[Added 4-4-1977 by Ord. No. 77-4; amended 12-5-1977 by Ord. No. 77-24]
[Amended 10-17-1988 by Ord. No. 88-28]
A. 
Except as provided in Subsection B below, no person shall construct a new building or structure, add to an existing building or structure or make any alteration to any building or structure or part thereof, or permit or participate in a change in occupancy of an existing building or structure or part thereof, or alter, increase or reduce parking facilities or vehicular or pedestrian ways or areas or landscaping, or make any other change in the layout, design or plan of any land or premises, including but not limited to, removing and/or disturbing existing vegetation and/or grading activities or other disturbances, on 1/2 acre or more of land; installing any underground drainage, detention, retention or infiltration or stormwater management structures or other stormwater management systems; or installing or constructing any retaining walls; nor shall any building permit or certificate of occupancy therefor be issued, until a site plan therefor shall first have been approved by the Planning Board or, where applicable, the Board of Adjustment.
[Amended 5-19-2014 by Ord. No. 14-05]
B. 
Site plan approval shall not be required for construction or alteration of a lawful single one-family dwelling unit or any lawful accessory use thereto, provided that the same are not part of an attached housing, multiple-dwelling or planned unit development.
[Added 2-17-1981 by Ord. No. 81-3; amended 4-6-1981 by Ord. No. 81-8; 12-5-1983 by Ord. No. 83-11]
A. 
Filing. All applications for minor site plan approval shall be filed pursuant to Article III of this chapter and shall be subject to all requirements contained therein with respect to classification (§ 540-5), action on sketch plat (§ 540-7), time for approval (§ 540-8), expiration of approval (§ 540-9) and approval and dissemination of copies (§ 540-10). All reference to minor subdivision or minor subdivision classification within said Article III shall also be read to include minor site plan.
B. 
All minor site plan applications shall be subject to § 540-79 of this article.
All applications for preliminary site plan approval shall be filed with the Secretary of the Planning Board in accordance with the following:
A. 
The applicant shall submit building development plans prepared by an architect registered in New Jersey, which shall show, as a minimum, preliminary plan and elevations. In addition, preliminary site development plans in accordance with § 540-14 shall be submitted. Site plan design plats shall comply with Article XIV. The applicant shall submit 16 copies, which shall include:
(1) 
Name and title of applicant, owner and person preparing map.
(2) 
Place for signature of Chairman and Secretary of Planning Board.
(3) 
Place for signature of Township Engineer.
(4) 
Tax Map lot and block number.
(5) 
Date, scale and North sign.
(6) 
Zone district in which property in question falls.
(7) 
All setback dimensions.
(8) 
Building plans showing, as a minimum, all floor plans and elevations of all proposed principal buildings and structures and all accessory buildings and structures, including signs where applicable.
(9) 
A site development and grading plan, drawn to an appropriate scale, showing:
(a) 
Dimensions and acreage of each lot or plot to be built upon or otherwise used.
(b) 
The size, shape and location of existing and proposed buildings.
(c) 
The location and layout of parking area, all parking spaces and driveways.
(d) 
Existing and proposed grades and drainage.
(e) 
Proposed sewer and water facilities and connections.
(f) 
A landscaping plan, including location, type and size of proposed plantings and screenings.
(g) 
Size, shape and location of any area reserved for public use pursuant to N.J.S.A. 40:55D-44 and any open space to be set aside for the use and benefit of the residents of planned development resulting from the application of standards of density or intensity of land use contained in Chapter 580, Zoning, pursuant to N.J.S.A. 40:55D-43 and 40:55D-65c.
(h) 
Any land designated as subject to flooding pursuant to N.J.S.A. 40:55D-65e.
(i) 
Proposed location of fences, signs and advertising features.
(j) 
All curbs, sidewalks, parking space layouts and loading areas, if required, with dimensions.
(k) 
Rights-of-way, easements and all lands to be dedicated to the Township.
(l) 
All abutting streets and property lines.
(m) 
Such other information as is necessary to enable the Chief Building Official and the Planning Board to determine whether the proposed structures and use of land will conform to the provisions of this chapter.
B. 
The Secretary shall distribute the plans as follows:
(1) 
Three copies to the Chief Building Official, who shall file his report and one corrected copy, if necessary, with the Planning Board Secretary.
(2) 
Three copies to the Township Engineer, who shall file his report and one corrected copy, if necessary, with the Planning Board Secretary.
(3) 
One copy to the County Planning Board where required by law.
C. 
The report of the Chief Building Official shall state whether or not the submission complies with all the provisions of the Zoning Ordinance, and, if not, his report shall specify all the respects in which the submission does not comply with the Zoning Ordinance. If the report indicates that the submission does not comply with the Zoning Ordinance, the Chief Building Official shall notify the applicant in writing of the respects in which it does not comply. Neither the failure of the Chief Building Official so to notify the applicant nor the omission of any zoning noncompliance from such notification shall relieve the applicant from the requirements of the Zoning Ordinance. The submission shall be reviewed as hereinafter provided, notwithstanding that noncompliance with the Zoning Ordinance is indicated therein, but the grant of approval thereof shall not relieve the applicant from any provision of the Zoning Ordinance, nor shall such approval constitute a grant or recommendation of any zoning variance or any other relief unless specifically requested by the applicant.
D. 
The Engineer's report shall state whether the drainage and grades proposed are according to good engineering standards and his suggestions or comments on the proposal.
A. 
The following standards shall be utilized by the Planning Board in reviewing all site and building plans. These standards are intended to provide a frame of reference for the applicant in the development of site and building plans as well as a method of review for the reviewing authority. These standards shall not be regarded as inflexible requirements. They are not intended to discourage creativity, invention and innovation. The specification of one or more particular architectural styles is not included in these standards:
(1) 
Preservation of landscape. The landscape shall be preserved in its natural state, insofar as practicable and where desirable, by minimizing tree and soil removal, and any grade changes shall be in keeping with the general appearance of neighboring developed areas. Treatment and design of proposed screening shall be shown. Effective landscaping shall be provided and maintained throughout the year. The remaining area of the lot not occupied by building, parking or sidewalks shall be planted with grass, shrubs and other decorative landscaping.
(2) 
Relation of proposed buildings to environment. Proposed structures shall be related harmoniously to the terrain and to existing buildings in the vicinity that have a visual relationship to the proposed buildings. The achievement of relationship may include the enclosure of space in conjunction with other existing buildings or other proposed buildings and the creation of focal points with respect to avenues of approach, terrain features or other buildings.
(3) 
Drives, parking and circulation.
(a) 
With respect to vehicular and pedestrian circulation, including walkways, interior drives and parking, special attention shall be given to location and number of access points to the public streets, width of interior drives and access points, general interior circulation, separation of pedestrian, bicycle and vehicular traffic and arrangement of parking areas that are safe and convenient and do not detract from the design of proposed buildings and structures and the neighboring properties. Treatment and design of proposed screening shall be shown.
(b) 
All exits and entrances shall be located at least 500 feet from the nearest point of any emergency facility, such as but not limited to firehouses, ambulance corps buildings, hospitals, police stations, etc.
[Added 2-19-1980 by Ord. No. 80-2; amended 1-19-1981 by Ord. No. 80-20]
(4) 
Surface water drainage. Special attention shall be given to proper site surface drainage so that removal of surface waters will not adversely affect neighboring properties or the public storm drainage system. Stormwater shall be removed from all roofs, canopies and paved areas and carried away in paved swales or in an underground drainage system. Surface water in all paved areas shall be collected at intervals so that it will not obstruct that flow of vehicular or pedestrian traffic and will not create puddles or the menace of ice in the paved areas.
(5) 
Utility service. Electric and telephone lines shall be underground. Any utility installations remaining above ground shall be located so as to have a harmonious relation to neighboring properties and site. The proposed method of sanitary sewage disposal from all buildings shall be indicated.
(6) 
Advertising features. The size, location, design, color, texture, lighting and materials of all permanent signs and outdoor advertising structures or features shall not detract from the design of proposed buildings and structures and the surrounding properties nor create confusion with traffic or any other signs. Included are off-site directional signs.
(7) 
Lighting. There shall be adequate controls of all illumination or sky glow and glare.
(8) 
Special features. Exposed storage areas, exposed or hidden machinery installations on all levels, service areas, truck loading areas, utility building and structures shall be subject to such setbacks, screen plantings or other screening methods as shall reasonably be required to prevent their being incongruous with the existing or contemplated environment and the surrounding properties.
(9) 
Buffer strips. All buffer strips shall be clearly indicated. In the event the Planning Board shall determine additional buffer strips or planting strips are required to protect public areas or neighboring properties from adverse effects of the proposed building or addition, the Board may require such additional buffer or planting strips.
(10) 
The applicant shall observe the requirements, principles and standards set forth in this chapter with respect to site plan design. Residential development shall follow the New Jersey Residential Site Improvement Standards (see N.J.A.C. 5:21). All other development shall be in accordance with this chapter.
[Added at time of adoption of Code (see Ch. 1, General Provisions, Art. II)]
B. 
Application of design standards. The standards of review outlined in Subsection A(1) through (8) above shall also apply to all accessory buildings, structures, signs and other site features, however related to the major buildings or structures.
There shall be one square foot of paved parking area for each square foot of gross floor area or one parking space for 160 square feet of net floor area, whichever is greater. Off-street parking facilities are prohibited in the required front yard.
A. 
All off-street parking areas shall be surfaced with an asphalt bituminous or cement binder pavement which shall be graded and drained to dispose of all surface water as approved by the Township Engineer. There shall be a five-foot sidewalk or curbed planting area of at least four inches above ground between any building and a parking area used by the public.
B. 
Any lighting in connection with off-street parking shall be so arranged and shielded as to reflect the light downward and away from all adjoining streets, residence zones or residential buildings.
C. 
The off-street parking area shall be effectively screened on any side which adjoins or faces premises currently used as a residence by a solid uniform fence or wall not less than four nor more than six feet in height, in good condition; provided, however, that where the adjacent owners agree in writing, a screening or hedge or other natural landscaping may be substituted for the required fence or wall.
D. 
The off-street parking area shall be subject to the approval of the Planning Board to ensure its adequacy, relation to traffic safety and protection of the adjacent properties and to further ascertain that all requirements of this section are complied with.
E. 
Off-street parking facilities as required by this section shall be provided on the same plot as the permitted principal building.
F. 
All off-street parking areas shall be used solely for the parking of passenger automobiles and no commercial repair work or service of any kind shall be conducted on such parking lot.
G. 
All parking spaces shall have a minimum of 180 square feet and shall be not less than nine feet in width.
H. 
Service aisles.
(1) 
All parking areas shall be designed with service aisles to meet the following standards:
(a) 
Parallel to thirty-degree angle parking: twelve-foot aisle width.
(b) 
Thirty-one-degree to forty-five-degree angle parking: fourteen-foot aisle width.
(c) 
Forty-six-degree to sixty-degree angle parking: eighteen-foot aisle width.
(d) 
Sixty-one-degree to ninety-degree angle parking and access drives: twenty-four-foot aisle width.
(2) 
Only one-way traffic circulation shall be permitted in twelve-, fourteen-, and eighteen-foot aisle widths.
A. 
Nonprofit building sites.
(1) 
Building area, site area, frontage, depth and yard requirements shall be the same as that for a PRTD District. Each building other than an accessory building on a nonprofit building site shall not exceed 40 feet in height, including mechanicals, exclusive of firesafety apparatus and devices as required by law. Height shall be determined by the average curb elevation on adjacent streets. All apparatus and mechanicals on the roof of each building shall be suitably screened. All accessory buildings and structures shall not exceed 15 feet in height.
(2) 
All site plan approval, preliminary and final, shall be conditioned as follows: In addition to regular required inspections by the Building Official of the Township of Washington, the builder of nonprofit organization buildings shall be required to provide supervision by a licensed architect of the State of New Jersey and to furnish to the Township certificates of approval by such architect for each stage of the construction program as follows:
(a) 
Foundation and footings.
(b) 
Exterior construction, including enclosing with roof.
(c) 
Interior construction, including all utilities.
(d) 
All exterior requirements required and made part of the plan approval by the Township Planning Board.
B. 
C Zone business sites.
(1) 
Signs.
(a) 
No more than one exterior sign shall be permitted to any one business, which sign shall be limited to advertising the business being conducted on said premises. No exterior sign, as herein provided, shall extend for more than two feet in height, nor shall its length exceed 90% of the front footage of the business represented by the said sign.
(b) 
Any exterior sign which may be installed on a canopy in front of the business shall be mounted above the canopy and shall not extend more than 25 inches above the canopy roof and shall not extend beyond the facia of said canopy. Any exterior sign mounted on the building facade shall be securely mounted thereon and shall not extend above the front wall of the building nor shall said sign project more than one foot beyond the building facade.
(c) 
Interior signs, lettering or advertising matter of any kind whatsoever appearing in the windows of any business establishment shall not exceed 40% of any single glass pane.
(d) 
All illuminated signs shall be shielded so as to prevent any objectionable glare, and no signs shall be illuminated by lighting which is intermittent or of varying intensity. No illuminated signs, interior or exterior, shall be lit after 10:00 p.m. or on Sunday unless the business establishment maintaining said sign is open to the public for business, and then only for such period of time as said business shall remain open to the public.
(e) 
The Building Official of the Township of Washington shall have the power and authority to order the removal of any sign herein permitted, if such sign shall be or shall become unsafe. In the event any party is aggrieved by virtue of any such determination made by the Building Inspector, the party so aggrieved may appeal the determination of the Building Official to the Township Council of the Township of Washington.
(f) 
The use of hanging signs is prohibited.
(2) 
Construction. Construction shall be limited to one story with a maximum building height of 38 feet for buildings with trussed roofs and a maximum building height of 24 feet for buildings having all other types of roof construction.
(3) 
Cooling and ventilating equipment. All cooling and ventilating equipment extending above the height of parapet walls of any building shall be concealed in a building enclosure compatible with the design of the building.
(4) 
Exterior lighting. The front and rear of all buildings shall be adequately illuminated with shielded lighting for inspection by the proper authorities of said Township. The parking areas shall be adequately illuminated for public safety.
(5) 
Incineration. No incineration of any kind shall be permitted in or on any lands and premises.
(6) 
Waste storage. All waste of any kind whatsoever, between the times of collection thereof, shall be stored in a masonry or steel enclosed bin, properly ventilated.
C. 
O-R Zone.
(1) 
In the O-R Zone, each building is permitted one sign not more than eight square feet in area, provided that all of the following requirements are complied with:
(a) 
If illuminated, the direct source of light shall be shielded in such a manner that it is not visible from the street or any adjoining residential property.
(b) 
Only floodlights shall be used for illumination.
(c) 
Said sign shall be attached parallel to the face of the building and shall not extend more than 12 inches from said face.
(2) 
Each tenant in the building is permitted a professional sign or nameplate sign not more than two square feet in area, and if illuminated the direct source of light shall be shielded in such a manner that it is not visible from the street or any adjoining residential property.
(3) 
All nonresidential uses in the O-R Zone shall be allowed only on fully improved lots. All curbing, sidewalks, street widening and underground utilities and shade trees shall be installed before a certificate of occupancy shall be issued.
(4) 
The front and rear entrances of all buildings shall be adequately illuminated for security inspection, and the direct source of light shall be shielded in such a manner that it is not visible from the street or any adjoining residential property.
(5) 
All waste of any kind whatsoever, between the times of collection thereof, shall be stored in a masonry or steel enclosed bin, properly ventilated.
(6) 
No domicile shall be permitted in any building used in whole or in part for any of the specified businesses or purposes set forth in § 580-64A(1) through (5).
(7) 
Buffer strip.
(a) 
Definition. A "buffer strip" is an open area to serve solely as a screen between zones, which area shall be maintained by the owner. A buffer strip may be crossed by public or private streets or walkways only when approved by the Planning Board of the Township of Washington and may not be used for parking by vehicles. A buffer strip shall be in addition to rear yard or side yard requirements, as the case may be.
(b) 
A buffer strip of 150 feet shall be established in an O-R Zone adjacent to a residential district, with sufficient suitable plantings to shield any adjacent residential zone. A buffer strip of 25 feet shall be established in an O-R Zone adjacent to any district other than residential, with sufficient suitable plantings to shield any such other district.
[Amended 2-19-1980 by Ord. No. 80-2; 1-19-1981 by Ord. No. 80-20]
(c) 
Where off-street parking is permitted under Chapter 580, Zoning, to extend from an O-R Zone to an adjacent residential zone, a buffer strip of at least 150 feet must be maintained between the boundaries of said residential zone and the extended parking area permitted.
[Amended 2-19-1980 by Ord. No. 80-2; 1-19-1981 by Ord. No. 80-20; 6-6-1988 by Ord. No. 88-14]
(8) 
Entrances and exits in an O-R Zone. All traffic from and to an O-R Zone shall entrance and exit only on Washington Avenue and/or Pascack Road.
D. 
Planned residential townhouse development (PRTD).
(1) 
Off-street parking. There shall be a minimum of two off-street parking spaces for each dwelling unit. Off-street parking facilities shall not be permitted within the required front yard area. At least 20% of all required off-street parking facilities shall be enclosed.
E. 
Home occupations.
[Added 2-17-1981 by Ord. No. 81-3]
(1) 
Off-street parking.
(a) 
There shall be no more than one parking space for each 100 square feet of space utilized for home occupation.
(b) 
In addition to the above parking requirements, one additional space shall be permitted for each employee.
(c) 
If allowed by the configuration of the road, all parking, with the exception of that utilized by the owner or employees, shall be to the rear or side of the property, and all parking shall be screened from adjacent residences and roadways.
(d) 
Each parking space shall have a minimum of 180 square feet and shall be not less than nine feet in width.
A. 
The developer may submit a preliminary site plan sketch plat containing at least the information set forth in § 540-6, together with such other information as deemed necessary for purposes of informal preliminary discussion. Such submission shall not be deemed an application for preliminary or final site plan approval, nor shall it commence the period of time within which the developer may obtain preliminary or final approval.
B. 
Upon the submission to the Secretary of the Planning Board of a complete application for a site plan which involves 10 acres of land or less, and 10 dwelling units or less, the Planning Board shall grant or deny preliminary approval within 45 days of the date of such submission or within such further time as may be consented to by the developer. Upon submission of a complete application for a site plan which involves more than 10 acres, or more than 10 dwelling units, the Planning Board shall grant or deny preliminary approval within 95 days of the date of such submission or within such further time as may be consented to by the developer. Otherwise, the Planning Board shall be deemed to have granted preliminary approval of the site plan.
[Amended at time of adoption of Code (see Ch. 1, General Provisions, Art. II)]
C. 
If the Planning Board requires any substantial amendment in the layout of improvements proposed by the developer that have been the subject of a hearing, an amended application for development shall be submitted and proceeded upon as in the case of the original application for development. The Planning Board shall, if the proposed development complies with this chapter, grant preliminary site plan approval.
D. 
The zoning requirements applicable to the preliminary approval first granted and all other rights conferred upon the developer pursuant to Section 37 of Chapter 291 of the Laws of 1975,[1] whether conditionally or otherwise, shall not be changed for a period of two years after the date of final approval. If the developer has followed the standards prescribed for final approval and has duly recorded the plat as required in Section 42 of Chapter 291 of the Laws of 1975,[2] the Planning Board may extend such period of protection for extensions of one year but not to exceed three extensions. Notwithstanding any other provisions of this chapter, the granting of final approval terminates the time period of preliminary approval pursuant to Section 37 of Chapter 291 of the Laws of 1975[3] for the section granted final approval.
[1]
Editor's Note: See N.J.S.A. 40:55D-49.
[2]
Editor's Note: See N.J.S.A. 40:55D-54.
[3]
Editor's Note: See N.J.S.A. 40:55D-49.
A. 
All applications for final site plan approval shall comply with the requirements of Article IX. All references to "house" in said article, for the purposes of site plan approval, shall be deemed to mean buildings, accessory buildings, structures and accessory structures, if any.
B. 
In addition, the final site plan shall indicate all items required and contained in the preliminarily approved site plan and the following:
(1) 
Driveways.
(2) 
Parking spaces.
(3) 
Walkways.
(4) 
Means of ingress and egress.
(5) 
Drainage facilities.
(6) 
Utility services.
(7) 
Landscaping.
(8) 
Structures and signs.
(9) 
Lighting.
(10) 
Screening devices.
(11) 
Other information that may be required by the Planning Board or County Planning Board, if applicable.
[Added 3-17-2003 by Ord. No. 03-8; amended 11-10-2025 by Ord. No. 25-20]
A. 
The Township Council has determined that it is necessary to maintain the Township's tree stock so as to preserve the quality of life in the Township of Washington because of its role in maintaining a mature tree inventory, as well as preventing soil erosion and controlling drainage. The Township Council has further determined that the demolition of residences in the Township may compromise these objectives, and that safeguards are necessary to insure that such demolition activity does not undermine these goals.
B. 
Full demolition, razing, dismantling, destruction or demolition of 50% or more of an existing residence in a residential zone in the Township is prohibited and no demolition permit authorizing the same may be issued without prior approval by the Planning Board, or by the Zoning Board of Adjustment in connection with any related application before it with regard to the subject property.
(1) 
The calculation to determine the percentage of demolition shall be made by the Construction Code Official or Zoning Officer as follows:
(a) 
Step 1: Calculate the existing dwelling perimeter, defined as the total length of all exterior walls of the existing dwelling at the first-floor level of the dwelling.
(b) 
Step 2: Calculate the total length along any portion or segment of the existing dwelling perimeter requiring its removal, on either a temporary or permanent basis.
(c) 
Step 3: Calculate the demolition percentage by dividing the calculated length obtained in Step 2 by the calculated length obtained in Step 1.
(2) 
An "existing residence" as used herein does not include a detached garage, storage shed, gazebo, greenhouse, or other outbuilding or freestanding incidental structure within a residential zone.
C. 
Upon receipt of an application for approval of the issuance of a demolition permit hereunder, the Planning Board or Zoning Board of Adjustment as applicable shall refer same to its Board Engineer for an analysis of the effect of such demolition on the mature trees located on the subject property, and the effect of such proposed demolition on soil erosion and drainage. In conjunction with such examination by the Board Engineer, the Planning Board or Zoning Board of Adjustment, as applicable, shall review the effect of such demolition upon any proposed landscaping plan proposed by the applicant addressing the issue of the mature tree inventory on the subject property as well as erosion and drainage resulting from the proposed demolition and landscaping plan. The landscaping plan of the applicant shall include an analysis of replacement and restocking of the mature tree inventory on the subject property.
D. 
Prior to giving approval for the issuance of a permit hereunder the Planning Board, or Zoning Board of Adjustment as applicable, shall be guided by the site and environmental design standards set forth in § 540-79 of the Code of the Township of Washington.
E. 
When in the judgment of the Construction Code Official a structure is unfit for human habitation, occupancy or use, or is in immediate danger of collapse; and/or any delay in the issuance of a demolition permit would pose a substantial and imminent threat to public health or safety, demolition approval by the Planning Board or Board of Adjustment as applicable is not required.