The purpose of the design details set forth in this chapter are to implement the performance standards established in Article
VI, Performance Standards. For good and sufficient reason the Planning Board may vary these design standards and details as they may apply to a specific site plan application.
In reviewing site plans the following design
and building layout principles shall be followed:
A. Minimum spacing between buildings.
(1) Between similar structures. In development groups
(more than one building or structure on tract) the following distances
shall be maintained between similar use structures:
(a)
End wall (no openings) to end wall: 1/2 the
height of the highest wall, 12 feet minimum.
(b)
Any building face to street curb: height of
building face for first 25 feet, two times the building height for
25 feet and over 20 feet minimum.
(c)
Any building face to parking area: 1/2 the height
of the highest building face, 12 feet minimum.
(d)
End wall to window wall: 1 1/2 times the
height of highest wall, 30 feet minimum.
(e)
Window wall to window wall: three times the
height of highest wall, 75 feet minimum.
(2) Between buildings of different types. Where buildings of different types will be developed as a single development group, such as single-family houses and townhouses, an appropriate transition area or buffer shall be used. This may include fencing, facing similar with each other, natural area, parks or recreation facilities or uses providing gradual density changes between the two dissimilar uses. (See §
159-31A for examples of buffering.) Actual spacing between the two types of uses shall not be less than twice the height of the tallest adjacent building.
B. Townhouses.
(1) A maximum of eight units shall be developed in a single
row. There shall be a minimum width of 20 feet for each dwelling unit
and an offset of four feet shall be provided between every two units.
(2) Townhouses shall be grouped in clusters with a maximum
of 30 per cluster. There shall be a minimum of 50 feet between clusters.
Private parking areas shall be located near the entrances and outdoor
living areas or patios adjoining open space or paths leading to open
space. Units shall not front on a through street.
(3) Maximum density of townhouses shall be as required by Chapter
217, Zoning. Each unit shall have two means of ingress and/or egress. End units shall have at least a ten-foot side yard. Units shall be at least 50 feet from all tract boundary lines unless abutting the same or higher density area; then a minimum of 35 feet is required.
(4) Townhouses in each cluster shall be consistent in
terms of architectural style and major design elements such as materials,
windows, roof lines, roof design, etc.
C. Garden apartments.
(1) There shall be a minimum of 10 units in any structure, and the maximum length of structure shall be 160 feet. Maximum density shall be as permitted in Chapter
217, Zoning.
(2) Garden apartment structures shall be grouped in cluster
with architectural design consistent in each cluster. Minimum distance
between clusters shall be 100 feet. In addition to the normal means
of ingress and egress, each apartment unit shall have a second means
of ingress and egress directly from the apartment unit to the outside,
such as off a balcony or patio. A four-foot building offset shall
be required every 40 feet or less.
(3) Recreation facilities such as swimming pools and tennis
courts shall be carefully located to avoid problems of noise, lights
and similar nuisance elements affecting residential units.
[Amended 9-19-1983 by Ord. No. 21-83]
It is the intent of these regulations to provide
for attractive, coordinated, informative and effective signing for
uses in the Township. Each site plan application shall include a sign
plan showing the specific design, location, size, construction and
illumination in compliance with the following regulations:
A. Nameplate and identification signs for single-family
dwellings. A sign indicating the name or address of the occupant may
be permitted, provided that the sign shall be no larger than two square
feet. A permitted home occupation may be included with the name of
the occupant. Only one sign per dwelling unit is permitted in addition
to a mailbox identification sign. One additional sign not to exceed
15 square feet may be posted at the entrance of an active farm.
B. Sales or rental signs; artisan or contractors' signs.
Signs advertising the sale or rental of the premises upon which they
are located and artisan and contractors' signs on properties being
worked on may be permitted, provided that:
(1) The gross display area of a sale or rental sign shall
not exceed eight square feet on each side and artisan or contractors'
signs four square feet on each side.
(2) Two such signs shall be permitted on a residential
structure with frontage on two public streets.
(3) Such signs shall be promptly removed when premises
are sold or rented.
(4) Developments with four or more homes for sale or industrial
or commercial properties may be advertised on a sign not to exceed
32 square feet. One such sign shall be permitted on each frontage
if the development fronts on more than one street. All development
signs shall be removed when 95% of the lots have been initially sold.
C. Institutional signs. Signs of schools, colleges, churches
and other institutions of a similar public or semipublic nature may
be erected and maintained, provided that:
(1) The size of any freestanding sign shall not exceed
30 square feet and not more than one such sign is placed on a property,
unless such property fronts upon more than one street, in which instance
a sign may be erected on each frontage.
(2) Signs affixed to the facade of the structure shall
be permitted, provided that the sign shall not exceed 5% of the building
facade.
(3) Golf courses shall be permitted up to two unlighted
freestanding signs not exceeding 20 square feet in total sign area
and not exceeding eight feet in height.
[Added 3-20-2000 by Ord. No. 2-00]
D. Signs in nonresidential districts for single-tenanted
and single-structure developments. Business signs may be erected and
maintained when in compliance with the following provisions:
(1) The total gross advertising area of all signs other
than freestanding signs on any one property shall not be greater than
the lesser of 5% of the area of the building face fronting on the
street or 100 square feet.
(2) One freestanding sign shall be permitted on any single
property. The total advertising area shall not exceed 5% of the building
face fronting on the street but in no event greater than 100 square
feet.
(3) Each such development shall submit a sign plan to the Planning Board
for approval. Such sign plan shall include details on:
[Added 6-15-2015 by Ord.
No. 07-15]
(a)
Letter style, color and dimensions.
(c)
Color(s), including background.
(d)
Construction and materials.
(e)
Dimensions and height of sign.
(f)
Height above grade or below roofline.
E. Signs for multiuse developments, shopping centers
or industrial parks. Shopping centers, industrial parks, planned residential
developments, multitenanted structures or multistructure uses shall
be governed by the following regulations:
(1) Each such development shall submit a sign plan to the Planning Board
for approval. Such sign plan shall include details on:
[Amended 6-15-2015 by Ord. No. 07-15]
(a)
Letter style, color and dimensions.
(c)
Color(s), including background.
(d)
Construction and materials.
(e)
Dimensions and height of sign.
(f)
Height above grade or below roofline.
(2) The sign plan shall be based on an integrated design theme to include all of the elements in Subsection
E(1) above. All of the above elements shall be designed to be in harmony and consistent with each other, the architecture and materials of principal structures and the landscaping plan. The Planning Board, in its sole discretion, shall determine if a proposed sign plan meets the goals and objective of this section.
(3) The total area of all signs affixed to a structure
shall not exceed 5% of the building facade of the structure. The Planning
Board may permit in total sign area up to 7% of the building facade
if, in the Planning Board's judgment, such additional area shall assist
in developing a harmonious and integrated sign plan in accordance
with the goals and objectives of this section.
(4) Freestanding signs to be located on poles, kiosks,
stanchions or similar supports shall not project above the maximum
height permitted in the zone. Such signs shall have a display area
not in excess of 5% of the building face fronting on the street but
in no event greater than 100 square feet. The Planning Board may permit
a total sign display area of up to 150 square feet if, in the Planning
Board's judgment, such additional area shall assist in achieving the
goals and objectives of this section. Only one such freestanding sign
shall be permitted on any single property regardless of the number
of establishments on the property, except that the Planning Board
may authorize an additional freestanding sign if the property has
access from more than one public street.
F. Indigenous farmers' temporary sale signs. Indigenous
farmers selling farm products, at least some of which they have grown,
may display a temporary sale sign, which shall not exceed 12 square
feet and which may be posted at a safe distance from the used right-of-way.
When such farm products are no longer available for sale to the public,
the sign shall be promptly removed.
[Added 10-17-1983 by Ord. No. 23-83]
G. General regulations. The following regulations shall
apply to all permitted and preexisting nonconforming signs:
(1) Only those signs identifying the name, business, occupant, service,
address or product offered or sold on the premises shall be permitted
to be erected. Coming events and community bulletin board signs that
may include manually changeable letters shall also be permitted.
[Amended 6-15-2015 by Ord. No. 07-15
(2) Signs attached to a principal structure shall not
extend above the roofline or parapet.
(3) No electronic, mechanical, wind- or solar-powered, flashing, moving
or apparently moving signs shall be permitted.
[Amended 6-15-2015 by Ord. No. 07-15]
(a)
No commercial electronic signs with static or changeable messaging
or imaging, including, but not limited to LED (light emitting diode),
LCD (liquid crystal display), projection, and neon signs shall be
permitted, except where not visible from the public right-of-way or
visible to any residential use.
(b)
No blinking or flashing lights visible from the public right-of-way
shall be permitted to be displayed inside or outside on commercial
properties except for traditional holiday displays that may be displayed
one month before or after the holiday for which such lighting may
be displayed.
(c)
Each business shall be permitted to display one "Open" electronic
LED sign that may be operated during business hours, provided that:
[1]
Such sign shall not exceed three square feet in area; and
[2]
Such sign shall have received written approval by the Washington
Township Zoning Officer.
(4) The top of freestanding signs shall not exceed the
height limit of principal structures in the zone where located or
25 feet, whichever is the lesser.
(5) Signs, whether portable, permanent or temporary, other
than municipal, county or state signs, shall not be erected within
the right-of-way of any street or approved sight easements, nor shall
any sign be located so as to constitute a traffic hazard.
(6) All temporary signs erected for a special event such
as an election or sale shall be removed by the advertiser within five
days after the event shall have taken place. Real estate signs shall
be installed only on the premises involved. No permit shall be required
for such temporary signs, provided that they do not exceed 32 square
feet of display area on each side and provided that all temporary
signs, other than election signs, shall not remain in place more than
four weeks.
(7) Off-premises commercial advertising signs, including billboards,
shall not be permitted in any zone district in the Township.
[Amended 6-15-2015 by Ord. No. 07-15]
(8) Whenever a sign shall become structurally unsafe or
endangers the safety of the building or the public, the Construction
Official shall order that such sign be made safe or removed. Such
order shall be complied with within 10 days of the receipt thereof
by the person owning or using the sign or the owner of the building
or premises on which such unsafe sign is affixed or erected.
(9) Location.
(a)
Signs shall not be located closer than the following
distances to street rights-of-way:
|
Display Area of Sign Per Side
(square feet)
|
Minimum Distance
(feet)
|
---|
|
Less than 25
|
20
|
|
25 to 75
|
25
|
|
More than 75
|
30
|
(b)
The Planning Board shall be authorized to waive
the strict application of this section if, because of local site conditions,
strict adherence would cause inconvenience to the public or would
constitute a hazard.
(10)
The area surrounding ground signs shall be kept
neat, clean and landscaped. The tenant, owner or occupant to which
the sign applies shall be responsible for maintaining the condition
of the area.
(11)
Directional signs having areas of less than
three square feet are exempt from area and location regulations but
shall be shown on an approved sign plan and further provided that
they do not constitute a hazard to the traveling public.
(12)
All signs shall be kept in good repair, which
shall include replacement or repair of broken structural elements,
casings or faces, maintenance of legibility and all lighting elements
working.
(13)
Any location where business goods are no longer
sold or produced or where services are no longer provided shall have
90 days to remove any remaining or derelict on-premises signs following
notification by the Township and at the expense of the owner of such
property. Where due written notification has been given by the Township
and compliance has not been made within the required ninety-day period,
the Township may cause removal of such signs with the cost for such
removal to be attached to the property.
(14)
The applicant shall also comply with all applicable
county, state and federal sign regulations.
(15)
All signs not specifically permitted by this
section are prohibited.
(16)
The provisions of this Code or any other ordinance of the Township of Washington notwithstanding, signs displaying noncommercial political or public interest messages shall be permitted in all zone districts of the Township. One such sign, not to exceed 32 square feet in area, shall be permitted per property. Each sign shall be affixed so that it does not readily become detached. Such signs shall not be displayed in such a manner as to obstruct or substantially interfere with ingress to or egress from any building or driveway, nor shall they be located in the public right-of-way or obstruct the view of motorists in any way. No sign may be affixed to a private fence or tree without the consent of the property owner or affixed to a utility pole. Signs which are to be erected on a temporary basis for a special event such as an election shall conform to the requirements of Subsection
G(6) of this section.
[Added 12-17-1990 by Ord. No. 37-90]
(17)
A zoning permit must be obtained for all new
signs or for any change to an existing sign.
[Added 8-18-2008 by Ord. No. 13-08]
The design and location of all utilities shall be designed in accordance with state and municipal standards and those of the public utility having primary jurisdiction. Utility design requirements set forth in Chapter
175, Subdivision of Land, shall be followed. Stormwater management details set forth in Chapter
175, Subdivision of Land, §
175-49, Surface water management standards, shall also be followed. All plans shall be approved by the Township Engineer.
[Amended 4-19-1982 by Ord. No. 10-82; 2-17-1997 by Ord. No. 3-97; 12-19-2005 by Ord. No. 43-05]
The site plan shall be designed in accordance with applicable township ordinance sections designed to protect the environment. These include but are not limited to stormwater management, floodplain, soil erosion and sedimentation control requirements and stream corridor and open water buffers. Drainage and conservation easement requirements set forth in Chapter
175, Subdivision of Land, §
175-47, and environmental protection requirements set forth in §
175-48, shall be followed.
[Added 2-16-1987 by Ord. No. 3-87]
For all site plan applications involving new building construction of more than 5,000 square feet of floor area, a fire-protection system shall be provided. Where the building is located more than 1,000 feet from a public water supply hydrant, the fire-protection system shall meet the criteria set forth in Chapter
175, Subdivision of Land, §
175-50B,
C,
D and
E, subject to the following:
A. For underground storage tanks, the volume of water
shall be two gallons per square foot of building floor area, but not
less than 10,000 gallons nor more than 50,000 gallons. The underground
storage tank shall be located greater than 200 feet from the building,
but not more than 500 feet.
B. For fire ponds and/or retention basins, the volume
of water shall be two times the volume of water calculated for underground
tanks, but not less than 20,000 gallons nor more than 100,000 gallons.
[Amended 9-19-1988 by Ord. No. 27-88]
Sight easements shall be provided at street intersections and, where required, at driveway intersections, in accordance with Chapter
175, Subdivision of Land, §
175-44B(2).
[Added 4-20-1998 by Ord. No. 4-98]
Where geotechnical improvements are required by Chapter
175, Subdivision of Land, §
175-30, the design and construction of the improvements shall be in accordance with the design standards of Chapter
175, Subdivision of Land, §
175-52.
[Added 3-20-2000 by Ord. No. 2-00]
All golf courses shall be designed and constructed
to conform to the following standards:
A. The golf course shall utilize existing buildings and
structures to the greatest extent practicable.
B. The golf course shall be designed and situated to
minimize conflicts with existing and permitted land uses, and the
layout of the course shall provide safe locations for tees, fairways,
greens and practice areas in relation to adjacent roadways and improvements,
both on- and off-site.
C. Whenever a waterway crossing is proposed, such crossing
shall be designed to minimize the removal of trees and other shading
vegetation. Additionally, all crossings shall be bridged, not designed
with culverts, except for golf cart paths, Where a golf course is
adjacent to or within an open space corridor, including floodplains,
open waters, stream corridors, wetlands and associated buffers, linkages
and conservation areas as provided in the Washington Township Master
Plan, the golf course shall provide and maintain all required buffer
setbacks from such features, subject to any limitations provided herein,
and shall provide drainage and conservation easements as required
by the Code of the Township of Washington or otherwise required as
a condition of approval.
D. Where a golf course is situated between public recreation
areas shown on the Master Plan, reasonable best efforts shall be required
to connect any existing or proposed pedestrian or trail networks in
a safe and appropriate manner.
E. Where a golf course is traversed by existing or proposed
trails, reasonable best efforts shall be required to connect any relocated
portions of the existing trail networks in a safe and appropriate
manner.
F. Assurances shall be provided that all necessary utilities
and services are available for the proposed development, including
wastewater treatment, potable water and irrigation water.
G. No portion of any golf tee, fairway or green shall
be located closer to any existing tract boundary or public road right-of-way
than as shown on the attached exhibit titled "Setback Design Guidelines
for Golf Hole," except that cart paths may be located no closer than
100 feet to such boundaries or roads.
H. The golf course shall be designed to minimize the
opportunity for golf balls to be hit beyond tract boundaries.
I. No more than 35% of the wooded area (as shown on the
most recent aerial photographs available) shall be cleared, and any
clearing beyond 25% of the wooded acreage of the tract shall be mitigated
by replacement of an equal number of native trees (minimum two-and-one-half-inch
caliper) and shrubs elsewhere on the tract. Priority for such replacement
shall be given to locations where stream corridors are not shaded
by vegetation at the time of development.
J. No clearing, grading or site improvements related
to the golf course shall be conducted in areas of 25% slope or greater.
Clearing and regrading may be conducted in areas between 15% and 25%
according to special measures approved by the Planning Board Engineer,
and areas of play (tees, greens, bunkers, fairways and practice facilities)
created as part of the golf course which result in new areas of steep
slope shall not be regulated by these requirements.
K. A vegetated buffer at least 95 feet wide, consisting
of native trees, shrubs and ground covers, shall be provided and/or
maintained between any turf area which will be treated with fertilizers
or pesticides and the closest point of any one-hundred-year floodplain,
or if there is no floodplain, the top of the bank of any permanent
nonseasonal stream or open water body, on or off site, except that
up to 35% of pond frontage shall be exempt from this requirement,
upon a showing of good cause by the applicant.
L. An Integrated Turf Management Plan and an Integrated
Pesticide and Pest Management Plan shall be provided, which is specific
to the operation and maintenance of the proposed golf course. These
plans shall be prepared in accordance with guidelines established
by the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection (NJDEP) and
shall take into account guidelines promulgated by the United States
Golf Association (USGA) and the Golf Course Superintendents' Association
of American (GCSAA), These plans shall also utilize the Best Management
Practices (BMPS) to prevent and/or minimize adverse impacts of the
golf course on groundwater and surface water resources and shall be
resubmitted to the Planning Board whenever modified.
M. The golf course developer shall demonstrate to the
Planning Board that the proposed golf course facility has satisfied
the minimum requirements for achieving the Audubon International Signature
Program Bronze Level designation (or equal).
N. Assurances shall be provided that the owner/operator will take all steps to avoid any adverse impacts on surface water and groundwater quality and quantity which result from operation of the golf course. Should any adverse impact result, the owner/operator shall correct the problem and remediate the adverse impacts. Monitoring of surface water and groundwater quality and quantity shall be provided by the owner(s) according to a plan prepared specifically for the proposed golf course and approved by the approving authority in consultation with the Washington Township Board of Health or their designee. Such monitoring program shall detail the type, timing and frequency of testing, as well as identify the specific chemical parameters to be tested and shall be established at the time the Integrated Turf Management Plan and the Integrated Pesticide and Pest Management Plans are approved by the reviewing Board. A continuing monitoring program shall be established, consistent with the guidelines for monitoring plans established by the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection (NJDEP), Bureau of Safe Drinking Water. The results of such water quality monitoring shall be submitted by the owner(s) to the Washington Township Board of Health or their designee and Planning Board within 30 days of receipt of such results by the owner(s). All requirements of §
217-59 (Restricted activities in Carbonate Area District Overlay Zone) shall be met.
O. A water use budget and water recycling plan, which
is specific to the proposed golf course, shall be prepared and submitted
to the Planning Board or Zoning Board of Adjustment. This plan shall
detail the source of potable and irrigation water, the projected amounts
which will be required and the water supply capacity of any aquifer
from which such water will be withdrawn, as outlined in the Land Oriented
Reference Data System (LORDS), Bulletin 74, New Jersey Geological
Survey, Bureau of Geology and Topography, Division of Water Resources,
New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection (August 1974).
P. Following the installation of any well intended to
serve as a water supply source for the golf course, and prior to the
issuance of a construction permit, a pump test shall be conducted
at the maximum projected pumping rate to assess the impact(s) on other
well users in the vicinity. If significant well interference is demonstrated
during interference tests on an existing well (observation well),
the new well cannot be certified for use. In such instances, the applicant
may be required to demonstrate why the documented well interference
is not significant. If a significant adverse impact of interference
cannot be remedied, certification of the new well may be denied. A
Water Allocation Permit shall be secured pursuant to N.J.A.C. 7:19-1.1
et seq.
Q. The golf course owner/operator shall pay for all costs
incurred by the Township to hire outside consultants to assist the
Township, the Board of Health or their designee with ongoing monitoring
of the approved monitoring plans. Such ongoing monitoring shall include
but is not limited to the approved surface water and groundwater monitoring
plan, the Integrated Turf Management Plan and the Integrated Pesticide
and Pest Management Plan approved for the golf course.
R. Clearing, grading and other disturbances shall be
designed to avoid the nesting, breeding and feeding areas of endangered
and threatened animal species and to avoid the locations of endangered
and threatened plant species.
S. Construction of runoff collection ponds in upland
areas is encouraged for use as stormwater management devices and as
sources of irrigation water. Best management practices shall be employed
to maximize recharge of surface runoff where appropriate. Ponds shall
be constructed to prevent stagnation, which may include aeration devices
or other techniques to maintain pond water motion and circulation.
T. Grasses selected for use on a golf course should be
drought and pest resistant to minimize the use of pesticides and irrigation.
U. Soil erosion and sedimentation shall be minimized
through golf course design which minimizes the need for mass grading
for greens, tees and fairways, coordinated soil erosion and sediment
control measures and construction phasing which limits the extent
of clearing and soil exposure prior to revegetation. A limit of disturbance
for each hole shall be provided. An individual grading plan shall
be submitted for each hole that is sufficient to determine stormwater
management requirements prior to site plan approval.
V. Exterior site lighting shall be downward directed to prevent off-site light pollution effects and shall be limited to safety and security needs, and there shall be no spillover of lighting beyond the tract boundaries. Lighting shall conform to §
159-30.
W. On-site parking shall be provided in accordance with §
159-39, and all areas designated for parking shall be located at least 150 feet from any tract boundary. A seventy-five-foot buffer shall be provided within this setback, which shall include such features as berms, fences, walls and landscaping of sufficient density to provide a year-round screen when viewed from adjoining properties.
X. The golf course shall be designed to preserve the
rural character of the viewshed, shall minimize the visual impact
on the landscape and shall not be included in the calculation of open
space required for any residential development.
Y. Gasoline-powered golf carts shall be prohibited on
any golf course.
Z. Practice facilities including driving ranges shall
only be permitted when part of a golf course, provided that such facilities
are not lighted and are located where no netting or other protective
structures are required.
AA. Major site plan approval shall be required for a golf
course and shall incorporate GIS format as applicable.