This chapter shall be known and cited as the "Zoning Ordinance" of the Borough of New Providence.
The intent of this chapter is to establish a precise and detailed plan for the use of land in the Borough based on the Master Plan for the Borough, and this chapter is enacted in order to promote and to protect the public health, safety, morals and general welfare of the people.
Regulations are deemed necessary to achieve the following purposes:
A. 
To protect the character and maintain the stability of all zoning districts within the Borough, and to promote the orderly and beneficial development of such areas.
B. 
To limit congestion in the public streets and to protect the public health, safety, convenience and the general welfare by providing for off-street parking of motor vehicles and for the loading and unloading of commercial vehicles.
C. 
To provide protection against fire, flood, explosion, noxious fumes and other hazards in the interest of the public health, safety, comfort and the general welfare.
D. 
To regulate the intensity of use of land and to determine the area of open spaces surrounding buildings, which spaces shall be necessary to provide adequate light and air, privacy and convenience of access to property and to protect the public health.
E. 
To establish building lines and the location of buildings designed for residential, commercial, laboratory, light industrial or other uses within such lines.
F. 
To fix reasonable standards to which buildings or structures shall conform.
G. 
To prohibit uses, buildings or structures which are incompatible with the character of development, the permitted uses within specified zoning districts or the purposes of the Master Plan.
H. 
To prevent such additions to and alterations or remodeling of existing buildings or structures as would not comply with the restrictions and limitations imposed hereunder.
I. 
To conserve the taxable value of land and buildings throughout the Borough.
J. 
To encourage planned developments which incorporate the best features of design and relate the type, design and layout of residential and commercial development to the particular site.
K. 
To encourage senior citizen community housing construction.
L. 
To promote the conservation of energy resources and the utilization of renewable energy sources.
M. 
To promote the conservation of historic sites and districts.
N. 
To encourage the development of certain vacant tracts in a manner which incorporates the best features of design and regulates the type, design and layout of residential development to the particular site, and, at the same time, to provide the realistic opportunity for affordable housing to be constructed in accordance with the guidelines set forth in the Fair Housing Act as interpreted by the Council on Affordable Housing.
O. 
To promote the maximum practical recovery from solid waste through recycling of recyclable materials.
The interpretation and the application of the provisions of this chapter shall be held to be the minimum requirements for the promotion of the health, safety, morals and general welfare and shall be considered liberally to effect the purposes thereof. This chapter is not intended to interfere with, abrogate or annul other rules, regulations or ordinances, provided that where this chapter imposes greater restrictions upon the use of buildings or premises or upon the height or bulk of a building or requires larger open spaces, the provisions of this chapter shall apply.