[HISTORY: Adopted by the City Council of the City of Long Branch 4-14-1983 by Ord. No. 1098 (Sec. 14-11 of the 1971 Code). Amendments noted where applicable.]
GENERAL REFERENCES
Zoning — See Ch. 345.
All guidelines for the construction of private tennis courts for single-family residences are contained in this chapter. This chapter does not concern itself with commercial or public enterprises, except in the area of drainage fence height and playing surface restrictions.
[Amended 10-27-1998 by Ord. No. 36-98]
No tennis court shall be constructed, installed or remodeled unless and until the owner of or the person in possession of the lot on which such tennis court is intended to be constructed or located obtains a permit therefor from the Construction Code Official.
A. 
Application for a tennis court permit shall be made in writing on forms supplied by the city and shall be accompanied by a plot plan of the lot showing the proposed location thereon of such tennis court, its dimensions, the dimensions of the lot and the distance of the proposed tennis court from the various property lines and from all structures on such lot, together with plans, elevations and complete specifications of the design, materials and method of construction of such tennis court. Such plans and specifications and the plot plans shall bear the signature and seal of a licensed engineer or land surveyor. Such application shall contain the consent of the applicant to inspections by municipal inspectors and police for the purpose of ascertaining that the provisions of this and other chapters are being compiled with, and shall be accompanied by a fee of $35.
B. 
All other applicants, whether public (parks) or commercial (clubs, hotels, high-rises, garden apartments, etc.), must make application to the Planning Board and are subject to a site plan review. The applicant must meet all requirements concerning drainage, setbacks, fence height and playing surface, as contained within this chapter. He must also meet all requirements set down within the City of Long Branch zoning ordinances[1] that apply to the applicant's use for the site. Within these standards the applicant will not be allowed to construct a tennis facility unless he meets the square-footage-to-lot-coverage ratio for his specific land use. Lighting and sound systems for public and commercial sites will be evaluated only within the context of a formal site plan application in light of the specific use of and the zone in which the property falls.
[1]
Editor's Note: See Ch. 345, Zoning.
A. 
Setback lines. Tennis courts shall be located in the rear yard, except in the case of a corner lot. On a corner lot, the tennis court shall be located in the quadrant of the lot which is furthest removed from both street lines. Tennis courts shall be located at least 20 feet from each lot line and at least 10 feet from any structure on each lot.
[Amended 4-10-2007 by Ord. No. 16-07]
B. 
Zoning ordinances. Outdoor tennis courts shall be deemed to be "detached structures for permitted accessory uses" within the meaning of Chapter 345, Zoning, and shall be subject to all the provisions of such ordinances, except where the express provisions of this chapter are inconsistent therewith. In such cases the express provisions of this chapter shall control. No tennis court shall be used unless and until the Construction Code Official has approved its construction and has issued a certificate of occupancy.
C. 
Nonconforming premises. In the event that the land, buildings and uses at the premises upon which it is proposed to construct tennis courts do not conform in all particulars with all requirements of the zoning ordinances, a permit, if issued, shall be made subject to the condition that a variance must be granted or recommended by the Board of Adjustment before the permit shall become effective.
D. 
Drainage. All drainage must be handled on-site through a piped system or sheet runoff in such a manner as not to infringe upon adjacent property drainage plans, must be signed and stamped by a licensed professional engineer and must be included within application for construction.
E. 
Illumination.
(1) 
Tennis courts shall not be illuminated for the purpose of playing tennis at night. Lighting of the court for other purposes shall provide not more than three watts per square foot of court area with three footcandles' illumination.
(2) 
All electric wiring shall conform with the National Electric Code of the National Fire Protection Association and shall be subject to inspection and approval by an inspection agency approved by the New Jersey Public Utility Commission.
(3) 
Any illumination used shall be so designed, shielded and directed as to prevent any direct rays of light and any glare from reaching any portion of neighboring properties.
F. 
Sound systems. No sound-amplifying, public address or other sound-magnification system or equipment or unit shall be used in connection with the use of a tennis court.
G. 
Fences. The tennis court may be enclosed within a fence of not more than 15 feet in height and which is of good quality, steel chain link fencing with an open mesh covered with a green vinyl coating.
H. 
Soil erosion; sediment control. If more than 5,000 square feet of surface area is to be disturbed, certification from the County Soil Conservation Committee must be received before any construction may begin.[1]
[1]
Editor's Note: See Ch. 290, Soil Removal.
[Added 10-27-1998 by Ord. No. 36-98]
Violation of this chapter shall be punishable as provided in Chapter 1, General Provisions, Article I.