For the purposes of this article, the definitions as found in the Municipal Land Use Law shall be adopted by reference; however, the following terms shall have the following meanings:
AMENDED OR MINOR SITE PLAN
A. 
A change in use of a nonresidential site that, although permitted, intensifies parking requirements not requiring variance relief; or
B. 
The erection, replacement, relocation, or reconfiguration of any fence, retaining wall, curbing, parking striping, trash collection area or other element of a nonresidential site not requiring a variance; or
C. 
The installation of an emergency power generator on a nonresidential site not requiring a variance; or
D. 
Addition or change of signage not requiring a variance; or
E. 
Any other external modification to a developed nonresidential site that does not involve the expansion of required stormwater management facilities, the extension of any street or off-tract improvement and further does not require variance relief.
MAJOR SITE PLAN
The preliminary and/or final plan for any development of a site or modification to a site that is not classified as an amended or minor site plan, as defined, and shall further include the conversion of any existing nonresidential building to dwelling units.
Development of single- and two-family homes shall be exempt from the requirements of this article. Change of tenancy of a nonresidential use or a change of permitted nonresidential use within a zone, which does not require variance relief, intensify parking, include the erection, replacement, relocation, or reconfiguration of any fence, retaining wall, curbing, parking striping, trash collection area or other element of a nonresidential site, addition or change of signage, or any other external modification to a developed nonresidential site, shall be exempt from the provisions of this article.
No building or structure shall be erected, altered or expanded on any lot in any district requiring site plan approval, or any land put to a nonresidential use, and no building permit or sanitary permit shall be issued in connection with any use of such lot, except in accordance with all the regulations of this article and in accordance with the site plan for such lot reviewed by the Planning Board in light of the standards set forth in this chapter.
All applications and plans for site plan approval shall first be filed with the administrative officer for review as to compliance with all provisions of this chapter, such as yards, building height, required on-site parking and loading facilities, building coverage, lot size, common usable open space, lot area per family, arrangement of buildings on the lot and all other applicable regulations of the zone district in which the property is situated.
Unless specifically waived by the Planning Board, the information which is to be submitted for a preliminary site plan is as follows:
A. 
All applications for site plan approval shall be accompanied by a site plan prepared, signed and sealed by a licensed professional engineer, which site plan shall be drawn to a scale of not more than 100 feet to the inch and shall show the following information:
(1) 
The identifying title and the name of the town and county.
(2) 
The names and addresses of the record owners, developer and designer of the site plan.
(3) 
The number of acres within the proposed site and the location of property lines, existing buildings, watercourses and other essential features.
(4) 
The date, North point and written and graphic scale.
(5) 
The locations of any existing sewage disposal systems and locations and sizes of wells, water mains, culverts and drains on and immediately adjacent to the site.
(6) 
The locations, names and present widths of existing and proposed streets, highways, easements, curblines, alleys, parks and other proposed public open spaces and similar facts regarding adjacent property.
(7) 
The provisions of this chapter applicable to the site, any zoning district boundaries affecting the site and any proposed changes in this chapter as it affects the site.
(8) 
The locations and owners of all adjoining lands as shown on the latest tax duplicates.
(9) 
Deed restrictions or covenants applying to the site.
(10) 
The widths and locations of any streets and other public ways or places shown upon the Official Map and the Master Plan, if any, within the site and the widths, locations, grades and street profiles of all streets or other public ways proposed by the applicant.
(11) 
Typical cross sections of the proposed grading, roadways, sidewalks and unusual topographic conditions. The location and access points to the site shall be shown, as well as the distances to the nearest intersecting street.
(12) 
The approximate boundaries of any area subject to flooding or stormwater overflows as shown on the Flood Hazard Boundary Maps for the Township of Little Falls or as determined by the project design engineer or the design surveyor or as documented by other studies performed by a qualified professional.
(13) 
The location of existing marshes, wooded areas, rock outcrops, wetlands, ponds, watercourses (seasonal or year-round), isolated trees with a diameter of 12 inches or more measured three feet above the base of the trunk, and other significant existing features.
(14) 
Contour lines at intervals of two feet, based on United States Geological Survey data, of existing grades and of proposed finished grades. A larger contour interval will be permitted on approval of the Planning Board Engineer.
(15) 
A metes-and-bounds description and map of the survey or site boundary, made and certified by a licensed land surveyor or a qualified licensed professional engineer, referenced to established Township reference points and related to the state system of plane coordinates.
(16) 
The locations of uses and outlines of structures, drawn to scale, within 100 feet of any property line of the site.
(17) 
Paved areas, sidewalks and vehicular access between the site and public streets.
(18) 
The location of any and all proposed buildings or structural improvements.
(19) 
The location and design of all uses requiring structures or improvement, including off-street parking, refuse and loading areas.
(20) 
The location, direction, power and time of use for any proposed outdoor lighting or public-address systems.
(21) 
The locations and plans for any outdoor signs.
(22) 
Any and all proposed grading, screening and other landscaping, including types and locations of proposed trees. Where the property is located adjacent to a limited-access highway, a buffer zone shall be shown on the site plan, the depth of which buffer zone and any appropriate tree plantings shall be at the discretion and approval of the Planning Board. The Planning Board may require that landscaping plans shall be prepared by a qualified licensed professional.
(23) 
The source of water supply and the location of all proposed water lines, valves and hydrants and available fire protection.
(24) 
The location of all proposed sewer lines and connection points.
(25) 
The provisions for collecting and discharging storm drainage in the form of a drainage plan meeting local and state regulations.
(26) 
The location of temporary markers adequate to locate and appraise the basic layout in the field. Unless an existing street intersection is shown, the distance along the street from one corner of the site to the nearest existing street intersection shall be shown.
(27) 
If the site plan only indicates a phased development, supplementary plans shall indicate ultimate development.
(28) 
A suitable vicinity map, drawn to a scale of not over 400 feet to the inch, showing the relation of the proposed site to the adjacent properties and to the general surrounding area.
(29) 
Architectural drawings, illustrating building elevations and all exterior characteristics.
(30) 
Any other information deemed necessary for the Board to determine conformity of the site plan to the intent and regulations of the Little Falls Zoning Ordinance and Master Plan.
(31) 
Environmental impact statement prepared by a qualified professional.
(32) 
Traffic impact study prepared by a qualified professional.
(33) 
Community impact study for applications that include relief pursuant to N.J.S.A. 40:55D-70d(1).
B. 
The ingress and egress from state, county and Township roads shall be subject to the approval of the Planning Board; and where, in the opinion of the Planning Board, such ingress and egress shall create or add to the congestion or safety factors of a given road, the Planning Board may require the applicant to provide alternative ingress or egress to the site.
In reviewing any site plan, the Planning Board shall consider whether the proposal conforms to the requirements of this chapter and the Municipal Land Use Law (N.J.S.A. 40:55D-40.1 et seq.), including:
A. 
The layout of the site with respect to the arrangement and widths of driveways, walkways and streets on the site to ensure that they are suitably located to accommodate prospective traffic and to provide access for firefighting and emergency equipment to buildings, and so oriented as to permit, consistent with the reasonable utilization of land, the buildings constructed thereon to maximize solar gain.
B. 
The amount of space required for automobile parking and for the loading and unloading of goods and materials, the location of such spaces and access thereto.
C. 
The planting plan or plans for providing adequate landscaping and screening.
D. 
The improvements of roadways, sidewalks, walkways, automobile parking areas and loading and unloading areas, by grading, surfacing and the installation of drainage structures and the installation of water lines and facilities for sanitary sewage, subject to approval by the Health Officer.
E. 
The display of signs with due regard for public safety and welfare.
F. 
The effect of the development on surrounding properties.
G. 
The arrangement of buildings on the lot, the yards provided, the building height, building coverage, lot size, common usable open space, lot area per family, density and relationship of buildings to each other and:
(1) 
The relationship, beneficial or adverse, of the site plan to the contiguous residential zone.
(2) 
Air pollution and its effect on the contiguous residential zone.
(3) 
Whether the site plan will adequately protect the contiguous residential zone and ensure safety from fire, flood, panic or other dangers.
(4) 
Whether the site plan will provide adequate light and air.
(5) 
Whether the site plan will prevent the overcrowding of the land or buildings together with whether the site plan will minimize the impact upon the residential zone of the use of the subject land in accordance with the proposed site plan.
(6) 
Whether the site plan would create undue concentration of population within the proximity of the contiguous residential zone.
(7) 
Whether the site plan has any effect on the value of the property in the contiguous residential zone.
(8) 
Whether the use of the property in accordance with the proposed site plan will create and be attended by instances of discomfort or annoyance to residents of the contiguous residential property.
H. 
Adequate water supply, drainage, shade trees, sewerage facilities and other utilities necessary for essential services to residents and occupants.
I. 
Suitable size, shape and location for areas reserved for public use or open space to be set aside for the use and benefits of residents of planned developments.
J. 
Conformity with the requirements of Chapters 86, Flood Damage Prevention; 209, Soil Removal; 214, Solid Waste, Article I, Recycling; and 218, Stormwater Management.
The regulations and requirements of this article shall apply to any nonresidential development or other development except single-family residential development. This article shall also apply in all instances where an application is made to the Planning Board for a use variance.
A. 
The Board may impose conditions of preliminary site plan, which shall be expressed in its resolution. Final site plan approval shall not be granted unless all the conditions of preliminary site plan approval have been met or the developer has posted performance and maintenance guarantees as required. The Board may require the developer to enter into a developer's agreement with the Township; however, if the Township fails to enter into such a developer's agreement with the developer, the developer shall nonetheless be required to post performance and maintenance guarantees, in such form and amounts pursuant to the Municipal Land Use Law, for such improvements as may be reasonably required prior to receipt of final approval.
B. 
The granting of preliminary site plan approval shall entitle the developer to those rights as inure to the developer pursuant to the Municipal Land Use Law. If a developer fails to act upon an approved preliminary site plan, or obtain final approval, without seeking an extension, such approval shall be void after three years.
C. 
Developers may seek the extension of a preliminary site plan approval pursuant to the Municipal Land Use Law. No extension may be granted by the Planning Board unless the applicant has attached to his request for an extension the following:
(1) 
A written certification from the Tax Collector that all real estate taxes have been paid; and
(2) 
A written certification from the Township Clerk or Chief Financial Officer that all fees on the current and former applications as well as all escrow deposits have been paid and deposited.
A developer shall be entitled to final major site plan approval upon the satisfactory completion of all required site improvements and satisfaction of conditions of the preliminary approval, or upon the posting of performance and maintenance guarantees, in such form and amounts pursuant to the Municipal Land Use Law, for all reasonably necessary improvements as determined by the Township's Engineer's estimate.
Developers may seek the extension of a final site plan approval pursuant to the Municipal Land Use Law. No extension may be granted by the Planning Board unless the applicant has attached to his request for an extension the following:
A. 
A written certification from the Tax Collector that all real estate taxes have been paid;
B. 
A written certification from the Chief Financial Officer that all fees on the current and former applications as well as all escrow deposits have been paid and deposited; and
C. 
A fully executed copy of posted bonds continuing in effect or a developer's agreement with the Township with evidence of compliance with its terms.
The granting of final site plan approval shall entitle the developer to those rights as inure to the developer pursuant to the Municipal Land Use Law. If a developer fails to act upon an approved final site plan, or obtain final approval, without seeking an extension, such approval shall be void after three years.
A. 
Application requirements. An applicant for an amended/minor site plan shall submit with that application a survey prepared by a licensed land surveyor, with the following information:
(1) 
Name and address of the applicant and the owner.
(2) 
Name, address and title of the person preparing the plan, maps and accompanying data.
(3) 
Date of preparation and the dates of each revision, where applicable.
(4) 
Signature and certification, as appropriate, by a registered engineer, land surveyor and/or architect, with property survey data to be based on current conditions as they exist.
(5) 
An appropriate place for the signatures of the Chair and Secretary of the Planning Board or Zoning Board of Adjustment and the Township Engineer.
(6) 
Lot and block number or numbers of the lot or lots from the Township Tax Maps.
(7) 
Area of lot or lots and the length and bearings of the lot lines of the proposed project.
(8) 
Scale and North sign and key map relating the site to the streets in the surrounding area.
(9) 
Zone district in which the lot or lots are located and the zone district or districts of all the immediately adjoining lots.
(10) 
Existing and proposed principal building or structure and all accessory buildings or structures, if any, with dimensions showing present and finished grade elevations at all corners and entrances of said building or structures, first-floor elevations and the complete floor plans and elevation plans thereof.
(11) 
Identifying title and name of town and county.
(12) 
Deed restrictions or covenants applying to the site.
(13) 
Approximate boundaries of areas subject to flooding or stormwater overflows as shown on Flood Hazard Boundary Maps or as determined by the project design engineer.
B. 
The rights and terms of final major site plan approvals, as provided by the Municipal Land Use Law, shall be applicable to approval of amended/minor site plans.