[Adopted 10-1-1975 as Ch. 107 of the 1975 Code]
The purpose of site plan review is to determine whether the proposed use, building, structure or addition to any building, structure or use will conform to the Revised Statutes; Chapter 205, Zoning; Part 1, Subdivision of Land, of this Chapter 178; and other applicable ordinances and requirements of the Township. Site plan review shall work towards the development of an aesthetically acceptable and well-ordered community serving the interest of the public health, safety and general welfare of the Township residents.
[Amended 2-4-1998 by Ord. No. 1998-1; 12-20-2006 by Ord. No. 2006-21; 11-4-2009 by Ord. No. 2009-28; 3-9-2017 by Ord. No. 2017-02; 9-28-2017 by Ord. No. 2017-15; 8-21-2025 by Ord. No. 2025-09]
A. 
Any change of use within the Township of Maple Shade will void the previously issued certificate of occupancy and require the issuance of a new certificate of occupancy. Prior to the issuance of a new certificate of occupancy, or to any excavation, grading or clearing of land for construction of or issuance of any permit by the Construction Official or Zoning Officer of the Township for any building, structure or use within the Township, with the exception of a single-family dwelling in a residential zone, site plan approval for the proposed building, structure or use must be obtained from the Planning Board of the Township of Maple Shade, unless such approval is deemed unnecessary pursuant to Subsection B hereof. No certificate of occupancy shall be issued nor shall occupancy take place until and unless all construction and required improvements shall have been completed in conformity with the approved site plan.
B. 
Upon the discretion of the Township Zoning Official, there may be a new site plan review required even if no new construction is planned with a change of use. Any new site plan review shall ensure that the existing facilities are adequate to handle any increased demands upon the site imposed by the proposed change of use. In the event an application is filed for a waiver of site plan review, sufficient information must be contained within the application for the Board to grant any such approval. The Zoning Official is empowered to issue the appropriate permit for any site plan, or waiver of site plan, regarding the construction, excluding new construction, or alteration of any building or part of any building in the event that he/she shall determine such plans are not in violation of the provisions of the Township's ordinances and Municipal Code. This includes but is not limited to:
(1) 
Change of use of any structure;
(2) 
Change of tenancy;
(3) 
An addition to any structure, up to 500 square feet on existing impervious surfaces, that does not require a site plan approval, including decks, patios, and driveways; and
(4) 
Changes in parking arrangements, location, or striping.
C. 
In the event that the Director determines that site plan approval by the Land Use Board is not required, he/she, in his/her discretion, may require the applicant to submit a site plan and/or grading plan for review and approval by the Land Use Engineer. In the event the Director determines that such engineering review is required, the applicant will be required to post the appropriate escrow fees for review and inspection of same.
D. 
Nothing herein shall prevent the Director from requiring site plan review or site plan waiver approval by the Planning Board.
[Amended 4-15-2009 by Ord. No. 2009-07; 7-25-2019 by Ord. No. 2019-16]
The purpose of the Site Plan Review Advisory Board (N.J.S.A. 40:55D-39.f) is to review and advise the Planning Board on site plan applications.
[Amended 1-5-1977 by Ord. No. 1976-25]
A. 
Preliminary approval.
[Amended 9-20-2000 by Ord. No. 2000-11; 4-15-2009 by Ord. No. 2009-07]
(1) 
The applicant shall submit 12 copies of the site plan application and supporting documentation on or prior to the 15th day of any month to the Community Development Director for a determination of completeness, as defined in Chapter 22, Land Use Procedures, of this Code. The site plan shall be prepared and sealed by a registered New Jersey professional engineer and/or land surveyor and/or architect, as required by law.
(2) 
Upon receiving an application for Planning Board Site Plan approval, the Community Development Director may schedule the applicant to appear at a Site Plan Review Advisory Board (SPRAB) meeting. The Planning Board Engineer and/or a Planning Board member of the SPRAB may report any recommendations to the Planning Board. The applicant is not required to revise its plan until after Planning Board action at a public meeting, as all recommendations of the Site Plan Review Advisory Board are purely advisory.
[Amended 7-25-2019 by Ord. No. 2019-16]
(3) 
Planning Board action.
(a) 
The Planning Board shall take action on the site plan at a public meeting of the Planning Board as follows:
[1] 
If the application is for approval of a site plan of 10 acres of land or less, the Planning Board shall grant or deny preliminary approval within 45 days of the date of submission of the complete application or within such further time as may be consented to in writing by the applicant.
[2] 
If the application is for approval of a site plan of more than 10 acres of land, the Planning Board shall grant or deny preliminary approval within 95 days of the date of submission of the complete application or within such further time as may be consented to in writing by the applicant.
(b) 
Failure of the Planning Board to act within the period prescribed shall constitute site plan preliminary approval.
(c) 
Whenever the Planning Board shall grant approval subject to conditions, a notation shall be made on the plat indicating that "the approval of the site plan is subject to conditions as set forth in the minutes of the Planning Board."
(d) 
In all cases the recommendation of the Burlington County Planning Board shall be given careful consideration in the final decision of the Township Planning Board. If the County Planning Board has approval authority pursuant to N.J.S.A. 40:27-6.6, its action shall be noted on the plat, and if disapproved, two copies of the reason for disapproval shall be returned with the plat. If either the Township Planning Board or County Planning Board disapproves a plat, the reason for disapproval shall be remedied prior to further consideration. If approval is required by any other officer or public body, the same procedure as applies to submission and approval by the County Planning Board shall apply.
(4) 
Planning Board approval.
(a) 
The Planning Board shall either approve, approve with conditions to which the Planning Board Engineer can certify compliance or disapprove the site plan. In the event of a disapproval, the Planning Board shall set forth its reasons for the rejection of the plan. Appeal from the Planning Board's action shall be to the Township Council.
(b) 
In the event that approval without condition is granted to the plan by the Planning Board, one original tracing signed by the Chairman of the Planning Board and the Planning Board Engineer shall be supplied to the Community Development Director. The same action shall be taken after all conditions have been met on those plans approved with conditions. No building permit shall be issued or construction commenced unless the site plan has been approved or, in those cases where the plan is approved with conditions, unless compliance with all conditions has been certified to by the Planning Board Engineer. No certificate of occupancy shall be issued nor shall occupancy take place until and unless all construction and required improvements shall be completed in conformity with the approved site plan and all conditions required as a part of said approval.
(5) 
Preliminary approval of a site plan shall have the same effect upon the applicant as set forth in § 178-6E of Part 1, Subdivision of Land, of this chapter, with respect to subdivisions. The applicant shall submit a fee for engineering review if necessary, in an amount as set forth in a resolution adopted by the Township Council.
B. 
Final approval.
(1) 
The Planning Board shall grant final approval if the detailed drawings, specifications and estimates of the application for final approval conform to the standards established by § 178-22 and the conditions of preliminary approval.
(2) 
Final approval shall be granted or denied within 45 days after submission of a complete application to the Community Development Director or within such further time as may be consented to in writing by the applicant. Failure of the Planning Board to act within the period prescribed shall constitute final approval and a certificate of the Secretary of the Planning Board as to the failure of the Planning Board to act shall be issued on request of the applicant, and it shall be sufficient in lieu of the written endorsement or other evidence of approval herein required.
(3) 
Whenever review or approval of the application by the County Planning Board is required by N.J.S.A 40:27-6.6, the Township Planning Board shall condition any approval that it grants upon timely receipt of a favorable report on the application by the County Planning Board or approval by the County Planning Board by its failure to report thereon within the required time period.
(4) 
Whenever the Planning Board shall grant approval subject to conditions, a notation shall be made on the plat indicating that "the approval of the site plan is subject to conditions as set forth in the minutes of the Planning Board."
(5) 
The zoning requirements applicable to the preliminary approval first granted, and all other rights conferred upon the applicant pursuant to Subsection A(4) above, whether conditionally or otherwise, shall not be changed for a period of two years after the date of final approval. If the applicant has followed the standards prescribed for final approval, the Planning Board may extend such period of protection for extensions of one year but not to exceed three extensions. Notwithstanding any other provisions of this Part 2, the granting of final approval terminates the time period of preliminary approval pursuant to Subsection A(4).
Site plan review shall consider but not be limited to the following:
A. 
The height, bulk, area and setback distances of all building structures.
B. 
The architectural design, including the appearance of and materials used on the exterior faces.
C. 
Parking and traffic control, including location and material, and requirements for curbing, driveways, parking areas, pedestrian walks and other requirements to protect the public health, safety and welfare.
D. 
Reasonable screening, at all seasons of the year, of playgrounds, parking and service areas.
E. 
Lighting of buildings, grounds and signs to assure the elimination of any adverse effects on adjoining property owners while simultaneously requiring adequate lighting for the proposed development.
F. 
Provisions for necessary utilities such as water supply, sewers, gas and electric.
G. 
The stormwater collection and disposal system.
H. 
Noise abatement, odor and rodent control, trash and garbage collection facilities.
I. 
Provisions for incoming raw materials and outgoing finished products together with outdoor facilities for storing same.
J. 
Provisions for soil erosion control.
[Amended 1-5-1977 by Ord. No. 1976-25]
A. 
Preliminary approval.
(1) 
The site plan shall be a true and accurate plot plan drawn to a scale of one inch equals 50 feet on a sheet 24 by 36 inches or, in the case of areas over 50 acres, the plot plan may be drawn to a scale of one inch equals 100 feet with the sheet size 30 by 42 inches, showing the exact size, shape and location of existing and proposed buildings with all yard dimensions and the actual dimensions of each lot to be built upon.
(2) 
Setback dimensions shall be shown on the plan.
(3) 
Applicable zoning. A key map, showing adjacent properties and/or structures, covenants running with the land, existing deed restrictions and the proposed use of the property shall be clearly shown or exhibited in separate documentation.
(4) 
Existing and proposed contour with intervals of one foot where slopes are more than 3% but less than 15% and five feet when 15% or more, as provided by the Planning Board Engineer.
(5) 
The site plan shall include front, rear and side elevations of the proposed buildings and structures.
(6) 
The location and arrangement of vehicular accessways and location, size and capacity of all parking and leading areas shall be included.
(7) 
Curbs, sidewalks, walkways and all other areas devoted to pedestrian use shall be clearly delineated.
(8) 
A complete landscape plan, including size and type of all plans, shall be included.
(9) 
Location of all utilities shall be shown, including water supply, sewers, gas and electric services, lighting, illumination and refuse storage area.
(10) 
The storm drainage system shall be shown and the applicant shall supply drainage calculations to substantiate the size and location of the proposed storm drainage system.
(11) 
A parking schedule in keeping with the requirements of Chapter 205, Zoning, shall be shown.
(12) 
Pavement construction details shall be shown.
(13) 
Other information as required by the Planning Board shall be shown.
B. 
Final site plan shall be in accordance with the criteria set forth in Subsection A above with respect to preliminary site plans and shall set forth those conditions and requirements imposed by the Planning Board at the time of preliminary approval. The applicant shall submit a final site plan review fee in an amount as set forth by Township Council resolution.
[Added 4-15-2009 by Ord. No. 2009-07]
A. 
Qualifications. An application will be reviewed as a minor site plan in the event that it requires plan approval pursuant to § 178-18 and in the event that it meets the following criteria:
(1) 
There shall be no additions in curb cuts.
(2) 
The paving increase is less than 10% more than the existing paved area.
(3) 
The site shall be surrounded by the similar or more intense land uses.
(4) 
Additions to an existing building shall be less than 25% of the total usable floor area of the existing building.
(5) 
There shall be a disturbance of less than 5,000 square feet of ground area.
B. 
Requirements. All applicants for a minor site plan shall submit the following:
(1) 
Project description.
(2) 
Twelve copies of plans.
(3) 
Escrow and filing fees in accordance with this Code.
(4) 
Name of applicant, name of owner, name of preparer of plan, date of plan, block and lot number, scale of plan (which scale must be clearly discernible).
(5) 
Landscaping plan.
(6) 
Environmental impact data, which shall include information with respect to the following:
(a) 
On-site septic location, when last cleaned, capacity and whether an increase in use is anticipated.
(b) 
Groundwater, if on septic or if any underground storage tank facilities are present on the site.
(c) 
Potable water shall be tested for coliform and nitrates if on a septic system.
(d) 
Any major change in drainage patterns.
(e) 
Solid waste produced from the subject application.
(f) 
Stormwater calculations, if there shall be additional impervious coverage.
(g) 
Noise or air quality, where applicable.
C. 
Approval of minor site plan applications shall be in one stage rather than requiring preliminary and final approval.
The proposed construction submitted to the Planning Board for site approval must be completed in all respects as provided for hereinabove within two years from the date of approval of the site plan by the Planning Board. Failure of the applicant to complete construction within such period will nullify and void the site approval heretofore granted for the premises as if no site approval had ever been granted for the plans, and said applicant will be in violation of this Part 2 if any construction or excavation is undertaken or continued after the expiration of the two-year period from the date of approval. The Planning Board may upon good cause shown extend the reasonable period of time in order to avoid undue hardship and unfairness.
[Amended 1-5-1977 by Ord. No. 1976-25; 4-18-1990 by Ord. No. 1990-4 [1]]
At the time of the submission of the site plan, the applicant shall pay a fee and shall deposit escrow review funds in accordance with Chapter 88, Fees. Prior to commencement of construction and/or prior to the granting of final approval or as a condition of final approval, the applicant shall deposit in escrow the professional inspection funds required by Chapter 88, Fees.
[1]
Editor's Note: This ordinance also repealed former § 107-9, Performance bond, and § 107-10, Violations and penalties. See now Part 3, Subdivision and Site Plan Regulations, of this Chapter 178.