[Ord. No. 2018-11 § 4]
The Municipal Council to implement the goals and objectives
of the Princeton master plan has determined that the residential cluster
development technique should be allowed and encouraged in particular
zoning districts as an alternative to conventional development, in
order:
(a)
To allow for innovation in residential development to meet the
demands of the citizens for a variety of housing types, sizes, designs
and forms of ownership and affordable housing opportunities.
(b)
To provide a flexible design method which can relate the type
and layout of residential developments to the particular site constraints
and to the particular demands for housing and related facilities.
(c)
To protect environmentally sensitive lands, such as stream corridors,
steep slopes and other critical site features and natural resources
by requiring that the more fragile areas of the site remain in preserved
open space.
(d)
To allow the most developable areas of the site to be more intensely
developed in return for retaining other portions of the site in common
open space.
(e)
To allow residential developments to be designed and constructed
at a lower cost per dwelling unit for streets, utilities, and other
site improvements.
(f)
To reduce the amount of blasting and other subsurface disturbances
required for street and utility installations.
(g)
To provide for recreation facilities which are appropriate to
the needs and convenient to the residents of the development.
(h)
To allow for the installation of pedestrian and bicycle circulation
networks to serve the residents of the development and which are integrated
with the other community facilities.
(i)
To provide a desirable visual environment through creative development
techniques and design arrangements related to the particular site.
(j)
To provide substantive and administrative regulations which
can control development pressures so that the flexibility and innovation
allowed is channeled into developments which accomplish the purposes
herein stated.
[Ord. No. 2018-11 § 4]
The Planning Board shall grant preliminary subdivision and/or
site plan approval for proposed residential cluster applications only
if it finds and reduces to writing the following facts and conclusions:
(a)
That departures by the proposed development from zoning regulations,
if any, otherwise applicable to the tract conform to the applicable
standards of this division;
(b)
That the proposals for maintenance and conservation of the common
open space are reliable and such common open space is consistent with
the requirements for same as hereinafter set forth in this division.
(c)
That adequate provision has been made through the physical design
of the residential cluster for public services, control over vehicular
and pedestrian traffic, the amenities of light and air, and recreation
and visual enjoyment.
(d)
That the residential cluster will not have an unreasonably adverse
impact upon the area in which it is proposed to be established. This
evaluation shall include reference to the Natural Resources Inventory.
(e)
In the case of a residential cluster which contemplates construction
over a period of years, that the terms and conditions intended to
protect the interests of the public and of the residents, occupants
and owners of the proposed development in the total completion of
the development are adequate.
(f)
That the residential cluster complies with all applicable requirements
of this division and chapter.
[Ord. No. 2018-11 § 4]
An applicant when submitting a development application for major subdivision or site plan approval, may at the same time seek approval of a residential cluster if the development is located in a zoning district in which residential clusters are permitted uses. All applications for residential clusters shall include sufficient information to enable the Planning Board to determine whether the requirements of this division have been met. In addition, all provisions of this Chapter relating to subdivision and site plan approval shall apply, except as modified by the provisions of this division. The design standards and plat details of the subdivision article shall apply even if only site plan approval is required. All applicants seeking approval of a residential cluster development are encouraged to utilize the concept review procedure pursuant to Section
T10B-9 before applying for preliminary approval.
[Ord. No. 2018-11 § 4]
In addition to the requirements for preliminary subdivision
and site plan approval set forth in this Chapter, the following information
shall be shown on or shall accompany the application for preliminary
approval of a cluster development:
(a)
Data on or accompanying the preliminary plat showing the location
and extent of common open space, a statement of the nature of the
owning entity, such as a homeowner's association, and a description
of the documentation which will provide for the retention and maintenance
of the common open space for open space uses in perpetuity.
(b)
An outline of the covenants and restrictions describing the
rights, limitations and obligations of the owners and occupants of
the dwelling units relative to the common open space and its appurtenant
facilities and to the dwelling units and their appurtenant land and
facilities, and in the entity which will own or control the common
open space.
(c)
If all or a portion of the development will involve zero lot
line units or structures, a plat shall be submitted showing imaginary
lot lines superimposed to show compliance with the required lot line
standards of this division.
(d)
Schematic plans and elevation drawings for all buildings whether
or not the applicant plans to be responsible for the construction,
except that elevations for single family structures need not be submitted
if the applicant proposes to sell such house lots as vacant land to
individual purchasers.
[Ord. No. 2018-11 § 4]
In addition to the requirements for final subdivision and site
plan approval set forth in this Chapter, the following information
shall be shown on or shall accompany the application for final approval
of a cluster development:
(a)
The location and extent of common open space, with accurate
dimensions, bearings and acreage.
(b)
Documentation of title to common open space, and the documentation
establishing the owning entity, in final and recordable form, subject
to and accompanied by the approval of the municipal attorney all in
accordance with the preliminary approval. The documentation of title
shall be recorded in the office of the county clerk, and a copy of
such recorded documentation certified by the county clerk shall be
furnished to the municipality by and at the cost and expense of the
applicant after the approval of the final plat. The documentation
establishing the owning entity shall, if necessary, be filed with
the Secretary of State and a certified copy shall be furnished to
the municipality by and at the cost and expense of the applicant after
the approval of the final plat.
(c)
The declaration of covenants and restrictions, in final and
recordable form, subject to and accompanied by the approval of the
municipal attorney, all in accordance with the terms of the preliminary
approval including documentation to insure the retention and maintenance
of the common open space for open space use in perpetuity. Such documentation
shall be recorded in the office of the county clerk and a copy of
such recorded documentation certified by the county clerk shall be
furnished to the municipality by and at the cost and expense of the
applicant after the approval of the final plat.
(d)
A deed in recordable form which provides that any local property
taxes that would otherwise be assessed against common open space shall
instead be assessed against the residential units within the development
that have a right of enjoyment of said common open space in proportion
to the assessed values of said units, and said deed shall further
provide that any amounts so assessed against the residential units
shall thereupon become a lien and tax on said units and be added to
and be part of the taxes to be levied and assessed thereon and enforced
and collected with interest by the same officers and in the same manner
as other taxes.
(e)
Building drawings as required by Section
T10B-230 for all buildings for which plans and elevation drawings are required by subsection
(d) of Section 10B-190.1.
[Ord. No. 2018-11 § 4]
The following uses or any combination thereof are permitted
in a residential cluster:
(a)
Single family structures. Conversion of single family structures
to two family structures shall be prohibited.
(c)
Multi-family structures other than townhouses, limited to a
maximum of 20% of the units in the development. Multi-family structures
shall only be permitted in residential clusters on tracts of more
than 25 acres.
(e)
Accessory structures and uses customarily incidental to the
principal uses allowed herein.
[Ord. No. 2018-11 § 4]
It is not the intent of this division to prescribe the form of ownership for the dwelling units in a residential cluster and the ownership may be fee simple, condominium, or cooperative or any combination thereof. However for purposes of regulating the location of buildings within the cluster development it is necessary to prescribe lot sizes, dimensions and setbacks standards. (See Section
T10B-192.) Each dwelling unit or structure shall be located so that it would comply with the prescribed lot standards if imaginary lot lines were superimposed on the development.
[Ord. No. 2018-11 § 4]
The following standards shall apply to clusters in which less
than 80% of the tract is devoted to open space.
(a)
Single-family structures. Single-family structures shall have
the following lot area, dimensions and yard setback requirements.
(1)
Minimum width and frontage. No lot shall have a width or frontage
less than 75 feet.
(2)
Maximum depth. No lot shall have a depth of more than three
times its width.
(3)
Minimum area. No lot shall have an area of less than 10,000
square feet.
(4)
Front and rear yard setbacks. The front yard setback shall be
not less than 15 feet, and the rear yard setback shall not be less
than 25 feet.
(5)
Setbacks for corner lots. Corner lots shall observe a setback
of at least 15 feet from each street right-of-way line.
(6)
Side yard setback. Each lot shall have combined side yard setbacks
of at least 30 feet, but neither side yard setback shall be less than
10 feet, except that one of the side yards may be reduced to zero
feet; provided that the sill of the window in a building abutting
a lot line shall be no less than seven feet above the elevation of
the ground and shall contain no windows if it is a common or abutting
wall with a building on the adjacent lot.
(7)
Floor area ratio. The maximum floor area ratio shall be as follows:
Lot size
|
F.A.R.
(max %)
|
---|
10,000 to 10,890 square feet
|
25
|
10,891 to 21,780 square feet
|
20
|
21,781 to 43,560 square feet
|
15
|
43,561 to 65,340 square feet
|
12.5
|
65,341 square feet or more
|
10
|
(b)
Two-family structures. Two-family structures shall have the
following lot area, dimensions and yard setback requirements:
(1)
Minimum width and frontage. No lot shall have a width or frontage
of less than 100 feet.
(2)
Maximum depth. No lot shall have a depth of more than three
times its width.
(3)
Minimum area. No lot shall have an area of less than 12,000
square feet.
(4)
Front and rear yard setbacks. The front yard setback shall be
not less than 15 feet, and the rear yard setback shall be not less
than 25 feet.
(5)
Setbacks of corner lots. Corner lots shall observe a setback
of at least 15 feet from each street right-of-way line.
(6)
Side yard setback. Each side yard setback shall be at least
20 feet.
(7)
Floor area ratio. The maximum floor area shall be the same as is set forth in Section
T10B-192(a)(7).
(c)
Townhouse units. Townhouse units shall have the following lot
area, dimensions, yard setback, and outdoor living space requirements:
(1)
Minimum width and frontage, lot and building. No lot shall have
a width of less than 20 feet, nor a lot frontage of less than 20 feet.
No townhouse unit shall have a width of less than 20 feet.
(2)
Maximum depth. No lot shall have a depth of more than five times
its width.
(3)
Minimum area. No lot shall have an area of less than 2,000 square
feet.
(4)
Front and rear yard setbacks. Each lot shall have a combined
front and rear yard setback of at least 35 feet, but neither the front
nor rear yard setback shall be less than 15 feet.
(5)
Setbacks for corner lots. Corner lots shall observe a setback
of at least 15 feet from each street right-of-way line or common parking
area, whichever is greater.
(6)
Side yard. There shall be a side yard of not less than 15 feet
for each end townhouse unit.
(7)
Outdoor living space. There should be direct access from each
townhouse unit to outdoor living space having an area of not less
than 300 square feet in size, having no single dimension of less than
15 feet, which shall be clear of structures and shall be designed
for the recreational use of the occupants of the townhouse unit. The
space may be at ground level or elevated and may be composed of any
materials designed to create a patio surface or may be a wood deck
area, lawn, or other surface or structure or combination thereof,
in whole or in part. Adequate visual screening from neighboring dwelling
units and their outdoor living space, adjacent parking areas and roadways
shall be provided which may consist of plantings, masonry structures
or wood fencing. Architectural elements, such as masonry walls and
fences, shall be compatible in both style and materials with the dwelling
unit of which it is a part.
(d)
Multi-family structures. Because the dwelling units in multi-family
structures may contain a variety of configurations, no specific lot
dimensions are prescribed for the individual units. Each multi-family
structure shall conform to the following requirements:
(1)
Minimum area. Each multi-family structure shall be on a lot
having an area of 2,800 square feet per dwelling unit in the structure.
(2)
Front and rear yard setbacks. Each multi-family structure shall
have a combined front and rear yard setback of at least 35 feet, but
neither the front nor rear yard setback shall be less than 15 feet.
(3)
Setbacks from corners. The portion of a multi-family structure
at a corner shall observe a setback of at least 15 feet from each
street right-of-way line or common parking area, whichever is greater.
(4)
Side yard. Each multi-family structure shall have a side yard
of not less than 15 feet.
(5)
Outdoor living space. Each unit in a multi-family structure
shall have outdoor living space comparable to that required from each
townhouse unit, but the Planning Board may allow those requirements
to be adjusted as may be necessary to accommodate the different arrangements
of units.
[Ord. No. 2018-11 § 4]
The following standards shall apply to clusters in which at
least 80% of the tract is devoted to open space.
(a)
Single-family structures. Single-family structures shall have
the following lot area, dimensions and yard setback requirements:
(1)
Minimum width and frontage. No lot shall have a width or frontage
of less than 55 feet, except for a flag lot, which shall have a minimum
width and frontage of 15 feet. The width of adjacent lots shall be
varied in order to reduce the appearance of a uniform subdivision.
A maximum of 10% of all lots may be flag lots.
(2)
Minimum depth. No lot shall have a depth of less than 110 feet.
(3)
Minimum area. No lot shall have an area of less than 6,500 square
feet.
(4)
Front and rear yard setbacks. The front yard setback shall be
not less than 15 feet, and the rear yard setback shall not be less
than 25 feet.
(5)
Setbacks for corner lots. Corner lots shall observe a setback
of at least 15 feet from each street right-of-way line.
(6)
Side yard setback. Each lot shall have combined side yard setbacks
of at least 25 feet, but neither side yard setback shall be less than
10 feet, except that one of the side yards may be reduced to zero
feet; provided that the sill of any window in a building abutting
a lot line shall be no less than seven feet above the elevation of
the ground and shall contain no windows if it is a common or abutting
wall with a building on the adjacent lot.
(7)
Floor area ratio. The maximum floor area ratio shall be as follows:
Lot size
|
F.A.R.
(max %)
|
---|
6,500 square feet or less
|
35
|
6,501 to 8,500 square feet
|
30
|
8,501 to 10,890 square feet
|
25
|
10,891 to 21,780 square feet
|
20
|
21,781 to 43,560 square feet
|
15
|
43,561 to 65,340 square feet
|
12.5
|
65,341 square feet or more
|
10
|
For purposes of this subsection, gross floor area shall not
include porches, garages, carports and basements.
|
(b)
Two-family structures. Two-family structures shall have the
following lot area, dimensions and yard setback requirements:
(1)
Minimum width and frontage. No lot shall have a width or frontage
of less than 100 feet.
(2)
Minimum depth. No lot shall have a depth of less than 110 feet.
(3)
Minimum area. No lot shall have an area of less than 11,000
square feet.
(4)
Front and rear yard setbacks. The front yard setback shall be
not less than 15 feet, and the rear yard setback shall be not less
than 25 feet.
(5)
Setbacks of corner lots. Corner lots shall observe a setback
of at least 15 feet from each street right-of-way line.
(6)
Side yard setback. Each side yard setback shall be at least
20 feet.
[Ord. No. 2018-11 § 4]
The common open space shall be located and arranged in a manner consistent with the provisions of Section
T10B-188 and Section
T10B-226 and with the following:
(a)
The siting shall be appropriate for the topography and geology
of the parcel;
(b)
The common open space shall be related to surrounding development
and public roads so as to produce an open quality of the residential
cluster when seen from such vantage points;
(c)
The common open space shall be accessible to all residents of
the residential cluster. The maximum feasible number of dwelling units
shall be adjacent to the common open space, and there shall be a close
visual and physical relationship between the common open space and
as many dwelling units as is reasonably possible.
(d)
Recreation facilities shall be reasonably accessible to the
residents of the residential cluster. They shall be located in an
area which will not be detrimental to adjacent property owners or
residents by virtue of noise, light, glare and any other objectionable
features emanating from such a facility.
(e)
The configuration of common open space area should be so arranged
that connections can be made to existing or future adjacent open spaces
and to contiguous publicly owned open space.
(f)
Not less than 60% of the common open space shall be in one compact
and contiguous parcel and the remainder shall be in linear parks,
having a minimum width of 75 feet, connecting sections of the development.
Sections of common open space not connected to other sections of common
open space shall be kept to the minimum required by particular site
constraints.
(g)
No more than 70% of the common open space required by Section
T10B-194(a) or used for the computation of the additional bonus under Section
T10B-191.2(c) shall be satisfied by the areas devoted to existing or new lakes and/or agricultural uses.
(h)
No more than 70% of the preserved open space required by Section
T10B-194(a) or used for the computation of the additional bonus under Section
T10B-191.2(c) shall be satisfied by areas devoted to existing lakes and/or agricultural uses.
[Ord. No. 2018-11 § 4]
If the residential cluster is to be developed in stages, the Planning Board shall permit the total area proposed for common open space to be divided among the sections submitted for final plat approval; provided that each stage contains an amount of open space sufficient to meet the needs of the residents of that section of the development, and provided further that this can be accomplished in a manner which is consistent with the requirements of Sections
T10B-194,
T10B-194.1.
[Ord. No. 2018-11 § 4]
Any residential cluster subdivision for which preliminary subdivision
and site plan approval has been granted prior to the effective date
of this division, may be developed under the pre-existing cluster
provisions.