The long title of the ordinance included in this chapter is as follows:
A. 
A comprehensive ordinance of the Township regulating and limiting the uses of land and the uses and locations of buildings, structures and related facilities;
B. 
Regulating and restricting the height and bulk of buildings and structures and determining the area of yards, courts and other open spaces;
C. 
Regulating and restricting the density of population;
D. 
Dividing the Township into districts for such purposes;
E. 
Adopting a map of the Township showing boundaries and the classification of such districts;
F. 
Establishing a Planning Board and Zoning Board of Adjustment;
G. 
Providing for the power of the Boards;
H. 
Fixing the procedures governing application to the Boards and appeals therefrom;
I. 
Providing regulations governing subdivisions, site plans, soil erosion and sediment control and floodplains; and
J. 
Prescribing penalties for the violation of its provisions.
[1]
Editor's Note: Amended at time of adoption of Code (see Ch. 1, General Provisions, Art. I).
The short form by which this chapter may be known shall be the "Land Development Ordinance of the Township of Ewing."
The chapter is adopted pursuant to N.J.S.A. 40:55D-1 et seq., in order to promote its purposes and to protect the public health, safety, morals and general welfare, and in furtherance of the following related and more specific objectives:
A. 
To guide and regulate the orderly growth, development and redevelopment of the Township in accordance with a comprehensive plan and with long-term objectives, principles and standards deemed beneficial to the interests and welfare of the people;
B. 
To provide protection to life and property against fires, flood, explosion, panic, noxious fumes and other dangers in the interest of the public health, safety, comfort and the general welfare;
C. 
To protect the established character and the social and economic well-being of the community;
D. 
To conserve the value of buildings and to enhance the value of land throughout the Township;
E. 
To promote, in the public interest, the utilization of land for the purposes for which it is most appropriate;
F. 
To ensure that land development does not conflict with the development and general welfare of neighboring municipalities, Mercer County and the State of New Jersey;
G. 
To establish zoning districts and therein regulate the use of land and structures for residential, commercial, industrial, recreational and other purposes;
H. 
To regulate the locations of buildings and sizes of lots which may be occupied by a building or structure and to fix reasonable standards for the height, bulk and size of buildings and structures so as to determine the area of open spaces surrounding building necessary to provide adequate light and air, privacy and convenience of access to property and to protect the public health;
I. 
To regulate the intensity of use of land and buildings and the density of population so as to prevent overcrowding of land or buildings and to avoid undue concentrations of population;
J. 
To encourage the location and design of transportation routes which will promote the free flow of traffic while discouraging the location of such facilities and routes which will result in congestion or blight;
K. 
To lessen and, where possible, to prevent traffic congestion on public streets and highways by providing for off-street parking of motor vehicles and for the loading and unloading of commercial vehicles;
L. 
To promote a desirable visual environment through creative development techniques and good civic design and arrangements;
M. 
To encourage planned developments which incorporate the best features of design that relate to type, design and layout of residential, commercial, industrial and recreational development to the particular site;
N. 
To encourage senior citizen community housing construction;
O. 
To encourage the appropriate and efficient expenditures of public funds by the coordination of public development with land use policies;
P. 
To protect and reduce public expenditures related to flooding and soil erosion;
Q. 
To encourage coordination of the various public and private procedures and activities shaping land development with a view of lessening the cost of such development and to the more efficient use of land;
R. 
To promote the conservation of open space and protect valuable natural resources for the welfare of the community and to comply with all ecological and environmental protection requirements of federal, state and local jurisdiction; and
S. 
To promote the conservation of energy through the use of planning practices designed to reduce energy consumption and to provide for maximum utilization of renewable energy sources.
The provisions of this chapter shall be held to be minimum requirements. Where this chapter imposes a greater restriction than is imposed or required by other provisions of law or by other rules or regulations or resolutions, the provisions of this chapter shall control. Where other laws, rules, regulations or resolutions require greater restrictions than are imposed or required by this chapter, the provisions of such other laws, rules, regulations or resolutions shall control.
[Amended by Ord. No. 1991-22]
All uses, buildings, structures, signs and conditions not expressly permitted in this chapter are prohibited.
All requirements shall be met at the time of the erection, enlargement, alteration, moving or change in use of the principal, accessory or conditional use. The provisions of this chapter shall apply to the entire structure or structures whether or not the entire structure or structures were involved in the erection, enlargement, alteration, moving or change in use.