An applicant for site plan approval shall observe the requirements and principles of site plan design set forth in this chapter for each site plan development or portion thereof.
[Amended 12-13-2012 by Ord. No. 26-12]
In reviewing any site plan, the Land Use Board shall consider:
A. 
Pedestrian and vehicular traffic movement within and adjacent to the site with particular emphasis on the provision and layout of parking areas, off-street loading and unloading and movement of people, goods and vehicles from access roads within the site, between buildings and between buildings and vehicles. The Land Use Board shall ensure that all parking spaces are usable and safely and conveniently arranged. Access to the site from adjacent roads shall be designed so as to interfere as little as possible with traffic flow on these roads and to permit vehicles a rapid and safe ingress and egress to the site.
B. 
The design and layout of buildings and parking areas shall be reviewed so as to provide an aesthetically pleasing design and efficient arrangement. Particular attention shall be given to safety and fire protection, impact on surrounding buildings and lands and environmental and ecological consideration.
C. 
Adequate lighting shall be provided to ensure safe movement of persons and vehicles and for security purposes. Lighting standards shall be of a type approved by the Land Use Board. Directional lights shall be arranged so as to minimize glare and reflection on adjacent properties.
D. 
Buffering where required shall be located around the perimeter of the site to minimize headlights of vehicles, noise, light from structures, the movement of people and vehicles and to shield activities from adjacent properties. Buffering may consist of fencing, evergreens, shrubs, bushes, deciduous trees, berms or combinations thereof to achieve the stated objectives.
E. 
Landscaping shall be provided as part of the overall site plan designed and integrated into building arrangements, topography, parking and buffering requirements. Landscaping shall include trees, bushes, shrubs, ground cover, perennials, plants, sculptures, art and the use of building and paving materials in an imaginative manner.
F. 
Signs shall be designed so as to be aesthetically pleasing, harmonious with other signs on the site and located so as to achieve their purpose without constituting hazards to vehicles and pedestrians.
G. 
Storm drainage, sanitary waste disposal and water supply shall be reviewed and considered. Particular emphasis shall be given to the adequacy of existing systems and the need for improvements, both on-site and off-site, to adequately carry runoff and sewage and to maintain an adequate supply of water at sufficient pressure.
H. 
Garbage and trash disposal shall be reviewed to ensure frequent collection, vermin and rodent protection and aesthetic considerations. All systems shall meet Borough specifications and requirements as to installation and construction. Every site plan shall provide for a screened and accessible dumpster area for regular trash and garbage disposal. In addition, there shall be provided on each site separate containers or bins for residents, businesses or industries to deposit glass, aluminum and newsprint and other recyclables to comply with mandatory recycling regulations.
The provisions of Chapter 172, Zoning, shall apply to site plans and shall be complied with by all applications for site plan approval.
[Amended 7-9-2020 by Ord. No. 10-20; 4-8-2021 by Ord. No. 09-21; 7-11-2002 by Ord. No. 10-02; 3-8-2007 by Ord. No. 02-07; 3-25-2010 by Ord. No. 01-10; 12-13-2012 by Ord. No. 26-12; 10-13-2016 by Ord. No. 18-16; 12-14-2023 by Ord. No. 23-24]
See § 172-114, Off-street automobile parking requirements, for required parking space quantities, permitted locations, and required setbacks/buffers.
A. 
(Reserved)
B. 
(Reserved)
C. 
(Reserved)
D. 
(Reserved)
E. 
Parking space size. Each parking space shall have a minimum length of 20 feet (18 feet where curb or planting island overhang is provided with at least two feet of clear area behind the curb or island) and a minimum width of nine feet measured perpendicular to the axis of the length. The minimum required number of off-street parking spaces may be reduced at the discretion of the Board if the applicant can demonstrate adequate parking for the proposed use.
F. 
Traffic aisles. All parking spaces within a parking lot shall be provided with adequate means of ingress and egress which shall be kept open and unobstructed at all times and which shall be designed to provide surface driveways or aisles to meet the following minimum standards:
(1) 
Parallel parking: twelve-foot widths.
(2) 
Thirty-degree angle parking: twelve-foot widths.
(3) 
Forty-five-degree angle parking: fifteen-foot widths.
(4) 
Sixty-degree angle parking: eighteen-foot widths.
(5) 
Ninety-degree angle parking: twenty-four-foot widths.
G. 
Interior development roadways and private driveways. Private roadways or driveways shall provide adequate access and circulation within the development as well as relative to public thoroughfares and shall be in harmony with the proposals of the Master Plan, the Official Map and the requirements of the Land Use Board. All drives, access roadways and sidewalks shall be properly paved, curbed and drained as approved by the Borough Engineer and shall comply with the requirements of the Borough of Rockaway Street and Sidewalk Ordinance[1] and the Subdivision Ordinance of the Borough of Rockaway. All nonresidential and multifamily residential driveways shall have a minimum pavement width of 20 feet. However, access roadway shall have a minimum pavement width of 30 feet. Private access roadways where necessary shall be designated as emergency vehicle routes. Curb parking along these routes shall be prohibited, and this prohibition shall be enforced by the Borough Police Department.
[1]
Editor's Note: See Ch. 217, Streets and Sidewalks.
H. 
Lighting. All lighting for off-street parking areas shall be so arranged and shielded as to reflect the light downward and cutoff any light from shining directly on adjoining streets, residential zones and residential buildings.
I. 
Parking lot use. All required off-street parking areas shall be used only for the parking of automobiles in accordance with an approved site plan. No commercial repair work or sales of any land shall be conducted in any parking area. Nothing herein contained shall be construed to permit any required parking area to be used for the commercial storage of new or used motor vehicles by a new or used car dealer or motor vehicle rental agency.
J. 
(Reserved)
K. 
(Reserved)
L. 
Parking improvement exemptions. If any applicant can clearly demonstrate to the Land Use Board that, because of the nature of its operation or use, the parking requirements of this section are unnecessary or excessive, the Land Use Board may approve a site plan showing fewer spaces than required by this section; provided, however, that an approximate landscaped area of sufficient size and conforming location to meet the deficiency shall be shown on the site plan and reserved for the purpose of meeting future off-street parking requirements in the event that a change of use of the premises or the conditions of exemption shall make such additional off-street parking space necessary. Anything in this chapter to the contrary notwithstanding, no certificate of occupancy shall be valid except for the particular use for which it was issued and any change on any premises previously approved under this subsection shall only be permitted after a new site plan shall have been submitted to and approved by the Land Use Board.
M. 
Parking lot design and screening.
(1) 
Surface parking.
(a) 
Screening.
[1] 
When the property of a nonresidential use, a multifamily housing development, or any combination thereof abuts a single- or two-family-only zone district or a single- or two-family property, surface parking lots shall be visually screened from surrounding properties and the public right-of-way through the use of a landscape buffer strip no less than three feet wide, a solid fence or wall at least six feet in height if permitted, and/or through their placement behind buildings and structures. Landscape buffering shall include evergreen plantings at least six feet in height at planting. Such screening requirements shall not apply between lots where vehicular cross-access is provided.
[2] 
Where front yard parking is permitted or approved, all front yard parking areas must have year-round landscape screening between the parking lot and front right-of-way(s) consisting of a minimum of three feet wide strip, minimum three feet tall, and providing spacing and density to screen headlight glare.
(b) 
Design.
[1] 
Pedestrian islands. Parking lots with more than 100 cars shall provide one pedestrian access island for every 140 linear feet of parking lot width. The pedestrian access islands shall be 20 feet wide, with a minimum six-foot-wide pedestrian pathway, and vegetated buffers or rain gardens totaling at least eight feet wide.
[2] 
Crosswalks. Where a pedestrian pathway crosses vehicular traffic aisles or driveways, crosswalks shall be provided and indicated through signage and striping.
[3] 
Shade coverage. A minimum of 10% of parking areas shall be covered by shade trees. Surface parking lots with less than 10 spaces shall be exempt from this requirement. Shade coverage shall be measured by multiplying the two diameters of a single shade tree canopy to obtain square footage, summed by all shade trees square footages, and divided by the square footage of the parking area square footage.
(2) 
Structured parking.
(a) 
Screening. Structured parking shall be screened from public rights-of-way by a minimum of 30 linear feet of habitable building space.
(b) 
The exterior of structured parking garages shall be designed with colors and materials consistent with other development on the site and should screen view of cars and equipment. Where special considerations are required for ventilation, complementary and architecturally designed meshes, perforated metals, grilles, louvers, and similar screening materials may be used.
(c) 
Entrance requirements.
[1] 
Location. Parking entrances shall be located on the least intense street available.
[2] 
If there is a gate, door, security house, or any other feature that would require a vehicle to pause before entering, there must be a minimum of 22 feet provided where a car can stand without overhanging into a sidewalk or restricting vehicle traffic. Additional standing area may be required dependent on garage size and use, subject to the approving authority.
[3] 
Dedicated pedestrian/cyclist entrances or protected sidewalks must be provided from the garage to the primary street.
[4] 
Architectural design. Parking entrances shall be identified through increased massing and detail, material change or signage, and shall safely and clearly be visible from the street.
[5] 
Size. Parking entrances shall be no larger than 24 feet wide, except in cases where a median is occupied by equipment such as access gates, pay kiosks, or an attendant window, in which case a maximum width of 28 feet is permitted.
N. 
Bicycle parking design standards.
(1) 
Dimensions.
(a) 
Horizontal parking. A minimum area per parking space shall be two feet in width, eight feet in length, and four feet in height.
(b) 
Vertical parking. A minimum area per parking space shall be two feet in width, four feet in length, and eight feet in height.
(2) 
Design.
(a) 
Indoor parking. Bicycle racks shall provide at least one point of contact to secure the bicycle when secured as designed.
(b) 
Outdoor parking. Bicycle racks shall provide at least two points of contact to secure the bicycle when secured as designed. The two points of contact shall be at least six inches apart.
[1] 
Bicycle parking shall be located so as not to conflict with or impede pedestrian or automobile traffic.
[2] 
Bicycle parking located within or adjacent to an automobile parking area or driveway shall be protected from automobile movements by a full height curb, wheel stops, or bollards.
[3] 
Outdoor bicycle racks must be securely attached to concrete footings and made to withstand severe weather and permanent exposure to the elements.
[Amended 12-13-2012 by Ord. No. 26-12; 12-14-2023 by Ord. No. 23-24]
See § 172-114, Off-street automobile parking requirements, for required loading space quantities, permitted locations, and required setbacks/buffers.
A. 
Required loading space dimensions are specified in the below table. Where the type of loading vehicle is not specified, the standards for tractor-trailer trucks shall apply:
Minimal Design Criteria for Off-Street Loading Spaces
Design Criteria
Auto Pickup Panel
Single-Unit Truck
Tractor-Trailer Truck
Vertical clearance (feet)
10
13
14
Depth of space (feet)
25
35
60*
Width of space (feet)
11
12
12
Depth of loading dock (feet, when required)
15
15
15
Height of loading dock (inches, when required)
24 to 30
35 to 50
48 to 52
Notes:
*This depth required if tractor is not separated from trailer after the truck is parked. If tractor is separated, a fifty-foot depth is permitted.
B. 
Loading spaces shall be located within 50 feet of the freight entrance or, where a freight entrance is not provided/designated, within 50 feet of the primary entrance.
C. 
Loading spaces shall be striped and/or signed to delineate them from parking spaces.
D. 
Loading dock screening:
(1) 
All loading docks shall be screened from the street and adjacent properties through the incorporation of planting buffers, walls, and gates.
(2) 
Walls and gates shall be designed to match the architectural character of the primary building. Concrete masonry unit/cinder block wall veneers are not permitted where visible from the public right-of-way.
(3) 
Planting buffers shall be a minimum of three feet wide between any right-of-way or property line. Plantings shall consist of evergreen trees and shall not be less than six feet high when planted and not less than 12 feet high at maturity, and the lowest branches shall not be more than one foot above the ground.
Off-street parking areas and appurtenant related facilities shall conform to the following gradient standards:
Use
Maximum
Grade
Minimum
Grade
Parking stalls and service aisles
5%
 1/2%
Main approach walkways to buildings
4%
1%
Collector or other service walkways
6%
1%
Swales
10%
2%
Principal circulation aisles
6%
 1/2%
Driveway entrances and exits up to 40 feet from curbline
2%
 1/2%
Driveway entrances and exits beyond 40 feet from curbline
8%
 1/2%
[Amended 5-8-2008 by Ord. No. 07-08]
The following standards shall apply to all driveways:
A. 
Any vertical curve on a driveway connecting a street with a parking lot or area shall be designed to prevent the dragging of any vehicle's undercarriage.
B. 
Grade, width, surface and location.
(1) 
Driveways shall be so constructed that there be a grade of 2% starting at the curbline and running for a distance of not less than 20 feet. There shall be a standing area in front of a garage a minimum of 25 feet in length with a grade not to exceed 5%. That portion of the driveway connecting the standing area of a garage and the two-percent grade from the curbline shall be constructed with smooth transitional curves and shall not exceed a grade of 15%. Nonresidential driveways shall not exceed a grade of 10%.
(2) 
One-to-four-dwelling unit(s) driveways shall be a maximum of 10 feet in width in the front yard, a maximum of 20 feet in side or rear yards. Nonresidential driveways and driveways for five or more dwelling units shall be a maximum of 12 feet when one-way and shall be a maximum of 24 feet in width when two-way.
[Amended 12-14-2023 by Ord. No. 23-24]
(3) 
All driveways shall be paved with hard surfaces such as asphalt, concrete, or masonry pavers; however, the Land Use Board may grant relief to permit a gravel driveway for residential uses where the length is excessive, it is in character with the surrounding area and will be paved a minimum of 20 feet from the cartway. Where an unpaved driveway is approved by the Land Use Board or otherwise exists, such driveway shall be considered as improved coverage.
[Amended 12-13-2012 by Ord. No. 26-12; 12-14-2023 by Ord. No. 23-24]
(4) 
No residential driveway shall be located within 50 feet of the curb or pavement return of a street intersection.
C. 
Any driveway providing access to a public or private street shall be so designed in profile and grading and shall be so located as to permit the following minimum sight distances, measured in each direction, along the intersecting street. Measurement shall be made from the driver's seat of a vehicle standing on that portion of the exit driveway, with the front of the vehicle a minimum of 10 feet behind the edge of the paved right-of-way and with the height for the eye at 3.75 feet to the top of the object and 4.5 feet above the pavement:
Maximum Allowable Speed on Street
(mph)
Required Sight Distance
(feet)
25
300
30
350
35
425
40
475
45
525
50
600
D. 
Where two or more driveways connect a single site to any public or private road, or individual driveways serve separate and adjoining sites, a minimum clear distance of 50 feet measured along the right-of-way line shall separate the closest of any two such driveways.
E. 
Acceleration and deceleration lanes.
(1) 
The Land Use Board, in its discretion, may require roadway widening or other street improvements, including acceleration and deceleration lanes. Where such determination is made, the following minimum standards shall be applicable:
[Amended 12-13-2012 by Ord. No. 26-12]
TABLE A
Values for Accelerating from or Decelerating to a Speed in the Range of 0 to 10 mph
Legal Speed Limit
Acceleration Lanes
(feet)
Deceleration Lanes
(feet)
(mph)
Full Length
Taper
Full Length
Taper
25 to 30
190
300
235
180
40
380
300
315
180
50
760
300
435
180
TABLE B
Values for Accelerating from or Decelerating to a Speed of 15 mph
(50-foot curb radius)
Legal Speed Limit
Acceleration Lanes
(feet)
Deceleration Lanes
(feet)
(mph)
Full Length
Taper
Full Length
Taper
25 to 30
Not needed
Not needed
185
180
40
320
300
295
180
50
700
300
405
180
(2) 
The area behind the taper shall be cleared of all obstructions, for an appropriate distance from the center line of the road, which would present a hazard to vehicles approaching the pavement taper edge.
F. 
No nonresidential driveway shall be located within 100 feet of the intersection of two public streets.
G. 
Access. Where a lot has multiple frontages, driveways shall provide parking access from the least intense of its frontages as defined by average daily trips (ADT), unless the lesser frontage primarily serves residential uses and residential zones
[Added 12-14-2023 by Ord. No. 23-24]
H. 
Screening. When the property of a nonresidential use, a multifamily housing development, or any combination thereof abuts a single- or two-family-only zone district or a single- or two-family property, driveways shall be screened from such single- or two-family zone or property. Where no parking, building, or structure is located in between a driveway and a lot line to act as a screen, landscape screening shall be provided. Such screening shall be at least three feet in width and consist of plantings and/or a solid fence or wall at least six feet in height, except where such screening would conflict with required sight lines. Where a fence is not provided, plantings must include evergreen plantings at least six feet in height at planting. Such screening requirements shall not apply where a driveway is shared between two adjacent lots on the common lot line.
[Added 12-14-2023 by Ord. No. 23-24]
[Added 12-14-2023 by Ord. No. 23-24]
See § 172-115, Electric vehicle supply equipment, for required loading electric vehicle parking quantities.
A. 
Design wavier relief required. Location and layout of EVSE and make-ready parking spaces is expected to vary based on the design and use of the primary parking area. It is expected flexibility will be required to provide the most convenient and functional service to users. When an applicant proposes to provide EVSE in a manner not in compliance with the below standards, design waiver relief shall be required by the Land Use Board.
B. 
Installation.
(1) 
Installation of EVSE and make-ready parking spaces shall meet the electrical subcode of the Uniform Construction Code, N.J.A.C. 5:23-3.16.
(2) 
Each EVSE or make-ready parking space that is not accessible for people with disabilities shall comply with dimensional standards contained in § 171-17. EVSE mounted to the ground, either directly or on a pedestal, pole, or other apparatus, shall not be located within these minimum dimensions and shall provide an area three feet wide by three feet long for installation and operation of the EVSE. Exceptions may be made for existing parking spaces or parking spaces that were part of an application that received prior site plan approval.
(3) 
To the extent practical, the location of accessible parking spaces for people with disabilities with EVSE and make-ready equipment shall comply with the general accessibility requirements of the Uniform Construction Code, N.J.A.C. 5:23, and other applicable accessibility standards.
(4) 
Each EVSE or make-ready parking space that is accessible for people with disabilities shall comply with the sizing of accessible parking space requirements in the Uniform Construction Code, N.J.A.C. 5:23, and other applicable accessibility standards.
C. 
Equipment.
(1) 
Publicly accessible EVSE providing AC Level 2 charging shall provide the SAE J1772 plug type, and publicly accessible EVSE providing DC fast charging shall provide CCS and ChaDeMO plugs. To the satisfaction of the Board, other charger(s) may be employed, provided that such charger or combination thereof are compatible with all electric vehicles commonly available for consumer purchase.
(2) 
All EVSE shall not have permanent advertising. Any advertising shall be limited to advertisements located on an electronic operational or payment screen that is only activated when triggered by customer interaction with the operational or payment system.
D. 
Location.
(1) 
No EVSE shall be permitted within 20 feet of the property line, unless contained within a parking garage or similar structure.
(2) 
EVSE located within 20 feet of an adjacent property shall be screened by walls, fencing or evergreen landscaping at least five feet in height.
(3) 
Publicly accessible EVSE shall be located within 100 feet of a building entrance.
E. 
Operations.
(1) 
Publicly accessible EVSE shall be reserved for parking and charging electric vehicles only. Electric vehicles shall be connected to the EVSE when parked in the EVSE space.
(2) 
Electric vehicles may be parked in any parking space designated for parking, subject to the restrictions that would apply to any other vehicle that would park in that space.
(3) 
Public parking. Pursuant to N.J.S.A. 40:48-2, publicly accessible EVSE parking spaces shall be monitored by the municipality's Police Department and enforced in the same manner as any other parking. It shall be a violation of this section to park or stand a non-electric vehicle in such a space, or to park an electric vehicle in such a space when it is not connected to the EVSE. Any non-electric vehicle parked or standing in a EVSE parking space or any electric vehicle parked and not connected to the EVSE shall be is subject to fine and/or impoundment of the offending vehicle as described in the general penalty provisions of Chapter 241. Signage indicating the penalties for violations shall comply with Subsection G below. Any vehicle parked in such a space shall make the appropriate payment for the space and observe the time limit for the underlying parking area, if applicable.
(4) 
Private parking. The use of EVSE shall be monitored by the property owner or designee.
F. 
Safety.
(1) 
Each publicly accessible EVSE shall be located at a parking space that is designated for electric vehicles only and identified by green painted pavement and/or curb markings, a green painted charging pictograph symbol, and appropriate signage pursuant to Subsection G below.
(2) 
Where EVSE is installed, adequate site lighting shall be provided in accordance with Chapters 171 and 172.
(3) 
Adequate EVSE protection such as concrete-filled steel bollards shall be used for publicly accessible EVSE. Nonmountable curbing may be used in lieu of bollards if the EVSE is setback a minimum of 24 inches from the face of the curb. Any stand-alone EVSE bollards should be three to four feet high with concrete footings placed to protect the EVSE from accidental impact and to prevent damage from equipment used for snow removal.
(4) 
EVSE outlets and connector devices shall be no less than 36 inches and no higher than 48 inches from the ground or pavement surface where mounted and shall contain a cord management system as described in Subsection F(7) below. In the case of ceiling-mounted EVSE, outlets and connector devices may retract to a height above 48 inches, but the height of the outlets and connector devices when deployed and such deploying mechanism shall be no less than 36 inches and no higher than 48 inches from the ground or pavement surface.
(5) 
All EVSE shall be mounted at a height above the base flood elevation, and EVSE shall be designed to be rainproof, floodproof, and fail-safe when not in use.
(6) 
Equipment mounted on pedestals, lighting posts, bollards, or other devices shall be designed and located as to not impede pedestrian travel, create trip hazards on sidewalks, or impede snow removal.
(7) 
Each EVSE shall incorporate a cord management system or method to minimize the potential for cable entanglement, user injury, or connector damage. Cords shall be retractable. Any cords connecting the charger to a vehicle shall be configured so that they do not cross a driveway, sidewalk, or passenger unloading area.
(8) 
Where EVSE is provided within a pedestrian circulation area, such as a sidewalk or other accessible route to a building entrance, the EVSE shall be located so as not to interfere with accessibility requirements of the Uniform Construction Code, N.J.A.C. 5:23, and other applicable accessibility standards.
(9) 
Publicly accessible EVSEs shall be maintained in all respects, including the functioning of the equipment. A twenty-four-hour on-call contact shall be provided on the equipment for reporting problems with the equipment or access to it. To allow for maintenance and notification, the Borough of Rockaway shall require the owners/designee of publicly accessible EVSE to provide information on the EVSE's geographic location, date of installation, equipment type and model, and owner contact information.
G. 
Signs.
(1) 
Publicly accessible EVSE shall have posted regulatory signs, as identified in this section, allowing only charging electric vehicles to park in such spaces. For purposes of this section, "charging" means that an electric vehicle is parked at an EVSE and is connected to the EVSE. If time limits or vehicle removal provisions are to be enforced, regulatory signs, including parking restrictions, shall be installed immediately adjacent to, and visible from the EVSE. For private EVSE, installation of signs and sign text is at the discretion of the owner.
(2) 
All regulatory signs shall comply with visibility, legibility, size, shape, color, and reflectivity requirements contained within the Federal Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices as published by the Federal Highway Administration.
(3) 
Wayfinding or directional signs, if necessary, shall be permitted at appropriate decision points to effectively guide motorists to the EVSE parking space(s). Wayfinding or directional signage shall be placed in a manner that shall not interfere with any parking space, drive lane, vehicle exit, or pedestrian walkway and shall comply with Subsection G(2) above.
(4) 
In addition to the signage described above, the following information shall be available on the EVSE or posted at or adjacent to all publicly accessible EVSE parking spaces:
(a) 
Hour of operations and/or time limits if time limits or tow-away provisions are to be enforced by the municipality or owner/designee;
(b) 
Usage fees and parking fees, if applicable; and
(c) 
Contact information (telephone number) for reporting when the equipment is not operating or other problems.
H. 
Usage fees.
(1) 
Private EVSE. Nothing in this section shall be deemed to preclude a private owner/designee of an EVSE from collecting a fee for the use of the EVSE, in accordance with applicable state and federal regulations. Fees shall be available on the EVSE or posted at or adjacent to the EVSE parking space.