[Amended by Ord. No. 06-21; Ord. No. 03-3; Ord. No. 2017-13;
Ord. No. 2017-14]
Schedule I, titled "Schedule of Area, Yard and Building Requirements," Schedule II, titled "Minimum Utility Requirements," and Schedule III, titled "Cluster Requirements," which are
attached to this chapter, are declared to be a part of this chapter and shall be deemed to be the minimum requirements in every instance of their application, unless otherwise stated.
A. Applicability of regulations.
Except as hereinafter provided:
(1) No building shall be erected
and no existing building shall be moved, altered, added to or enlarged,
nor shall any land or building be designed, used or intended to be
used, for any purpose or in any manner other than as specified among
the uses hereinafter listed as permitted in the zone in which such
building or land is located.
(2) No building shall be erected,
reconstructed or structurally altered to exceed in height the limit
hereinafter designated for the zone in which such building is located.
(3) No building shall be erected,
no existing buildings shall be altered, enlarged or rebuilt, nor shall
any open space surrounding any building be encroached upon or reduced
in any manner, except in conformity with the yard, lot area and building
location regulations hereinafter designated for the zone in which
such building or open space is located.
(4) No yard or other open space
provided about any building for the purpose of complying with the
provisions of this chapter shall be considered as providing a yard
or open space for any other building, and no yard or other open space
on one lot shall be considered as providing a yard or open space for
a building on any other lot.
(5) No off-street parking area
or loading or unloading area provided to meet the minimum off-street
parking, loading or unloading requirements for a use or structure
on any lot shall be considered as providing off-street parking area
or loading and unloading area for a use or structure on any other
lot.
[Amended at time of adoption of Code (see Ch. 1, General
Provisions, Art. II)]
(6) No land in a residential
zone shall be used to fulfill open space, parking or similar requirements
for uses in nonresidential zones. No access shall be allowed through
a residential zone to service a use in a nonresidential zone.
B. General use restrictions for
all zones.
(1) Any use not designated as
a principal permitted use, a permitted accessory use or a conditional
use is specifically prohibited from any zone in the Township. All
uses shall be conducted within a building or structure unless otherwise
permitted.
(2) The following public utility
facilities shall be permitted in all zones on land with sufficient
area appropriate for the facility or service to be provided:
(a) Electrical substations,
pumping stations and underground utility lines and underground pipelines
constructed or used to serve a principal permitted use and permitted
accessory uses for which subdivision or site plan approval has been
granted or which is preexisting.
(b) Electrical or other utility
substations to be installed within existing public and private rights-of-way
where a utility line already exists.
(c) Electric line installations
of 34.5 kilovolts or less.
C. Prohibited uses.
(1) Explosives manufacturing.
(3) Bulk storage of refinery products and raw materials in tanks for use on the premises or for resale, when inventoried in tankage exceeding the capacity as listed in §
296-140C.
(4) Junkyards and automobile
wrecking yards.
[Amended at time of adoption of Code (see Ch. 1, General
Provisions, Art. II)]
(5) Retail, wholesale or auction sales of used motor vehicles, except as an accessory use as set forth in §
296-151E.
(6) All billboards, signboards
or advertising devices not expressly related to the business being
conducted on the premises.
(8) Pursuant to the New Jersey
Cannabis Regulatory, Enforcement Assistance and Marketplace Modernization
Act, P.L. 2021, c. 16 (the "Act"), all cannabis establishments, cannabis distributors
or cannabis delivery services, as said terms are defined in the Act,
are hereby prohibited from operating anywhere in the Township of Raritan,
except for the delivery of cannabis items and related supplies by
a delivery service. In addition to the foregoing, it is further stated
that all recreational and medical marijuana uses, such as, but not
limited to, marijuana cultivation facilities, marijuana production
or manufacturing facilities, marijuana testing facilities, and retail
marijuana sales and dispensaries, are prohibited in all zones within
the Township.
[Added 11-7-2018 by Ord.
No. 18-28; amended 5-4-2021 by Ord. No. 21-09]
Any major residential subdivision in Zone Districts R-1A, R-2,
R-3, R-4, R-5 and R-6 meeting the requirements of this section may
apply to the Planning Board for approval as a cluster subdivision
under the provisions of this chapter and in accordance with the following
requirements:
A. Maximum number of lots. The
maximum number of lots to be permitted shall be the fewer number of
lots resulting from the following:
[Amended 3-20-2018 by Ord. No. 18-1]
(1) The maximum number of lots
to be permitted shall be no greater than the number derived by preparation
of a sketch plat of the subject property showing a development with
conventional lot sizes. Such sketch plat shall be prepared at a scale
of not less than one inch equals 100 feet. Such sketch plat and the
resulting number of lots thereon shall be based upon and shall include:
(a) Street layout with street
right-of-way widths conforming to the Master Plan and this chapter.
(b) Steep slope analysis of topography shown on such sketch plat at intervals of at least 10 feet as required by §
296-143.
(c) Location of any 100-year
floodplains.
(d) Location of wetlands
and wetland transition areas based upon a letter of interpretation
from NJDEP.
(e) Lot areas conforming to the zoning district requirements, indicating lot area and lot width. A lot circle shall be inscribed in such lot, the location and diameter of which shall conform to requirements of Part
3, Zoning, of this chapter pertaining to the zoning district within which the property is located.
(f) In addition, such sketch plat shall show all other information required by the checklist for sketch plats and §
296-64, including, where public sewers are not proposed, the requirement of §
296-64B(9), which requires at least one passing permeability test and soil log for each five acres of such property. The location of all unsatisfactory and abandoned permeability tests shall be indicated.
(g) Where public water supply is not available, a well test report as required by §
296-69 shall be submitted.
(h) If public water supply
is proposed, a letter from the water supplier shall be submitted stating
that safe and adequate service to the anticipated number of units
can be supplied.
(i) If public sewers are
to be provided, a written communication from RTMUA shall be submitted
stating that sewage treatment capacity for the number of units shown
on the sketch plat has been reserved.
(j) If public water supply
and/or public sewers are proposed, the route of extension of such
to the property and the location of any required pumping station shall
be indicated.
(2) Preparation of a sketch
plat of the subject property showing a development with conventional
lot size without both utilities (public sewer and public water).
(a) Such sketch plat and
the resulting number of lots thereon shall be based upon and shall
include:
[2] Location of any 100-year
floodplains.
[3] Location of any wetlands
as defined by the United States Fish and Wildlife Service.
(b) Such conventional lot
sizes without both utilities (public sewer and public water) shall
meet all minimum lot area and minimum lot width requirements for the
district in which located.
C. The land area which would otherwise
be required for house lots, but which is not so used under the permitted
lot size reduction provisions of this section, shall be devoted instead
to contiguous common space.
D. Location and use of dedicated
lands. The Planning Board shall have full authority to approve or
disapprove the locations and proposed uses of lands required to be
dedicated in accordance with the foregoing and as guided in its decisions
by this subsection and the following:
(1) Lands required to be dedicated
shall be so located as to meet the needs of open spaces, parks, playgrounds,
rights-of-way, protecting major streams or open drainageways and buffer
areas, or to provide additional neighborhood area for recreational
purposes or school purposes. The Planning Board shall make certain
that not only Township requirements shall be satisfied, but also that
dedicated area shall be so located as to meet any possible future
needs of the neighborhood or region.
(2) The Planning Board shall
have full discretion as to the location and size of the various use
need areas and their distribution. It shall not generally approve
areas of less than five acres except when such site is considered
adequate for its specific use, and it shall make certain that a reasonable
portion of required dedicated area shall be located so as to specifically
serve the needs of the development where located. Areas utilized for
stormwater detention facilities shall not be counted toward fulfilling
minimum open space area requirements for a cluster development. Areas
utilized for stormwater retention facilities shall be counted toward
fulfilling open space area requirements.
E. Disposition of dedicated areas. Dedicated areas shall be deemed free and clear of all mortgages and encumbrances to the Township if the Township so indicates, as provided in Subsection
D of this section, or deeded to a property owners' association, cooperative or condominium corporation, free and clear of any encumbrances, for its use, control and management for open space recreational or agricultural use and to provide appropriate restrictions to assure the effectuation of the purpose of this chapter and to provide for the maintenance and control of the area. If non-Township ownership is approved, the maintenance responsibility shall be upon the property owners within the bounds of the development. Upon failure to maintain an orderly open space, the Township may and can perform such maintenance and assess the cost to the responsible property owner pursuant to N.J.S.A. 40:55D-43.
F. Right of owner. Proposals in
accordance with this section shall only be approved by the Planning
Board as above regulated if the lesser requirements will promote the
public health, safety, morals and general welfare and will enhance
property values within the area of development and Raritan Township.
Nothing herein shall be construed as requiring a developer to elect
this means of developing his or her tract.
It is recognized that it may be in the interests of the Township
and in accordance with the purpose of this chapter to permit temporary
activities for limited period of time, which activities may not be
permitted by other provisions of this chapter.
A. Such uses shall be permitted
if they are of such nature and are so located that, at the time of
application, they will:
(1) In
no way exert a detrimental effect upon the lawful use of land and
activities normally permitted in the zone in question; and
(2) Contribute
materially to the welfare and well-being of the Township.
B. Upon favorable findings by the
Planning Board, the Board may direct the Land Use Enforcement Officer
to issue a zoning permit for a period not to exceed six months. The
Planning Board may authorize extensions of such zoning permits for
an additional period of not more than six months. Such extensions
in total time shall not exceed the total period of construction on
the site or, when such temporary use is located within a planned residential
development, shall not exceed the period of construction of the planned
residential development.
C. In subdivisions and planned
developments designed for residential use, the Planning Board may
permit the use of one unit of each type of dwelling as a model unit
and the use of not more than one such dwelling as a temporary sales
office. The use of the dwellings as model units and the operation
of the sales office shall not extend beyond the date of the initial
sale or occupancy of all of the units. A rental office may be permitted
in an apartment complex at all times.
In addition to the regulations of this article, several other
Township regulations may have to be met before a zoning permit, construction
permit, or certificate of occupancy can be issued. These include,
but are not limited to, the following:
B. Floodplain and stormwater management.
[Amended by Ord. No. 01-9; 4-2-2001]
A. Lot width measurements.
(1) The minimum lot width required
shall be measured at the proposed street right-of-way line and at
the setback line and shall be maintained for an additional 40 feet
toward the rear of the lot on a line perpendicular to the setback
line.
(2) At the end of a cul-de-sac:
(a) The minimum frontage
at the right-of-way line may be less than the minimum required, but
in no case less than 50 feet.
(b) The minimum frontage
at the setback line may be 65% of the required frontage.
(3) For lots fronting on an
outside horizontal curve in a road, the minimum frontage at the right-of-way
line may be reduced to not less than 75% of the minimum required.
(4) In all lots, whether or not of an irregular shape, it must be possible to inscribe a circle of a diameter equal to the minimum lot width specified in Schedule I
attached to this chapter.
B. Sight triangle. At all street
intersections, fences, landscaping, grading or other obstruction to
vision exceeding 30 inches in height above the established grade of
the street at the property line shall not be erected or maintained
on any lot within the triangle formed by the street lot lines of such
lot and a line drawn between points along such street lot lines 50
feet distant from their point of intersection.
C. All yards facing on a public
street shall be considered front yards and shall conform to the minimum
front yard requirements for the respective zone for both intersecting
streets, for both principal and accessory buildings. Corner lots shall
be considered to have two front yards and two side yards and no rear
yard. Lots within the minimum required distance from the corner of
two streets or the same street shall have the required frontage on
both streets.
[Amended 5-4-2021 by Ord. No. 21-10]
(1) On
residential corner lots, the street which the front door faces or
is proposed to face shall be the dominant front yard, with the other
being the nondominant front yard. Where this cannot be determined
due to a diagonal or rear-facing dwelling, the Zoning Officer shall
determine which shall be considered the front yard.
(2) On
residential corner lots, accessory structures, such as air-conditioning
units and generators, are permitted in the nondominant front yard.
(a) Accessory structures located in the nondominant front yard shall
be located as close to the principal residential structure as possible,
subject to the applicable construction codes.
(b) Accessory structures located in the nondominant front yard shall
be screened and buffered with a fence or landscaping to screen such
structure from view from the street.
(3) On
all residential corner lots, the depth of all required setbacks for
accessory structures herein permitted in the nondominant front yard
shall not be less than the 75% of the required front yard setback
for the principal structure within the zone.
D. Where a building lot has frontage
on a street which the Master Plan or the Official Map of the Township
or county indicates is proposed for right-of-way widening, the required
front yard setback and yard area shall be measured from such proposed
right-of-way.
E. Lots shall abut street.
(1) No
zoning or construction permit shall be issued for a new structure
or use unless:
(a) The lot abuts a street
giving physical access to such proposed building or structure.
(b) Such street shall have
been duly placed on the Official Map of the Township or shall be:
[1] An existing state,
county or Township street or highway;
[2] A street shown upon
a plat approved by the Planning Board or Zoning Board of Adjustment;
or
[3] A street on a plat
duly filed in the office of the Hunterdon County recording officer
prior to the passage of an ordinance under the Municipal Land Use
Law, 1975, or any prior law which required prior approval of plats
by the Township Committee or other authorized body.
(2) Before
any permit shall be issued, such street shall have been certified
to be suitably improved to Township standards, or such suitable improvement
shall have been assured by means of a performance guarantee in accordance
with standards and specifications approved by the Township Committee
as adequate in respect to the public health, safety and general welfare
for the special circumstances of the particular street.
F. Parking of commercial vehicles
in residential zones.
[Amended 6-18-2019 by Ord. No. 19-15]
(1) No more than two total commercial
vehicles of a pickup or van type may be stored overnight in a residential
zone. Commercial vehicles must be parked off street.
(2) Commercial vehicles, not
exceeding a gross vehicle weight rating of 14,000 pounds, may be parked
out of doors overnight in any residential zone.
(3) Commercial vehicles individually
exceeding a gross weight rating of 14,000 pounds shall be stored within
a structure totally enclosing the vehicle.
(4) No more than one commercial
trailer, with an overall length of 20 feet (excluding tongue), may
be parked outside overnight in any residential zone. A commercial
trailer would count as one of the two permissible commercial vehicles.
The storage of trailers pulled by semi or truck tractors, construction
equipment and non-school buses is prohibited in residential zones.
(5) One truck tractor owned
by the resident occupant may be housed on residential lots greater
than two acres, but only if stored in an enclosed building.
G. Recreation vehicles larger than
a pickup truck or van type, boats, trailers and motor homes shall
not be stored out of doors on any residential lot less than 15,000
square feet.
H. Business structures or uses
shall not display goods for sale purposes or coin-operated vending
machines of any type in any location which would infringe upon the
required yard areas specified in this chapter.
I. No business or sales shall be
conducted from any vehicle parked on a lot.
J. All yards, open space, off-street
parking and required landscaping must be contained within the zone
in which the use is permitted.
K. Any subdivision proposed after the effective date of this amendatory ordinance concerning property which contains existing or proposed street rights-of-way, freshwater wetlands and their associated transition areas as determined and/or verified by the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection, floodplains, stormwater detention and/or retention facilities, existing easements precluding structures, bufferyards and state open waters shall divide such property in such a manner that each resulting lot created shall have a minimum required improvable area as specified in Subsection
M of this section. A floodplain shall be defined as extending to the 100-year floodplain of a river, stream or other tributary and to the stream encroachment line established in accordance with the flood hazard area regulations where the 100-year floodplain has not been delineated. The above requirements are in addition to net acreage requirements in the R-6, R-6LM and R-7 Zoning Districts.
[Amended by Ord. No. 02-54]
L. Any subdivision proposed after the effective date of the ordinance codified in this subsection shall divide such property in such manner that each resulting lot created shall have a minimum lot area exclusive of stormwater detention facilities as specified in Subsection
M of this section. In the case of surface impoundment stormwater detention or retention facilities, the minimum lot area as required in Subsection
M of this section shall not include the impoundment area extending to an elevation of one foot above the 100-year storm design elevation. Such elevation shall be specified on the subdivision plat and the elevation of one foot above the 100-year storm design elevation shall be indicated on the subdivision plat. In the case of non-surface detention facilities, such facilities shall be enclosed by an easement which easement area shall be excluded from the minimum lot area as required in Subsection
M of this section. It is the intent of this subsection that stormwater detention facilities (both surface impoundment and non-surface detention facilities) shall be located on one parcel of property.
M. Minimum required improvable
area.
Zoning District
|
Minimum Required Improvable Area
|
---|
R-1
|
65,000 square feet
|
R-1A
|
50,000 square feet
|
R-2
|
40,000 square feet
|
R-3
|
40,000 square feet
|
R-3
|
30,000 square feet (served by sanitary sewer)
|
R-4
|
30,000 square feet
|
R-5
|
30,000 square feet (15,000 square feet) (1)
|
R-6
|
30,000 square feet (15,000 square feet) (1)
|
R-6LM
|
2,200 square feet
|
R-7
|
2,200 square feet
|
Notes:
|
(1)
|
30,000 square feet of the minimum lot area specified on Schedule
I and elsewhere in this chapter is required for a lot to be used for
a single-family dwelling not served by public water and sewer and
on a lot on which is to be located a two-family dwelling; 15,000 square
feet of the minimum lot area specified on Schedule I and elsewhere
in this chapter is required for a lot to be used for a single-family
dwelling served by public water and sewer.
|
(1) Within such minimum required improvable area a lot circle having a diameter at least equal to the required lot width for the district in which such lot is located shall be able to be inscribed in the area of such lot exclusive of areas of existing or proposed street rights-of-way, freshwater wetlands and their associated transition areas as determined and/or verified by the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection, floodplains, stormwater detention and/or retention facilities, existing easements precluding structures, bufferyards and state open waters, as set forth in Subsections
K and
L of this section.
(2) Any lot which is proposed as part of a cluster development shall have an area equal to the minimum lot area required in the zoning district for a cluster development as specified on Schedule III
attached to this chapter, which minimum lot area shall be exclusive of any area of existing or proposed street rights-of-way, freshwater wetlands and their associated transition areas as determined and/or verified by the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection, floodplains, stormwater detention and/or retention facilities, existing easements precluding structures, bufferyards, and state open waters, as set forth in Subsections
K and
L, and having a lot circle at least equal to the required lot width which shall be able to be inscribed in the minimum lot area exclusive of existing or proposed street rights-of-way, freshwater wetlands and their associated transition areas as determined and/or verified by the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection, floodplains, stormwater detention and/or retention facilities, existing easements precluding structures, bufferyards, and state open waters, as set forth in Subsections
K and
L.
[Amended by Ord. No. 02-54]
N. Subdivision
of property containing easements.
(1) Any
subdivision proposed after the effective date of this amendment concerning
property which contains an easement or easements which preclude structures
shall divide such property in such manner that each resulting lot
created shall have a minimum lot area exclusive of such existing easement
or easements which preclude structures as follows:
Zoning District
|
Minimum Lot Area Excluding Easements Which Preclude Structures
|
---|
R-1
|
65,000 square feet
|
R-2
|
50,000 square feet
|
R-3
|
40,000 square feet
|
(2) Within
such minimum lot excluding an easement or easements which preclude
structures a lot circle having a diameter at least equal to the required
lot width for the district in which such lot is located shall be able
to be inscribed in the area of such lot exclusive of the easement
or easements which preclude structures.
(3) Any lot which is proposed as part of a cluster development shall have an area equal to the minimum lot area required in the zoning district for cluster development as specified on Schedule III
attached to this chapter which minimum lot area shall be exclusive of any existing easement or easements which preclude structures and a lot circle having a diameter at least equal to the required lot width shall be able to be inscribed in said minimum lot area exclusive of an existing easement or easements which preclude structures.
(4) Any
existing right-of-way other than street right-of-way which precludes
structures shall be treated the same as an easement which precludes
structures.
[Amended by Ord. No. 08-16]
A. In the B-1, B-2, B-3, B-4, O-1,
O-2, OR and C-R-R Zoning Districts the hours of operation shall be
limited to 5:00 a.m. to 12:00 a.m. where such a use is adjacent to
a residential zoning district. ("Adjacent to" shall include uses located
across a public street from a residential zone.)
[Amended at time of adoption of Code (see Ch. 1, General
Provisions, Art. II)]
B. In the B-5 and PCOS Zones, the
hours of operation shall be controlled by the limitations listed in
those specific zoning districts.