As used in this chapter, the following terms
shall have the meanings indicated:
ACCESSORY USE OR BUILDING
A subordinate use or building, the purpose of which is incidental
to that of a main use or building on the same lot.
AFFORDABLE HOUSING
Moderate- and low-cost housing as defined by state law and
regulations and which meets the requirements of state law, regulations
of the State of New Jersey's Council on Affordable Housing and the
Middlesex Borough ordinance, if enacted.
[Added 6-29-1993 by Ord. No. 1285]
BASEMENT or CELLAR
A story, wholly or partly underground, and having more than 1/2
of its clear height below the average level of the adjoining ground.
BOARD
The Borough Planning Board or Board of Adjustment, whichever
has jurisdiction pursuant to the Municipal Land Use Law.
BUFFER
An area consisting of trees, shrubs, solid fencing or a combination
of all of these, so installed as to provide both a visual and an acoustical
barrier between properties. No building, structure, parking area,
street, sign (except traffic directional signs) or storage of materials
shall be permitted in said area.
BUILDING
A combination of materials to form a construction adapted
to permanent, temporary or continuous occupancy and having a roof.
BUILDING HEIGHT
The vertical distance measured from the average elevation
of the finished grade at the front of the building to the mean level
of the slope of the roof.
CLUSTER HOUSING OPTION
A residential development option which allows for either
a reduction in minimum lot size or for construction of attached housing,
as long as the overall gross density for the entire tract of land
is not increased.
COMMON OPEN SPACE
An open space area within or related to a site designated
as a development and designed and intended for the use or enjoyment
of residents and owners of the development.
COMMUNITY RESIDENCES
A residence for the developmentally disabled and includes
a community shelter for victims of domestic violence, a community
residence for the terminally ill and a residence for persons with
head injuries, which communities have been approved for a purchase
of services, contracts or affiliation agreement pursuant to such procedure
as shall be established by regulations of the State of New Jersey,
Department of Human Services, and as defined in N.J.S.A. 40:55D-66.1
et seq.
[Added 6-23-1998 by Ord. No. 1432]
CONDITIONAL USE
A use permitted in a particular zoning district only upon a showing that such use in a specified location will comply with the conditions and standards for the location or operation of such use as contained in §
420-59 of this chapter.
CORNER LOT
A parcel of land fronting on two or more intersecting streets.
DWELLING UNIT
A building or portion thereof providing sleeping room(s),
bathroom(s) and kitchen facilities for the use of one household. Dwelling
units shall be differentiated one from the other as follows:
B.
DWELLING, TWO-FAMILYA building designed for or occupied exclusively by two households living independently of each other, where the individual household units are entirely separated by vertical walls or horizontal floors.
C.
DWELLING, MULTIFAMILYA building used or designed as a residence for three or more families living independently of each other, not including a motel, boardinghouse or rooming house.
D.
GARDEN APARTMENT DEVELOPMENTA group of architecturally harmonious multifamily dwellings in which there are no more than 2 1/2 habitable stories above curb level.
E.
APARTMENT-STYLE CONDOMINIUMA one-family dwelling located in a structure consisting of two to 24 such units, in which units occupy air space over another unit, and each unit is separated from any other unit by one or more common walls, floors and ceilings.
F.
TOWNHOUSEA one-family dwelling designed to be attached in a row of between two and six such units, in which each unit has its own front and rear access to the outside, without occupying air space over another unit, and each unit is separated from any other unit by one or more common walls.
G.
SUBSIDIZED SENIOR CITIZEN HOUSINGHousing which is constructed with financial assistance from the state or federal government in order to maintain rental charges which are affordable to senior citizen lower income households. Said housing is to be constructed by a limited dividend sponsor or nonprofit developer for restricted occupancy by elderly and handicapped households.
EARTH TERMINAL or EARTH TERMINAL ANTENNA
Any apparatus or device, commonly known as an "earth terminal
antenna," "earth terminal," "earth station," "satellite communications
antenna," "satellite antenna," "microwave dish antenna" or "dish antenna,"
and including as part of such apparatus or device the main reflector,
subreflector, feed, amplifier and support structure, which is designed
for the purpose of transmitting and/or receiving microwave, television,
radio, satellite or other electromagnetic energy signals into or from
Space, but does not include conventional television, radio and amateur
radio antennas.
EARTH TERMINAL MAIN REFLECTOR
That part of an earth terminal, commonly known as a "dish,"
which, absent any protective covering, is dish-shaped, parabolic,
spherical or conical in configuration and designed for the reception
and/or transmission of electromagnetic energy.
ELECTRONIC MESSAGING CENTERS
Any sign or portion of a sign that uses changing lights to
form a sign message or messages in text or graphic form wherein the
sequence of messages and the rate of change is electronically programmed
and can be modified by electronic processes.
[Added 9-27-2016 by Ord.
No. 1898]
FAMILY
One or more persons living together as a single housekeeping
unit, whose relationship is of a permanent and distinct domestic character,
as distinguished from individuals or groups occupying a hotel, boardinghouse
or club. The term "family" shall be deemed to include necessary servants
when servants share the common housekeeping facilities and services.
FENCE
An artificially constructed barrier of wood, masonry, stone,
wire, metal or any manufactured material or combination of materials
used as a boundary or means of protection, confinement or concealment.
FLOOR AREA
The total floor area of a structure used for residential
purposes or for business or commercial activities. In the case of
the latter, this shall include customer facilities, showcase facilities,
work areas, storage and sales facilities. However, the floor area
of a structure shall not include:
A.
Cellar space, except that cellar space used
for retailing shall be included for the purpose of calculating requirements
for accessory off-street parking spaces and accessory off-street loading
berths. Also, cellar space constructed and finished as to be suitable
for human habitation shall be counted in computing total floor area.
B.
Elevator and stair bulkheads, accessory water
tanks and cooling towers.
C.
Floor space used for mechanical equipment.
D.
Attic space, whether or not a floor has actually
been laid, providing structural headroom that does not exceed more
than seven feet.
F.
Terraces, breezeways and open porches.
G.
Off-street parking spaces located within the
structure.
GARAGE
A.
PRIVATE GARAGEA building which is accessory to the main building and which provides for the storage of motor vehicles owned by the occupants.
B.
PUBLIC GARAGEA building or accessory structure used or designed to be used for storing, repairing, servicing, selling or equipping motor vehicles, for which a consideration is paid.
[Amended 6-29-1993 by Ord. No. 1285]
GASOLINE SERVICE STATION
An area of land, including structures thereon, that is used
primarily for the retail sale and/or direct delivery to motor vehicles
of gasoline and lubricating oil and the making of minor repairs, but
not auto body work, welding or painting, nor any repair work in the
open.
HOME OCCUPATION
Any gainful employment or occupation of one or more members
of the resident family, which shall constitute either entirely or
partly the means of livelihood of such member or members and which
shall be clearly secondary or accessory to the primary residential
use of the principal structure. Such occupation may be pursued in
the principal dwelling structure or in a secondary building which
is accessory to such principal structure. Home occupations shall include
such activities as dressmaking, watchmaking, electrical and radio
repair, carpentry, private tutoring, individual teaching of music,
portrait painting or sculpture and computer programming. No retail
sales, window displays or employees residing outside the home shall
be permitted.
[Amended 12-19-2000 by Ord. No. 1515]
HOME PROFESSIONAL OFFICE
An office of a member of a recognized profession providing
professional services on an appointment-only basis in his place of
residence. Recognized professions shall include only medical care
for human beings, the clergy, architecture, engineering, law, accounting
and planning. No employees shall reside outside the home.
[Amended 12-19-2000 by Ord. No. 1515]
JUNKYARD
The use of any lot for the storage, keeping or abandonment
of junk, including scrap metals or other scrap material, or for the
dismantling, demolition or abandonment of structures, automobiles
or other vehicles, equipment and machinery or parts thereof.
LOT
A designated parcel, tract or area of land established by
a plat or otherwise as permitted by law and to be used, developed
or built upon as a unit.
LOT DEPTH
The shortest horizontal distance between the front lot line and the rear lot line, as calculated in accordance with the provisions of §
420-19.
LOT FRONTAGE
That portion of a lot extending along a street line.
LOT WIDTH
The measured horizontal width of the lot at the front setback
line.
NONCONFORMING LOT
A lot which, in its area, dimensions or location, was lawful
prior to the adoption, revision or amendment of this chapter but which
fails to conform to the requirements of the zoning district in which
it is located by reason of such adoption, revision or amendment.
NONCONFORMING STRUCTURE
A structure which in its size, dimension or location on a
lot, was lawful prior to the adoption, revision or amendment of this
chapter but which fails to conform to the requirements of the zoning
district in which it is located by reasons of such adoption, revision
or amendment.
NONCONFORMING USE
A use or activity which was lawful prior to the adoption,
revision or amendment of this chapter but which fails to conform to
the requirements of the zoning district in which it is located by
reasons of such adoption, revision or amendment.
PERFORMANCE STANDARDS
Standards established in §
420-60 of this chapter or required by applicable federal or state laws or other municipal ordinance.
PORTABLE HOME STORAGE UNIT (POD)
A portable shed or storage container, storage unit, shedlike
container or other portable structure that can or may be used for
the storage of personal property of any kind and which is located
for such purposes outside an enclosed building other than an accessory
structure.
[Added 3-22-2011 by Ord. No. 1790]
PRINCIPAL USE
The primary or main purpose for which a lot or building is
being utilized.
PRIVATE SWIMMING POOL
A swimming pool which is accessory to the principal residential
use on the lot which is utilized by the owner and nonpaying guests.
QUASIPUBLIC
Private organizations and groups of a fraternal, church or
charitable nature.
RESIDENTIAL DENSITY
The number of dwelling units per gross acre of residential
land area, including streets, easements and open space portions of
a development.
RESTAURANT
An establishment regularly and principally used for the purpose
of providing meals to the public, having an adequate kitchen and dining
room equipped for the preparing, cooking and serving of food to its
customers.
A.
LIMITED SERVICE RESTAURANTA business or establishment characterized by the following: the placing of orders at a counter, a lack of waiter or waitress table service and the serving of prepared food in or on disposable wrapping or containers in a form ready for consumption.
B.
FULL-SERVICE RESTAURANTA restaurant with waiter or waitress table service, primarily serving food cooked to order, which is paid for after consumption. A full-service restaurant may also have a limited take-out service accessory to and incidental to its main operation as a full-service restaurant.
SETBACK LINE
A line within a lot, which is parallel to a street or property
line beyond which a building shall not extend, except as otherwise
provided for in this chapter.
SHOPPING CENTER
A group of commercial establishments planned, developed and
managed as a unit in a building or buildings and utilizing such common
facilities as customer parking areas, pedestrian walks, truck loading
and unloading space and utilities and sanitary facilities.
SIGN
Any structure, device, object or portion thereof, on which
there is an announcement, declaration, identification, description,
display, illustration or insignia used to advertise or promote the
interest of any person or product when the same is placed in view
of the general public. Specifically excluded from this definition
is any flag, badge or insignia of any public, quasipublic, civic,
charitable or religious group.
STREET LINE
The property line of a lot, which separates the public street
right-of-way from the property.
STRUCTURAL ALTERATION
Any change in, or rearrangement of, the supporting members
of a building or structure, such as walls, columns, beams, girders
and foundations, including an enlargement or addition to the structure,
or any change in the utility system or mechanical equipment of a structure
which significantly alters its usability, capacity or function.
STRUCTURE
A combination of materials to form a construction for occupancy,
use or ornamentation, whether installed on, above or below the surface
of a parcel of land.
YARD
An open space on a lot, lying between the principal building
and the nearest lot line, unoccupied and unobstructed from the ground
upward, except as otherwise provided in this chapter.
[Amended 6-26-2012 by Ord. No. 1812]
A.
FRONT YARDAn open, unoccupied space within and extending the full width of the lot between the front wall of a building and front lot line. For corner lots, the front shall coincide with the front door. The secondary street shall be considered a side yard and shall require twice the setback as required for interior lots.
B.
REAR YARDAn open, unoccupied space within and extending the full width of the lot between the rear wall of the building and the rear lot line.
C.
SIDE YARDAn open, unoccupied space within the lot between the principal structure and the side property line.
Unless the context clearly indicates the contrary,
the present tense shall include the future; the singular shall include
the plural; the word "lot" shall include the word "plot"; the word
"structure" shall include the word "building"; the word "occupied"
shall include the words "used," "designed," or "intended to be occupied";
the term "such as" shall be considered as introducing a typical or
illustrative example rather than as an entire inclusive designation
of permitted or prohibited uses, activities or structures; the word
"shall" is always mandatory and directory; the word "may" is permissive.