The title of this chapter is an "Ordinance to Limit and Restrict to Specified Districts or Zones and to Regulate Therein Buildings and Structures According to Their Construction and the Nature and Extent of Their Use and the Nature and the Uses of Land in the Borough of Emerson in the County of Bergen and Providing for the Administration and Enforcement of Provisions Herein Contained and Fixing Penalties for the Violations Thereof."
This chapter shall be known and may be cited as the "Zoning Ordinance of the Borough of Emerson."
The intent of this chapter is to provide control over the use of land in the Borough of Emerson based on studies of existing land uses, physical characteristics and the judgment of the Land Use Board as to the future growth and development of the Borough. Such regulations are enacted in order to promote and to protect the public health, safety, morals, comfort, convenience and general welfare of the people.
Such regulations are deemed necessary to achieve the following purposes:
A. 
Promote orderly development: to protect the character and maintain the stability of residential, business, industrial and open areas within the Borough and to promote the orderly and beneficial development of such areas.
B. 
Limit congestion on streets: to limit congestion in the public streets and to protect the public health, safety, convenience and general welfare by providing for the access of emergency vehicles and for the off-street parking of motor vehicles.
C. 
Protect against hazards: to provide protection against fire, explosion, noxious fumes and other hazards in the interest of the public health, safety, comfort and general welfare.
D. 
Regulate intensity of use: to regulate the intensity of use of zoning lots 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. 
Regulate location of buildings: to establish building lines and the location of buildings designed for residential, commercial, industrial or other uses within such lines.
F. 
Establish standards of development: to fix reasonable standards to which buildings or structures shall conform.
G. 
Prohibit incompatible uses: to prohibit uses, buildings or structures which are incompatible with the character of the various districts or the permitted uses within specified zoning districts.
H. 
Regulate alterations of existing buildings: 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. 
Conserve taxable value of land: to conserve the taxable value of land and buildings throughout the Borough.
J. 
Implement Master Plan: to assist in implementing the duly adopted Master Plan of Emerson.