Planned unit residential developments (PURDs) have been established
in order to promote the following specific purposes:
An application for development under the provisions set forth herein for a PURD shall be reviewed by the Board to meet both the general and specific requirements as set forth in §§ 110-90 and 110-91 below. If an application for a PURD is reviewed by the Board to meet the requirements in §§ 110-90 and 110-91 below, the Board shall then be required to review and, if appropriate, grant site plan approval, prior to granting approval as a PURD. Where any provision of this article shall appear in conflict with any requirement of Part IV of this chapter, the provision of this article shall apply in place of, supplement and, where in conflict, supersede the provision set forth in Part IV of this chapter.
No PURD shall be approved on any site unless the site lies within
a district, as designated on the Zoning Map and specified in Part
III of this chapter, permitting such development. In considering any
PURD application, the Board shall first be required to find that the
following general conditions have been adequately addressed in the
development plan, prior to granting PURD approval:
A.
The adequate preservation of existing natural resources on the site.
B.
The provision of safe and efficient vehicular circulation, parking
and loading.
C.
The impact of vehicular traffic generated by the proposed use on
the streets in the neighborhood and the Borough generally.
D.
The provision of safe, efficient and accessible pedestrian circulation
and accessibility in and to the proposed development.
E.
The impact of pedestrian traffic generated by the proposed use shall
not have an adverse impact on the sidewalks in the neighborhood.
F.
The relationship of the physical, visual and spatial character of
the proposed development to the same elements of existing development
in the neighborhood and the Borough generally.
G.
The effectiveness of buffering and screening in mitigating the effects
of potential adverse impacts on adjacent and nearby properties and
the public right-of-way.
H.
The adequacy of landscaping, lighting, signage and other proposed
site improvements.
I.
The departures from zoning regulations otherwise applicable to the
subject property conform to the zoning ordinance standards pursuant
to Part III of this chapter.
J.
The proposals for maintenance and conservation of the common open
space are reliable and the amount, location and purpose of the common
open space are adequate.
K.
The provision for public services, control over vehicular and pedestrian
traffic and the amenities of light and air, recreation and visual
enjoyment are adequate.
L.
The proposed development will not have an unreasonably adverse impact
upon the area in which it is proposed to be established.
M.
In the case of a proposed development which contemplates construction
over a period of years, that the proposed timing schedule and the
terms and conditions intended to protect the interests of the public
and of the residents, occupants and owners of the proposed development
in the total completion of the development are adequate.
N.
The stormwater management plan setting forth the method of controlling
and managing stormwater on the site is adequate and the proposed development
will not have an adverse impact on the public storm sewer system.
O.
The sanitary sewer plan is proposed and that the proposed development
shall not have an adverse impact on the public sanitary sewer system.
P.
The goals and objectives of the Borough's Master Plan are generally
advanced by the proposed development.
Anything in this chapter to the contrary notwithstanding, the
Board shall not approve an application for a PURD unless the requirements
for the applicable PURD district as set forth below shall have been
complied with. However, variances from the provisions set forth below
may be granted in extreme cases upon the showing of special reasons.
C.
PURD in F-1 Franklin Development District.
[Amended 10-7-1997 by Ord. No. 97-21]
(3)
Maximum permitted density.
(a)
Maximum permitted density shall be 18 dwelling units per acre,
which shall be a gross density for the entire site, irrespective of
whether or not any portion of the site is designated or dedicated
for use as public or private streets, or any form of publicly used
space. The total number of dwelling units permitted on the Franklin
School tract shall be the product of 18 units per acre times the tract
acreage of 5.833 acres, rounded upward to the next whole number.
(b)
Existing lots, other than the Franklin School tract, within
the F-1 Franklin Development District, if developed integrally with
the Franklin School tract, shall be subject to the 18 unit per acre
density times the lot acreage rounded upward to the next whole number,
plus a density bonus of one additional dwelling unit per existing
lot.
(4)
Minimum tract area shall be five acres.
(5)
Affordable housing component.
(a)
The developer of the Franklin School tract shall be obligated
to construct 10 units of affordable housing, of which five units shall
be low-income units and five units shall be moderate-income units;
provided, however, that if certain additional funding is made available
to the developer, in accordance with an agreement known as "Agreement
Between Borough of Metuchen and Homestead at Metuchen, Inc., dated
12/31/91, (as amended by Amendment dated 5/3/93 and Second Amendment,
dated 9/2/97)," the developer will construct a total of 15 affordable
units, of which five shall be moderate and 10 shall be low.
(b)
Affordable housing units shall be dispersed throughout the development.
(c)
There shall be no requirement to provide affordable housing
units as a percentage of the development density for existing" lots,
other than the Franklin School tract, in the F-1 Franklin Development
District, and which are currently used as single-family or valid nonconforming
residential uses, provided said existing lots are developed integrally
with the Franklin School tract.
(6)
Parking requirements.
(a)
Parking shall be provided in the ratio of 1.85 parking spaces
for each dwelling unit. The required parking spaces may be provided
both off-street and on-street and/or in parking facilities operated
by the Metuchen Parking Authority. Of the total parking requirement,
a minimum of 1.5 parking spaces per dwelling unit shall be provided
either off-street or on new streets internal to the development. The
remaining required parking shall be provided either on-street along
the perimeter frontage of the development tract or in parking facilities
operated by the Metuchen Parking Authority.
(b)
Tandem parking (two parking spaces, one situated behind the
other and used by the same resident) shall receive credit for each
space.
(c)
The minimum paved width for streets with parallel, on-street
parking spaces shall be 30 feet.
(d)
Off-street parking areas fronting along Central or Middlesex
Avenues or along Center Street shall be screened by accessory buildings,
such as garages whose doors face perpendicular to the street or by
screen walls of a material and character compatible with the materials
of the principal buildings.
(e)
The minimum setback between any paved area of a parking lot
from a side or rear property line shall be five feet.
(f)
Dense buffer planting of massed evergreens, not less than six
feet in height, shall be installed adjacent to any property line where
parking, drives or new internal streets are located less than 15 feet
away.
(8)
Primary points of ingress and egress for vehicular circulation shall
be to and from Central Avenue and Center Street. Vehicular access
along Middlesex Avenue shall be limited to right turn ingress and
right turn egress.
(9)
Site development criteria.
(a)
The Franklin School tract should be developed in a manner that is consistent with the overall design and general configuration of the concept plan, labeled "Franklin School Redevelopment Project, Site Plan," dated July 18, 1997, and associated renderings, which were submitted to and approved in concept by the Borough Council on July 21, 1997. The concept plan provides for the general location of the proposed dwelling units, internal and external circulation, open space and the traditional neighborhood character of the design. The provisions of Parts III and IV of this chapter (including §§ 110-125 through 110-183) are specifically superseded by the design criteria embodied in the concept plan and the provisions of § 110-91C(9) on site development criteria.
(b)
The site should be developed in a manner whereby buildings shall
front toward existing and proposed streets, providing for common open
areas away from streets and generally to the rear of buildings. Access
to and orientation of parking lots and garages shall be such as to
generally screen the same from the streets on which buildings front.
Driveways may traverse front yards to provide access to parking facilities;
however, parking shall not be permitted in front yards, nor shall
garages located within close proximity of front yards have their doors
facing the street.
(c)
No paved portion of any public or private street shall be located
within 10 feet of an existing adjacent side or rear residential property
line.
(d)
The front entry of all dwelling units shall be provided with a covered entrance porch. Nonenclosed front porches may project into the front yard setback pursuant to § 110-110. In addition, nonenclosed porches may encroach into a setback (other than front yard setback) up to four feet, pursuant to § 110-110.
(e)
Windows shall be vertically proportioned rather than horizontally.
The first floor of all dwelling units which front onto Middlesex or
Central Avenue or Center Street shall have a floor-to-ceiling height
of not less than nine feet and the windows in these first floor units
shall be correspondingly taller in proportion than the windows in
the second floor units above.
(f)
The development of the Franklin School tract shall incorporate
the provision of an open space of a public character to be located
at the intersection of Middlesex Avenue and Center Street, as illustrated
in the concept plan. This space should be formally landscaped and
be characterized by a strong sense of enclosure created by new buildings
fronting toward the space on two sides. This space shall incorporate
the following elements in its design: provision for the preservation
of the existing mature trees in this area as features of this space,
pedestrian walkways, the World War I monument and the Elmo Spoerl
Memorial (relocated and refurbished, as appropriate), a flagpole,
bricks from the base of the Franklin School which are engraved with
the years of the graduating classes, benches and trash receptacles,
landscaping (including lawn, trees and shrubs), and lighting which
creates a warm and inviting evening ambiance (including Main Street
style street lamps).
(g)
The primary building cladding material for both principal and
accessory buildings which front toward a street shall be brick, of
a traditional red color compatible in hue with the Borough Hall, the
library and the post office; the same criteria of material and color
shall apply to screening walls located within front yard areas. In
no event shall any of the following be oriented to face onto any street
frontage: vinyl sided portions of any buildings, the obvious rear
of a building, rear decks or patios, wooden fences enclosing rear
yards, nonscreened refuse or recycling containers or nonscreened HVAC
equipment.
(h)
The architectural treatment of building elevations along street
frontages shall be characterized by the use of traditional and classical
materials, proportions and details.
(i)
The site shall also include a children's play area located where
it can be easily accessed and observed by residents of the site. The
children's play area should include some basic play equipment, a sand
box, lawn areas, seating and some type of overhead cover to provide
shade for parents and adults.
(j)
All contiguous street frontages, whether newly constructed or
reconstructed, shall contain a planting strip between the curb and
the sidewalk, which shall be not less than eight feet wide along Central
and Middlesex Avenues and not less than four feet wide along Center
Street and along proposed internal streets and which shall be planted
with shade trees to be spaced not less than 130 feet on center. Along
Central and Middlesex Avenues, additional street trees shall be planted
between the sidewalk and the building (the same distance away from
the sidewalk as the trees are on the curb side), to create a double
row of street trees. Sidewalks along Central and Middlesex Avenues
shall be not less than six feet wide and not less than four feet wide
elsewhere. A minimum of 15 Main Street style street lamps shall be
provided along the Middlesex Avenue frontage, wrapping the corners
and in the public open space. Benches and trash receptacles shall
also be installed in appropriate locations.
(k)
The elevation of first floor units shall be not less than 30
inches higher than that of the nearest sidewalk grade.
(10)
Consistency. To the extent that Ordinance No. 89-1 or any other
prior land development ordinance or provisions thereof is inconsistent
with the standards and provisions contained herein, the standards
and provisions of this subsection supersede and control with respect
to development within the F-I Franklin Development District.
D.
PURD in D-1 Downtown Development District.
(3)
Maximum permitted residential density shall be 18 dwelling units
per acre for that portion of the tract devoted to residential use.
The maximum permitted business use density shall be 0.15 FAR for the
entire tract.
(4)
Minimum tract area shall be five acres.
(5)
A minimum of 80% of the tract area shall be devoted to residential
use, and a maximum of 20% of the tract area shall be devoted to business
use.
(6)
A maximum of 85% of the residentially developed portion of the tract
shall be covered with buildings and other structures, roadways, driveways
and parking lots.
(8)
Business use development of the tract shall be integrated with Main
Street and other existing commercial areas within B-1 and D-1 Districts.
Integration of business use development of the tract shall be accomplished
by proximity of location, site orientation, architectural style, color,
materials and details, pedestrian circulation linkages, vehicular
circulation and parking, lighting, landscaping and street furniture.
Off-tract improvements may be required of the developer of the tract
area as part of an overall development integration plan, including
vehicular and pedestrian circulation elements and linkages with off-tract
commuter parking areas.
(9)
Any commuter parking areas on the tract shall be situated so that
commuter pedestrian linkage to the train station shall be integrated
into the business use development of the tract and with the existing
Main Street retail core by the use of an alternate pedestrian route,
if possible.
(10)
Residential development on the tract shall not be permitted
to abut the railroad line.
(11)
Sidewalks and walkways that link residential dwelling units
with one another and with business areas within the tract and with
Main Street and other commercial areas shall be integrated into the
development plan. Open space areas shall be provided consisting of
courtyards, alleys, squares, plazas or similar type improvements utilizing
pedestrian amenities, such as gathering/sitting areas, benches, landscaping,
lighting and other street furniture.
(12)
Height of principal buildings shall not exceed 40 feet and four
stories. However, architectural elements designed as focal points
in the development and containing nonhabitable floor area, such as
clocktowers and cupolas, shall be permitted to exceed 40 feet in height.
E.
PURD-I in B-5 Restricted Business District.
[Added 10-3-1994 by Ord.
No. 94-14]
(3)
Maximum permitted density shall be 12 units per acre. This shall
be a gross density for the entire site. Any portion of the site that
is designated or dedicated for private or public streets may be included
in the site area for the purposes of calculating the gross density.
(4)
Any site should be developed in a manner that is consistent with
the intent and purpose of a traditional neighborhood development concept
plan, such as that shown in the attached drawing labeled "Concept
Plan for Block 82, Lots 1.2, 2.2, 16.2, 30, 32, 34, 36 & 38,"
which could apply to an existing five-acre tract commonly known as
the EFCO site. This concept plan provides for general locations for
access from Central Avenue, street layout, block and lot configuration,
alleyways and the location of a common open space and a neighborhood
green.
(5)
The site shall be developed in a manner whereby individual lots and
buildings shall front towards existing and proposed streets, whether
public or private, which streets shall have a minimum cartway width
of 30 feet. Lots, buildings and streets shall be developed to create
and enclose a small neighborhood green. Access to driveways, parking
spaces and garages for occupants of individual lots and buildings
shall only be provided via alleyways, which shall have a minimum cartway
width of 16 feet.
(6)
The site may be developed with any mix of permitted principal uses,
provided that the following are complied with:
(a)
A minimum of 50% of the Central Avenue frontage is comprised
of lots containing single-family dwellings.
(b)
All lots and buildings shall have access from an alleyway for
off-street parking for occupants of individual lots and buildings.
No lot or building shall have front yard driveway or parking directly
accessible from a street.
(9)
Minimum lot width for single-family detached homes or courtyard homes at the front setback line (in feet) for all corner lots shall be as specified in Subsection E(8) above, plus an additional 10 feet.
(10)
Setbacks shall be as follows:
(a)
Minimum front yard setback along Central Avenue or Durham Avenue:
25 feet.
(b)
Minimum front yard setback on all other streets: 10 feet.
(c)
A minimum of 75% of all buildings on the same side of the street
within the same block shall maintain a consistent front yard setback.
(d)
Minimum side yard setbacks wherever a building or lot abuts
a boundary line of the tract: 10 feet, including any applicable buffer.
(e)
Minimum side yard setback for single-family detached dwellings
and two-family detached dwellings: five feet on one side; 15 feet
on both.
(f)
Minimum side yard setback for single-family detached courtyard
dwellings: eight on one side; zero feet on the other.
(g)
Minimum rear yard setback: 10 feet from the rear property line.
(h)
Minimum setback from the nearest edge of pavement of an alley:
five feet.
(12)
Buildings and lots shall be oriented away from existing business uses located on adjacent tracts. Portions of the tract which are adjacent to lots containing existing business uses shall be buffered by an area with a minimum width of 10 feet. A portion of such buffer areas may be incorporated in a side or rear yard setback, an alley or parking area, provided that vertical screening is provided to a height of six feet in accordance with Article 44 of this chapter.
(13)
Pedestrian walkways on the tract, including sidewalks along
streets, shall be located to promote pedestrian usage by residents
of the tract accessing open space areas located on the tract, nearby
business uses or the downtown area.
(14)
Single-family detached courtyard homes shall maintain an open
side yard on the southernmost side of each lot to promote the maximum
available natural light.
(15)
Common open space and/or public parks shall be provided as follows:
(a)
A minimum of 5% of the gross tract area shall be reserved for
common open space and/or public parks.
(b)
A minimum of 2% of the tract area shall be reserved for a "neighborhood
green," which is a common open space or public park. The area of the
neighborhood green shall be included in the total area reserved for
common open space and/or public parks as specified above.
(c)
Common open space may be used to link the site to the proposed
Metuchen "greenbelt" to be located along the abandoned Lehigh Valley
Railroad abutting the site to the west.
(d)
The designation of open space as either common open space, owned
and maintained by a homeowners' association, or as public parks, owned
and maintained by the Borough, shall be approved by the appropriate
municipal agency.
(e)
The applicant shall be required to provide a method of maintenance
and conservation of any open space in a form acceptable to the Attorney
for the Borough.
(16)
Parking requirements for all dwellings in a PURD-I shall meet the requirements set forth in § 110-154.
(17)
The maximum height restriction for all structures shall not
exceed 35 feet or three stories.
(18)
Nonenclosed front porches may project into the front yard setback pursuant to § 110-110, provided that no such porch projecting into the front yard setback is located closer than five feet to the sidewalk in the adjacent right-of-way.
(19)
All newly created streets internal to the tract shall contain a planting strip located between the curb and sidewalk which shall be a minimum of five feet in width and planted with shade trees pursuant to Article 46 of this chapter. The planting strip shall also contain decorative-style street lamps, pursuant to the approval of the Borough Engineer.
F.
Planned unit commercial development (PUCD) in D-1 District.
[Added 11-1-2010 by Ord.
No. 2010-17; amended 12-2-2013 by Ord. No. 2013-7; 6-9-2014 by Ord. No. 2014-8; 6-20-2016 by Ord. No. 2016-15; 8-12-2019 by Ord. No. 2019-12]
(1)
Findings. In accordance with the New Jersey Municipal Land Use Law
(MLUL), N.J.S.A. 40:55D-45, the following facts and conclusions shall
be determined by the Planning Board before any PUCD is approved:
(a)
That the proposed development conforms to the standards set
forth herein to the extent they apply, or to the regulations governing
development in the D1 Zone generally. The Planning Board shall be
guided by the standards set forth in N.J.S.A. 40:55D-65(c). The regulations
set forth herein are departures from the regulations otherwise applicable
to the subject property and other properties in the D1 Zone.
(b)
That any proposals for maintenance and conservation of the common
open space are reliable, and the amount, location and purpose of the
common open space shall be adequate.
(c)
That provision through the physical design of any proposed development
for public services, control over vehicular and pedestrian traffic,
and the amenities of light and air, recreation and visual enjoyment
shall be adequate.
(d)
That any proposed planned development will not have an unreasonably
adverse impact upon the area in which it is proposed to be established.
(e)
In the case of any proposed development which contemplates construction
over a period of years, the terms and conditions intended to protect
the interests of the public and of the residents, occupants and owners
of the proposed development in the total completion of the development
shall be adequate.
(2)
(3)
The following are permitted uses within any PUCD:
(a)
Permitted principal uses within a PUCD:
[Amended 9-11-2023 by Ord. No. 2023-27]
[1]
Common open space or public open space in the form of a public
plaza.
[2]
Retail shops and stores.
[3]
Business and personal service businesses.
[4]
Physical fitness studios.
[5]
Indoor amusement businesses, including arcades, virtual reality,
escape rooms, and other similar uses.
[6]
Eating and drinking establishments, except fast-food restaurants
and drive-in restaurants.
[7]
Banks and other financial institutions, except drive-in banks.
[8]
Offices.
[9]
Flex space, including demonstration kitchens, event rental space,
party rental space, and other similar uses.
[10]
Nursery schools and day-care centers.
[11]
Apartments.
[12]
Townhouses.
[13]
Work-live units.
[14]
Hotels.
[15]
Borough-operated public facilities.
[16]
Parking structures.
[17]
Grocery stores with a gross floor area not exceeding
15,000 square feet.
[18]
Massage and somatic therapy establishments.
(b)
Permitted accessory uses within a PUCD:
[1]
Driveways, parking lots, loading areas and multilevel parking
facilities.
[2]
Outdoor display and sales area associated with permitted retail
shops and stores.
[3]
Outdoor dining areas in cafes and restaurants, including those
with appropriate licenses that serve alcoholic beverages outdoors.
[4]
Plazas, courtyards, kiosks, outdoor art exhibit space, water
features, permanent or temporary installations of public art, walkways
and alleys and other similar types of public and semipublic open spaces.
[5]
Trash enclosures, compactors and dumpsters.
[6]
Walls, fences, hedges and other landscape elements.
[7]
Utility boxes.
[8]
Other uses deemed to be permitted accessory uses.
(5)
The following are design standards for any PUCD:
(a)
The minimum size of the required common open space or public
open space in the form of a public plaza shall be 0.5 acre (21,780
square feet). For the purposes of this section, the calculation for
the area of the public plaza shall be based upon measuring the perimeter
curbline of the block on which such is located. Public sidewalks may
count toward the calculation of the area of the public plaza.
(b)
Maximum building coverage for primary and accessory structures,
including parking structures, shall not exceed 70% of the tract. For
the purposes of this section, the calculation of tract area shall
include all lots, the public plaza and any new streets.
(c)
Buildings shall not contain a dwelling unit or hotel room in
that portion of the ground floor fronting the public plaza. Common
spaces within buildings, such as lobbies, may occupy that portion
of the ground floor fronting upon New Street and/or the public plaza.
(d)
Parking for nonresidential uses shall be one space per 1,000 square feet of area, excluding storage areas. There shall be no customer parking requirement for all business uses, except for hotel uses which will be subject to § 110-154. Parking for residential uses shall be subject to the Residential Site Improvement Standards, N.J.A.C. 5:21. The Planning Board shall entertain reductions in the required number of both nonresidential and residential parking spaces if the applicant can demonstrate through expert testimony and technical documents that the proposed application would so warrant, as a result of its mixed-use nature, parking demands of specific users, proximity to transit options, specific housing demographics, a parking management plan or other similar reasons.
(e)
Business and service uses included within a mixed-use neighborhood
shall be designed to be integrated with and/or complement Main Street
and other existing commercial areas within the B-1 and D-1 Districts.
Integration of business and service uses shall be accomplished by
proximity of location, site orientation, scale and massing along the
streetscape, architectural style, color, materials and details, pedestrian
circulation linkages, vehicular circulation and parking, lighting,
landscaping and street furniture.
(f)
Off-tract improvements may be required of the developer as part
of an overall development integration plan, including but not limited
to vehicular and pedestrian circulation elements and linkages and
stormwater management systems.
(g)
Sidewalks and walkways that link all uses with one another and
with business areas within the tract and with Main Street and other
commercial areas shall be integrated into the development plan.
(h)
In addition to the public plaza, open space areas may include
courtyards, alleys, plazas, or similar type improvements. Such open
spaces may be public, semipublic, or private if entirely enclosed
within a building.
(i)
The public plaza, sidewalks, walkways and open space areas shall
incorporate pedestrian amenities, such as gathering/sitting areas,
benches, shade trees, landscaping, accent lighting and other street
furniture.
(j)
Frontages along Lake Avenue, New Street, Pearl Street and the
public plaza shall include Main Street style street lamps at intervals
of spacing consistent with the existing street lamps on Main Street.
(k)
Buildings and parking structures shall be set back a minimum
of 15 feet from the edge of curb of the existing or proposed street
upon which such building fronts, except on Pearl Street where buildings
no taller than two stories may have a reduced setback of 10 feet.
Buildings with a height of four stories or greater shall be set back
20 feet. Arcades supporting upper-floor terraces and verandas shall
be allowed to project within the setback up to 12 feet. Steps leading
to a first floor, balconies, awnings and landscape planters shall
be allowed to project within the right-of-way.
(l)
Buildings shall be located to front towards and relate to a
public street, both functionally and visually. In locations where
on-street parking does not exist, the entry to a use or building may
be placed in a location other than facing the street at the discretion
of the Planning Board.
(m)
Any surface parking lot shall be designed as a parking plaza.
A parking plaza shall be spatially enclosed by buildings and designed
with an emphasis on visual and functional pedestrian elements, such
as colored, textured paving, pedestrian-scale lighting, shade trees,
landscaping and rich streetscape treatments and details.
(n)
Building height within a PUCD shall be generally located as shown in the Regulating Plan [refer to Planned Unit Commercial Development Regulating Plan, Subsection F(5)(r) hereof.][4]
[1]
Maximum height of principal buildings or structures shall be
as follows:
[a]
On Parcel A, maximum building height shall not
exceed three stories and 35 feet.
[b]
On Parcel B, maximum building height shall not
exceed four stories and 50 feet.
[c]
On Parcel C, maximum building height shall not
exceed five stories and 65 feet. For the purposes of this section,
the levels of a parking structure shall not count as stories, and
the height of any parking structure shall be governed by height in
feet.
[2]
For the purposes of this section, height shall be measured from
finished grade.
[3]
Building elements and appurtenances such as chimneys, spires,
cupolas, belfries, towers or flagpoles, designed for ornamental purposes,
as well as functional elements such as elevator housing, roof-mounted
HVAC systems, and roof-access stairwells may exceed the height requirements
by up to 25 feet.
[4]
Editor's Note: The Regulating Plan is on file in the Borough
offices.
(o)
The predominant building material for buildings facing New Street,
the public plaza, and Lake Avenue shall be brick in traditional colors
consistent and complementary with that found on Main Street.
(p)
Any building fronting the public plaza shall be designed using
classical proportions with a consistent uniform facade treatment employing
an articulated rhythm of bays and windows. These bays or sections
shall be a minimum of 20 feet wide and a maximum of 36 feet wide.
The ground floors of buildings shall have articulated entries and
large storefront-type windows.
(q)
Buildings shall have a defined base, ground floor, belt course
and cap which are designed to draw the eye of pedestrians to the lower
portions of the buildings. Any building four stories or taller and
parking structures greater than 40 feet in height shall be designed
using some combination of massing, scale, roof type, cornice, projections,
recesses, materials, colors and other architectural treatments to
minimize the visual impact of the height of such building.
(r)
The Regulating Plan shall be consistent with the exhibit which
is on file with the Borough of Metuchen.
[Amended 10-24-2022 by Ord. No. 2022-19]
