[Added 3-27-2017 by Ord.
No. 1280]
The purpose of the MFS Zone is to create an opportunity for
the construction of low- and moderate-income and senior housing in
the Township of Little Falls and thereby address the unmet-need portion
of the fair share housing obligation of the Township of Little Falls
under the New Jersey Fair Housing Act. This zone shall be additionally
regulated by the Little Falls' Affordable Housing Ordinance.[1]
The MFS Zone is identified by the following properties: Block
168, Lots 35-41, Lots 46-63, and Lots 65-74, as they appear on the
Township's Official Tax Map.
A.
In the Multi-Family/Senior Zone (MFS),[1] no lot, plot, parcel or tract of land shall be built on,
altered, or have a structure erected and used for any purpose other
than that of:
(1)
Multiple-family residential units.
(2)
Senior housing with a minimum age for at least one occupant
of 55 years.
[1]
Editor's Note: See also the Schedule of Use, Area and Bulk Regulations included as an attachment to this chapter.
B.
Permitted uses, however, may be developed with more than one building.
Senior residences must be developed in a separate building from any
multifamily dwellings.
A.
Accessory uses for low- and moderate-income housing and multifamily
dwellings shall permit and may include the following:
(1)
Public utilities and essential services.
(3)
Accessory surface and/or garage parking. Subsurface parking
shall not be counted as a story for the purpose of this use when less
than 1/2 of such subsurface parking height is below the established
curb level or below the finished lot grade level where curb level
has not been established.
(4)
A sign identifying the multiple-family residential development and located at the entrance or entrances to such development. The size, design, location, landscaping and maintenance of such sign or signs shall be in accordance with the requirements of Article XX, Signs, of this chapter and the specifications and conditions of the Planning Board.
(5)
Retention and detention drainage facilities.
B.
Accessory uses for senior housing shall permit and may include:
(1)
Off-street parking and loading.
(2)
Public utilities and essential services.
(4)
Indoor and outdoor recreation areas for residents for the facility
and their guests.
(5)
Indoor common laundry facilities for use by residents and staff.
(6)
A sign identifying the senior housing development, and located at the entrance or entrances to such development. The size, design, location, landscaping and maintenance of such sign or signs shall be in accordance with the requirements of Article XX, Signs, of this chapter and the specifications and conditions of the Planning Board.
(7)
Retention and detention drainage facilities.
A.
The residentially zoned properties shall be permitted to be developed
at a maximum gross density of 30 units per acre. Said development
shall consist of multifamily residential and senior housing facilities
where the senior facility will have no more than 10 units total on
the site.
B.
Twenty percent of the total number of units constructed within the
MFS Zone shall be affordable to low- and moderate-income households.
When calculating the required number of affordable units, any computation
resulting in a fraction of less than 0.5 shall be rounded down; any
computation resulting in a fraction of 0.5 or greater shall be rounded
up; provided, however, that a minimum of one affordable unit shall
be required as part of any project constructed within the MFS Zone.
C.
Rooms. Each apartment unit in each apartment building shall contain
separate bedroom, separate bathroom and separate kitchen/dining facilities.
This provision shall not be interpreted to preclude efficiency apartments.
D.
The housing units set aside for low- and moderate-income households
shall be constructed, marketed, and rented or sold in accordance with
applicable COAH regulations (or any other applicable state regulations
adopted to implement the requirements of the New Jersey Fair Housing
Act), including:
The applicable bulk standards are as follows and also appear
on the Township of Little Falls Bulk Schedule Table:[1]
A.
Minimum lot area: 79,000 square feet.
B.
Minimum lot width: 325 feet.
C.
Minimum lot depth: 200 feet.
D.
Minimum front yard: 25 feet.
E.
Minimum side yard: 25 feet.
F.
Minimum rear yard: 25 feet.
G.
Maximum building coverage: 40%.
H.
Maximum impervious coverage: 75%.
J.
Distance between buildings: The minimum distance between buildings
shall be 50 feet, except that the side-to-side minimum distance between
buildings shall be 25 feet.
[1]
Editor's Note: The Schedule of Use, Area and Bulk Regulations is included as an attachment to this chapter.
A landscaped buffer a minimum of 15 feet in width and eight
feet in height at planting shall be provided for any development permitted
in this Multi-Family/Senior District which is adjacent to a single-family
residential use. Said buffer shall be subject to review and approval
by the Planning Board/Zoning Board pursuant to site plan review.
A.
No use or structure, including parking or loading areas, shall be
permitted within the required buffer area, but the Planning Board
may, upon a finding of reasons therefor, permit a portion of a buffer
area to be used for utility easements or streets to ensure access
to or from adjacent property, and the Board may also permit a portion
of a buffer area to be used for a detention or retention basin, provided
that the basin is designed as a landscaping feature, and further provided
that the landscaping plan for the buffer area is determined by the
Planning Board to meet the objective of a buffer area.
A.
Parking may be provided as both surface parking and garage spaces.
B.
All required parking must be provided on site.
C.
Parking is prohibited in any required front yard setback.
D.
Parking shall be located to the rear of a building and/or the interior
of the site where its visual impact to adjacent properties and the
public right-of-way will be minimized. Parking is prohibited in any
front yard.
E.
The minimum setback from a building to a parking area or paved area
shall be 10 feet.
F.
Adequate fire and emergency access must be provided subject to the
Little Falls Fire Department.
G.
Parking spaces are to be a minimum of nine feet by 18 feet (9x18).
H.
One-car garage spaces shall be a minimum of 10 feet wide and a maximum
width of 12 feet.
I.
On-site parking shall not be provided for any use or to any party
other than a resident of the site, nor shall parking areas be used
for any purpose other than parking.
J.
Required parking.
(1)
Apartment uses: shall adhere to the standards in the Residential
Site Improvement Standards. However, in accordance with those standards
that state that alternate parking standards shall be accepted if the
applicant demonstrates that these standards better reflect local conditions
and factors such as household characteristics, mass transit options,
urban versus suburban location, and off-street parking resources,
the Planning Board may grant deviations and exceptions.
(2)
Senior units: Parking shall be required at 1.5 spaces per unit.
(3)
Signage shall be provided where parking spaces are to be reserved
for residents and/or for areas used for visitor parking.
All of the foregoing shall be subject to site plan review.
