The specific purposes of this chapter are as follows:
A. To encourage the most appropriate use or development of all lands
throughout the Township while conserving the value of property, with
reasonable consideration for the character of various zoning districts
and their peculiar suitability for particular uses that will be compatible
with the development patterns and general welfare in neighboring municipalities
and the surrounding region, all in accordance with the Township adopted
Master Plan.
B. To secure safety from fire, flood, panic and other natural or man-made
disasters;
C. To provide adequate light, air and open space;
D. To promote the establishment of appropriate population densities
and development concentrations that will contribute to the well-being
of persons, neighborhoods, communities and preservation of natural
resources and the environment;
E. To provide sufficient space in appropriate locations for a variety
of agricultural, residential, conservation, recreational, commercial
and industrial uses and open spaces, both public and private;
F. To promote a desirable visual environment through creative development
techniques and good civic design and arrangement;
G. To promote the conservation of historic sites, open spaces, energy
resources and valuable natural resources and to prevent urban sprawl
and degradation of the environment through the improper use of land;
H. To encourage senior citizen community housing construction;
I. To prevent the overcrowding of land and to avoid undue concentrations
of population, and to these ends, to regulate the height, design,
appearance, number of stories and the size of buildings and other
structures as well as their placement on the land;
J. To encourage and regulate new techniques and designs which conserve
energy;
K. To encourage residential cluster and planned development which conserves
land;
L. To implement the objectives of the Pinelands Protection Act and the
Pinelands Comprehensive Management Plan and to conform with the minimum
standards contained therein, as said standards pertain to the Township
of Maurice River. These objectives with respect to the Pinelands are
to protect, preserve and enhance the significant values of the resources
thereof, including natural, ecological, agricultural, archaeological,
historic, scenic, cultural and recreational resources;
M. To provide sufficient quality housing opportunities to meet the Council
on Affordable Housing's identified housing needs as set forth in the
adopted Township Master Plan;
N. To preserve and protect the coastal areas of the Township's rivers
and bay shore areas while allowing recreational and limited commercial
use of these natural waterways;
O. To delineate the existing villages within the municipality and encourage
and promote their continued viability and vitality through new and
innovative zoning techniques, and seek to have said villages recognized
and coordinated with the State, regional, and local plans and regulations;
and
P. To protect public health, safety and general welfare.