilities
to serve the future residents of the Township.
(2)
Maintain compliance with the recreational standards
as recommended by the Evesham Recreation Advisory Board and as approved
by the Evesham Township Mayor and Council.
(3)
Minimize overuse of and excessive demand for existing
recreational areas and facilities by future residents.
(4)
Allow for orderly acquisition and development of recreation
areas and open spaces needed to serve new residents.
(5)
Allow for the implementation of the Evesham Township
Master Plan with regard to open space and recreation or as otherwise
deemed advisable by the Evesham Planning Board and Evesham Township
Mayor and Council.
(6)
Ensure that dedicated recreational and open space
land is able to be used for and is suitable for its intended use.
B.
The amount of the supplemental recreational fee shall
be as follows:
C.
Limitations on use of fees.
(1)
Any fees collected pursuant to this section shall
be deposited in an interest-bearing Recreation Fee Account, which
shall function as a capital reserve fund and shall be accounted for
separately from other Township funds.
(2)
The funds required to be paid under this section shall
be paid prior to the signing of the applicable final plan or plans
by the necessary Township officials or representatives.
(3)
No portion of the fees collected pursuant to this
section shall be refundable in whole or in part.
D.
The Township Council shall determine the manner in
which the funds within the Recreation Fee Account are to be spent
and the area or areas to be improved. The Township Council shall endeavor
to ensure that the lands and facilities created thereby are accessible
to the residents of the developments from which the funds were derived.
However, nothing contained herein shall preclude Township Council
from expending such funds in any particular amount or in a particular
area of the Township deemed appropriate by the Township Council.
