[Amended 12-11-1997 by Ord. No. 34-97]
The applicant shall observe the following requirements and principles of land subdivision in the design of each subdivision or portion thereof, except as provided otherwise by the New Jersey Residential Site Improvement Standards, N.J.A.C. 5:21:
A.
The subdivision plat shall conform to design standards that will encourage good development patterns within the Township.
B.
The subdivision shall conform to the proposals and conditions shown on the Township's Official Map and Master Plan, particularly as they pertain to streets, drainage rights-of-way, school sites, public parks and playgrounds and other public lands.
C.
All streets shall be designed and constructed in accordance with the Township road specifications. The arrangement of streets not shown on the Master Plan or Official Map shall provide for the appropriate extension of existing streets where feasible and shall comply with the following standards:
(1)
"Minor streets" are those which are used primarily for access to abutting properties. They shall be designed to discourage through traffic and shall have a right-of-way width of not less than 50 feet.
(2)
Subdivisions abutting arterial streets shall provide a marginal service street or reverse frontage with a buffer strip or planting or some other means of separation of through and local traffic as the Planning Board may determine appropriate. The width of the right-of-way shall be not less than 40 feet.
(3)
For internal streets in industrial and commercial developments, the right-of-way width shall not be less than 60 feet.
(4)
"Arterial streets" are those which are used primarily for fast or heavy traffic and are designated on the Township's Master Plan. The right-of-way width shall be not less than 66 feet.
(5)
"Collector streets" are those which carry traffic from minor streets to the major system of arterial streets, including the principal entrance streets of a residential development and streets for circulation within such development. The right-of-way width shall be not less than 60 feet
(6)
The right-of-way width shall be measured from lot line to lot line and shall not be less than 50 feet unless a marginal access street as set forth in Subsection C(2) of this section; provided, however, that where the Board has adopted the Master Plan with proposals regarding the street system within the proposed subdivision, the subdivider shall show the streets to conform in design and in width to the proposals shown on the Master Plan. Subdivisions that adjoin or include existing streets that do not conform to the widths as shown on the Master Plan or Official Map or the street width requirements of this chapter shall dedicate additional width along either one or both sides of said road. If the subdivision is along one side only, 1/2 of the required extra width shall be dedicated.
(8)
Any subdivider who proposes a private street shall be required to construct the same improvements as would be required for a public street.
(9)
No subdivision showing reserve strips controlling access to streets shall be approved, except where the control and disposal of land comprising such strips has been placed in the governing body under conditions approved by the Planning Board.
(10)
Grades of arterial and collector streets shall not exceed 4%. Grades on other streets shall not exceed 10%. No street shall have a minimum grade of less than 6/10 of 1%. Maximum grades permitted on driveways between the street right-of-way line and the building setback line shall not exceed 8%.
(11)
Street intersections shall be as nearly at right angles as is possible, and in no case shall they be less than 60°. The block corners at intersections shall be rounded at the curbline with a curve having a radius of not less than 25 feet. No driveway dropped curve shall be permitted on any portion of the radius curve.
(12)
Street offsets of less than 125 feet shall be prohibited.
(13)
A tangent at least 100 feet long shall be introduced between reverse curves on arterial and collector streets.
(14)
When connecting street lines deflect from each other at any point by more than 10° and not more than 45°, they shall be connected by a curve with a radius of not less than 100 feet for minor streets and 300 feet for arterial and collector streets.
(15)
All changes in grade shall be connected by parabolic vertical curves to provide a sight distance of 200 feet based on a height of eye of 4 1/2 feet and a height of object of four inches.
(16)
Dead-end streets.
(a)
Dead-end streets shall not be longer than the distance as shown on the following table:
Zone | Maximum Length (feet) |
|---|---|
R-40 | 1,400 |
R-25 | 1,200 |
R-15 | 1,000 |
R-10 | 800 |
(b)
All dead-end streets shall provide a turnaround at the end with a radius of not less than 50 feet and tangent whenever possible to the right side of the street. If a dead-end street is of a temporary nature, a similar turnaround shall be provided and provisions made for future extension of the street and reversion of the excess right-of-way to the adjoining properties.
(17)
Street names are subject to the approval of the Planning Board. No street shall have a name which will duplicate or so nearly duplicate as to be confused with the names of existing streets. The continuation of an existing street shall have the same name.
(18)
Where a tract is subdivided into larger parcels than zoned building lots, such parcels shall be arranged so as to allow the opening of future streets and logical further subdivisions as approved by the Planning Board.
(19)
Half streets shall be prohibited, except where essential to the reasonable development of the subdivision and in conformity with other requirements of these regulations and where the Planning Board finds it will be practical to require the dedication of the other half when the adjoining property is subdivided. Wherever a half street is adjacent to a tract to be subdivided, the other half of the street shall be platted within such tract
(20)
Block length and width.
(a)
Block length and width or acreage within bounding roads shall be such as to accommodate the size of lot required in the area by the Zoning Ordinance[1] and to provide for the convenient access, circulation control and safety of street traffic. Block lengths shall not under any circumstances exceed the following;
Zone | Maximum Length (feet) |
|---|---|
R-40 | 1,800 |
R-25 | 1,500 |
R-15 | 1,200 |
R-10 | 1,200 |
(b)
In blocks over 1,000 feet long, pedestrian rights-of-way may be required at locations within the block deemed necessary by the Planning Board. Such right-of-way shall be at least 10 feet wide and be from street to street and shall have a five-foot sidewalk down its center.
D.
All lots hereafter created shall meet the minimum requirements of the zone in which they fall as hereinafter regulated in Part 5 of this chapter. In addition, the following requirements shall be met:
(1)
Insofar as is practical, side lot lines shall be at right angles to straight streets and radial to curved streets.
(3)
Where extra width has been dedicated for the widening of existing streets, lots shall begin at such extra-width line, and all setbacks shall be measured from such line. Any lot in single ownership, as defined herein, which met the minimum requirements of the Land Use Ordinance at the time of its adoption on December 30, 1976, but which has subsequently become nonconforming because additional street right-of-way has been obtained by the Township, county or State of New Jersey for road improvement by purchase, donation. dedication, condemnation or other legal means may be used for any use not otherwise prohibited in said district in which it lies, and the required minimum lot area, setbacks and front, side and rear yards, if affected, shall be reduced by the area deeded to the Township, county or state as aforesaid.
(4)
Where there is a question as to the suitability of a lot or lots for their intended use due to factors such as rock formations, flood conditions or similar circumstances, the Planning Board may, after adequate investigation, withhold approval of such lots for future development.[2]
[2]
Editor’s Note: Former Subsections D(5) and (6), requiring corner lots to have sufficient width to meet other requirements and requiring all lots to be at least 50 feet wide along its front or the street right-of-way line, respectively, were repealed 9-13-2018 by Ord. No. 19-2018.
E.
The following standards shall be met for all public use and service areas:
(1)
In large-scale development, easement along rear property lines or elsewhere for utility installation may be required. Such easements shall be at least 15 feet wide and located in consultation with the companies or municipal departments concerned.
(2)
Where a subdivision is traversed by a watercourse, drainageway channel or stream, there shall be provided a stormwater easement or drainage right-of-way, conforming substantially to the lines of such watercourse, and such further width or construction, or both, as will be adequate for the purpose.
(3)
Natural features such as trees, brooks, hilltops and views shall be preserved whenever possible in designing any subdivision containing such features.
F.
Maintenance of open space.
(1)
Any subdivision that employs the concept of open space zoning or residential cluster as hereinafter regulated in Part 5 of this chapter shall either deed the open space land to the Township or shall make provision for the establishment of an open space organization, which shall own and maintain said open space for the benefit of owners or residents of the development. Such organization shall not be dissolved and shall not dispose of any open space, by sale or otherwise, except to an organization conceived and established to own and maintain the open space for the benefit of such development, and thereafter such organization shall not be dissolved or dispose of any of its open space without first offering to dedicate the same to the Township of Hanover.
(2)
In the event that such organization shall fail to maintain the open space in reasonable order and condition, Township Committee may serve written notice upon such organization or upon the owners of the development, setting forth the manner in which the organization has failed to maintain the open space in reasonable condition, and said notice shall include a demand that such deficiencies of maintenance be cured within 35 days thereof and shall state the date and place of a hearing thereon which shall be held within 15 days of the notice.
(3)
At such hearing, the Township Committee may modify the terms of the original notice as to deficiencies and may give a reasonable extension of time, not to exceed 65 days, within which they shall be cured.
(4)
If the deficiencies set forth in the original notice or in the modification thereof shall not be cured within said 35 days or any permitted extension thereof, the Township, in order to preserve the open space and maintain the same for a period of one year, may enter upon and maintain such land. Said entry and maintenance shall not vest in the public any right to use the open space, except when the same is voluntarily dedicated to the public by the owners.
(5)
Before the expiration of said year, the Township Committee shall, upon its initiative or upon the request of the organization theretofore responsible for the maintenance of the open space, call a public hearing upon 15 days' written notice to such organization and to the owners of the development, to be held by the Township Committee, at which hearing such organization and the owners of the development shall show cause why such maintenance by the Township shall not, at the election of the Township, continue for a succeeding year.
(6)
If the Township Committee shall determine that such organization is ready and able to maintain said open space in reasonable condition, the Township shall cease to maintain said open space at the end of said year. If the Township Committee shall determine that such organization is not ready and able to maintain said open space in a reasonable condition, the Township may, in its discretion, continue to maintain said open space during the next succeeding year, subject to a similar hearing and determination in each year thereafter. The decision of the Township Committee in any such case shall constitute a final administrative decision, subject to judicial review.
(7)
The cost of such maintenance by the Township shall be assessed pro rata against the properties within the development that have a right of enjoyment of the open space in accordance with assessed value at the time of imposition of the lien and shall become a lien and tax on said properties and be added to and be a part of the taxes to be levied and assessed thereon and shall be enforced and collected with interest by the same officers and in the same manner as other taxes.
G.
Where a public water supply system approved by the municipality is reasonably accessible, the Township Committee may require that each lot within the subdivision area shall be provided with water from such public water supply system, subject to the water being made available by the owner of such public system.
H.
Sanitary sewers, sanitary sewer lines and their associated facilities, such as lift pumps, siphons and building Y-branches, shall be of a size, location, construction and installation which shall be subject to the approval of the Hanover Sewerage Authority. If final approval is sought prior to the completion of such sewer lines, the amount set forth in the performance guaranty shall be subject to the approval of the Hanover Sewerage Authority. Where no public sewage facilities are available for immediate tie-in, the subdivider shall install individual sewage disposal systems for each lot. All such individual sewage disposal systems shall be constructed in accordance with the existing regulations of the Board of Health.[3]
[3]
Editor's Note: See Part III, Board of Health Legislation, of the Code of the Township of Hanover.
I.
For all major subdivisions, the applicant shall arrange with the serving utility for the underground installation of the utilities' distribution supply lines and service connections in accordance with the provisions of the applicable standard terms and conditions incorporated as a part of its tariff as the same are then on file with the State of New Jersey Board of Public Utility Commissioners. Lots in such subdivisions which abut existing streets where overhead electric or telephone distribution supply lines have theretofore been installed on any portion of the streets involved may be supplied with electric and telephone service from such overhead lines or extensions thereof, but the service connection from the utilities' overhead lines shall be installed underground.
J.
All subdivisions shall, to the greatest degree possible, follow energy-efficient design principles and maximize the use of renewable energy sources. Within the limits of practicability and feasibility, the criteria listed below shall be followed:
(1)
Streets. Streets shall also be so oriented as to permit the buildings to be constructed thereon to maximize solar gain. Where possible, streets shall run in an east-west direction.
(2)
Lots. Lots shall also be oriented so as to permit buildings to be constructed thereon to maximize solar gain. Where possible, the long access of a lot shall run in a north-south direction.
(3)
Topography. The development shall take advantage of topographic features to maximize solar gain and afford protection from winter winds. Where possible, development shall be oriented to southerly slopes.
(4)
Vegetation. Maximum use shall be made of natural vegetation which will afford protection from winter winds and provide shading in the summer.
