This chapter is enacted for the following purposes:
A. To promote the public health, safety, morals and general
welfare of the inhabitants of the Township of Greenwich.
B. To secure safety from fire, flood, panic and other
natural and man-made disasters.
C. To provide adequate light, air and open space.
D. To promote the establishment of appropriate population
densities and concentrations that will contribute to the well-being
of persons, neighborhoods, communities and regions and preservation
of the environment.
E. To provide sufficient space in appropriate locations
for a variety of agricultural, residential, recreational, commercial
and industrial uses and open space, both public and private.
F. To encourage the location and design of transportation
route which will promote the free flow of traffic while discouraging
locations of such facilities and routes which result in congestion
or blight.
G. To promote a desirable visual environment through
creative development techniques and good civic design and arrangements.
H. To promote the conservation of open space and valuable
natural resources and to prevent urban sprawl and degradation of the
environment through improper use of land.
The provisions of this chapter shall govern
the use of all land and every building or portion of a building erected,
altered, added to or relocated and every use within a building or
use accessory thereto, within the Township of Greenwich. Any existing
building or structure and any existing use of building or land, not
in conformity with the regulations of this chapter, shall be regarded
as lawful and nonconforming, so long as such existing buildings, structures
or uses were lawful when created.
In interpreting and applying the provisions
of this chapter, they shall be held to be the minimum requirements
for the promotion of the public health, safety, comfort, convenience
and general welfare. Where the provisions of this chapter impose greater
restrictions than those of any statute, other ordinance or regulation,
the provisions of this chapter shall be controlling. Where the provisions
of any statute, other ordinance or regulation impose greater restrictions
than this chapter, the provisions of each statute, other ordinance
or regulation shall be controlling.
This chapter shall be known and cited as the
"Greenwich Township Zoning Ordinance."