City of Somers Point, NJ Article V R-MF Multifamily Residential District

§ 114-18 Intent; applicable regulations.

A. Intent. The purpose of the Multifamily Residential District is to permit residential development of higher densities consistent with existing developmental patterns within the City of Somers Point.

B. Regulations. The use, height and area regulations of §§ 114-18 through 114-26 inclusive, and those regulations set forth elsewhere in this chapter, where applicable to these sections, and the general regulations of Article XX are the regulations in the R-MF Residential District.

[Amended 8-25-1994 by Ord. No. 11-1994]

§ 114-19 Permitted uses.

A. Permitted principal uses and buildings shall be as follows:

(1) Garden apartments.

(2) Townhouses.

(3) Two-family dwellings.

[Added 12-13-1990 by Ord. No. 23-1990]

B. Permitted accessory uses shall be as follows:

(1) Group auto garages when designed in conjunction with and intended exclusively for the use of garden apartment and townhouse residents and guests.

(2) Group swimming pools, provided that they comply at a minimum with standards set forth in the R-1 Residential District, Article IV, § 114-11, and provided further that they comply with local and state health standards.

(3) Utility buildings and bathhouses, provided that:

(a) The buildings shall be intended for the use of the complex as a whole.

(b) Such buildings shall be designed by the developer for consistency with regard to building materials, size and appearance.

(c) Such buildings shall conform to setbacks established within this article.

§ 114-20 Area and bulk requirements.

Area and bulk requirements shall be as follows:

A. Lot size: minimum three acres.

B. Lot width: 300 feet minimum at street.

C. Lot depth: varied.

D. Lot coverage: 30% maximum.

E. Perimeter setbacks: 30 feet minimum for all yards for all buildings, principal and accessory, and all parking areas.

F. Height.

[Amended 7-9-1992 by Ord. No. 20-1992]

(1) Principal building: not to exceed 35 feet maximum.

(2) Accessory buildings: not to exceed 15 feet maximum.[1]

[1] Editor's Note: Former Subsection G, Dwelling unit size, which immediately followed this subsection, was repealed 7-9-1992 by Ord. No. 20-1992. Said ordinance also provided for the redesignation of Subsections H through L as Subsections G through K, respectively.

G. Building length.

(1) Garden apartments, principal buildings: 60 feet maximum.

(2) Townhouses, principal buildings: 60 feet maximum.

(3) Accessory buildings, all uses: 40 feet maximum.

H. Distance between buildings. All uses and all buildings within the development shall be separated from all others by a minimum of 30 feet at their closest point.

I. Contiguous units. For garden apartments, there shall be no more than six units in any principal building. For townhouses, there shall be no more than six units in any principal building. No more than two abutting units will have the same front yard.

J. Density, all uses: 12 units per net residential acre maximum.

K. Common open space. For all uses, 70% of all developments within this district shall be retained as common green space. Provisions satisfactory to the Planning Board, City Council and City Solicitor shall be made to assure that these common areas, not of individual ownership, shall be maintained in a satisfactory manner without expense to the general taxpayers of Somers Point.

§ 114-21 Area and bulk requirements for two-family dwellings.

[Added 12-13-1990 by Ord. No. 23-1990]

Area and bulk requirements for two-family dwellings in the R-MF District shall be as follows:

A. Lot size: 15,000 square feet minimum for a two-family dwelling, with 7,500 square feet minimum per dwelling unit.

B. Lot width: 90 feet, minimum, of roadway frontage per two-family dwelling with 45 feet minimum per dwelling unit.

C. Front yard setback: 35 feet minimum for principal and accessory buildings. In the case of corner lots, all yards fronting on a street will be considered front yards.

D. Side yard setback: 15 feet minimum for both side yards for each principal and accessory building. For two-family dwellings totally separated by an unpierced wall extending from ground to roof, one side yard setback may be reduced to zero feet.

E. Rear yard setback: 35 feet minimum for principal buildings and five feet minimum for accessory buildings.

F. Height.

(1) Principal building: not to exceed 35 feet maximum.

(2) Accessory building: not to exceed 15 feet maximum.

§ 114-22 Exceptions to area and bulk requirements.

Section 114-13A for the R-1 Residential District, Article IV, along with all conditions and standards therein, shall apply here.

§ 114-23 Projections into required yards; trash facilities; uses subject to approval.

A. Projections into required yards.

(1) All projections, including windowsills, cornices and cantilevered roofs, into any yard shall be limited to 36 inches.

(2) Projections into front yards by single-story porches, balconies, stairs and canopies shall be limited to six feet.

(3) Projections into rear yards by fire escapes and balconies shall be limited to four feet.

(4) Bay windows into front yards and rear yards shall be limited to three feet and in side yards shall be limited to two feet. The length of such window(s) shall not exceed, in total, 30% of the exterior wall width of which they are a part.

B. In garden apartments and townhouses appropriate facilities for the placing of trash and garbage and the collection and removal thereof shall be constructed separate and apart from dwelling units. Such facilities shall be completely enclosed and so constructed that the trash or garbage shall not be visible to the general public and shall meet with the approval of the City Construction Official and the County Board of Health.

C. All uses within this district are subject to site plan review and approval.

[Amended 8-25-1994 by Ord. No. 11-1994]

D. Recycling.

[Added 8-25-1994 by Ord. No. 11-1994]

(1) There shall be included in any new multifamily housing development that requires subdivision or site plan approval an indoor or outdoor recycling area for the collection and storage of residentially generated recyclable materials. The dimensions of the recycling area shall be sufficient to accommodate recycling bins or containers which are of adequate size and number and which are consistent with anticipated usage and with current methods of collection in the area in which the project is located. The dimensions of the recycling area and the bins or containers shall be determined in consultation with the Municipal Recycling Coordinator and shall be consistent with the district recycling plan adopted pursuant to § 3 of P.L. 1987, c. 102 (N.J.S.A. 13:1E-99.13) and any applicable requirements of the Municipal Master Plan, adopted pursuant to § 26 of P.L. 1987, c.102 and the city's Recycling Ordinance and Regulations.

(2) The recycling area shall be conveniently located for the residential disposition of source-separated recyclable materials, preferably near, but clearly separated from, a refuse dumpster or other refuse container(s).

(3) The recycling area shall be well lit and shall be safely and easily accessible by recycling personnel and vehicles and the users thereof. Collection vehicles shall be able to access the recycling area without interference from parked cars or other obstacles. Reasonable measures shall be taken to protect the recycling area, and the bins or containers placed therein, against theft of recyclable materials, bins or containers.

(4) The recycling area or the bins or containers placed therein shall be designed so as to provide protection against adverse environmental conditions which might render the collected materials unmarketable. Any bins or containers which are used for the collection of recyclable paper or cardboard, and which are located in an outdoor recycling area, shall be equipped with a lid, or otherwise covered, so as to keep the paper or cardboard dry.

(5) Signs clearly identifying the recycling area and the materials accepted therein shall be posted adjacent to all points of access to the recycling area. Individual bins or containers shall be equipped with signs indicating the materials to be placed therein. Residents of the development shall be supplied with written notice as to the location of such facilities and the use and operation thereof.

(6) Landscaping and fencing shall be provided around any outdoor recycling area and shall be developed in an aesthetically pleasing manner, so as to visually shield the area and provide a buffer from adjacent facilities and uses.

(7) Maintenance of the recycling area, the bins and recyclable materials therein shall be included in the written site maintenance agreement provided for the project. The operators/managers of the multifamily development shall be strictly responsible for maintaining the area in a clean and neat condition.

(8) Developer/operator/managers shall further comply with the city's regulations concerning recycling and refuse disposal as set forth in other ordinances and regulations of the City of Somers Point.

§ 114-24 Landscaping; fences and walls.

A. All areas not covered by driveways or pedestrian walkways shall be landscaped.

B. The following minimum standards shall apply:

(1) Trees: two per dwelling unit.

(2) Yards: grass or natural ground cover.

(3) Buffers.

(a) Townhouses: perimeter buffer of eight feet.

(b) Garden apartments: buffered around all nonstreet sides and along parking areas. Buffers along parking areas shall be four feet, all others eight feet.

(c) Eight-foot buffers will consist of evergreen trees of alternating rows, eight feet on center in each row with smaller evergreens or deciduous plant material between. Four-foot buffers will consist of evergreen trees of four feet minimum height at planting, placed six feet apart, with smaller evergreens or deciduous plant material between. Within 10 feet of property corners evergreens of not more than three feet shall be used.

(4) All trees and fencing will be replaced as required as a part of the common space maintenance program.

C. Fences or walls shall be permitted, provided that:

(1) All perimeter fences and walls shall be placed within four feet of the property lines and shall be consistent in size, texture and design and shall be constructed by the developer.

(2) No fence or wall shall be more than four feet from grade excepting those immediately surrounding swimming pools and the rear yard which may be six feet.

[Amended 7-24-1980 by Ord. No. 14-1980]

§ 114-25 Off-street parking.

Parking requirements shall be as follows:

A. For townhouses: two off-street on-site parking spaces per dwelling unit.

B. For garden apartments: two off-street on-site parking spaces per dwelling unit, plus one off-street on-site visitor's space for every four dwelling units.

C. Two-family dwellings: two off-street on-site parking spaces per dwelling unit.

[Added 12-13-1990 by Ord. No. 23-1990]

§ 114-26 Signs.

The following signs shall be permitted:

A. All signs permitted in the R-1 Single-Family Residential District, Article IV, § 114-17A and B.

B. Each garden apartment or townhouse development may have one identification sign, not to exceed 12 square feet, made of natural materials and approved by the Planning Board during site plan review.