In reviewing any application for site plan approval, conditional use approval, planned development or combinations thereof, the approving authority, advisory boards, professional advisers and the applicant shall be guided by the general and specific requirements contained herein.
A.
Circulation.
(1)
The circulation system shall consider pedestrian and vehicular traffic movement within and adjacent to the plat, with particular emphasis on the provision and layout of parking areas, off-street loading and unloading, movement of people, goods and vehicles from access roads, within the site and between buildings and vehicles.
(2)
All parking spaces shall be 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 to and egress from the site.
B.
Building design and layout. 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 the surrounding development; contiguous and adjacent buildings and lands; and environmental and ecological considerations.
C.
Lighting. Adequate lighting shall be provided to ensure safe movement of persons and vehicles and for security purposes. Directional lights shall be arranged so as to minimize glare and reflection on adjacent properties.
D.
Buffering. Buffering, where required, shall be located around the perimeter of the site to minimize headlights of vehicles, noise, light from structures and the movement of people and vehicles and to shield activities from adjacent properties. Buffering may consist of fencing, evergreens, shrubs, bushes, deciduous trees or combinations thereof to achieve the stated objectives.
E.
Landscaping. Landscaping shall be provided as part of the overall plan and shall be designed and integrated into building arrangements, topography, parking and buffering requirements. Landscaping shall include trees, bushes, shrubs, ground cover, perennials, annuals, plants, sculpture, art, street furniture and the use of building and paving materials in an imaginative manner.
F.
Signs. 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.
Utilities.
(1)
Storm drainage, sanitary waste disposal, water supply and solid waste disposal shall be reviewed and considered. Particular emphasis shall be given to the adequacy of the existing systems and the need for improvements to adequately carry runoff and sewage and to maintain an adequate supply of water at sufficient pressure.
(2)
Solid waste disposal shall be reviewed to ensure frequent collection, protection against vermin and rodents and aesthetic considerations. All systems shall meet municipal specifications as to installation and construction.
H.
Environmental considerations.
(1)
Environmental elements relating to soil erosion and sedimentation, preservation of trees, protection of watercourses and water quality, noise pollution, topographic limiting areas, wetland areas and other environmental and ecological factors will be reviewed, where appropriate, to minimize adverse development affects.
(2)
Provisions shall be made for the elimination of all loud and offensive noise to the general public.
I.
Compliance with Master Plan and municipal codes and ordinances. The site plan shall be consistent with the Master Plan of the Borough of Closter or any portion thereof adopted by the Closter Borough Planning Board, as well as all Borough codes and ordinances, including Chapter 200, Zoning, and the Official Map.