Township of North Brunswick, NJ Article XXI R-T-D Townhouse-Duplex Residential District

[Amended 2-4-1985]

§ 205-92.1 Intent.

[Amended 9-12-1996 by Ord. No. 96-18]

The intent of the R-T-D District is to create a land use category where residential development can be constructed according to standards that allow residential uses to act as a buffer between single-family homes and adjacent nonresidential uses.

§ 205-92.2 Permitted uses.

The following uses are permitted in R-T-D Townhouse-Duplex Residential Districts:

A. Permitted principal uses.

(1) Duplex dwelling units (semiattached).

(2) Townhouses.

(3) Temporary buildings incidental to construction work, provided that such buildings are removed upon completion or abandonment of the construction work.

(4) Single-family detached dwellings.

[Added 9-26-1996 by Ord. No. 96-18]

B. Required accessory uses.

(1) Off-street parking, subject to Article XXIV of this chapter.

C. Permitted accessory uses: same as specified in § 205-46C for the R-1 Residential Zone.

D. Conditional uses (subject to Article XXIX of this chapter).

(1) Private and parochial schools.

(2) Churches and places of worship.

(3) Public utilities.

(4) Philanthropic or eleemosynary uses.

§ 205-92.3 Development standards for single-family and duplex dwellings.

[Amended 9-26-1996 by Ord. No. 96-18]

Development standards for single-family and duplex dwellings shall be as follows:

A. Area, yard and building requirements.

(1) Plot and lot sizes and dimensions may be freely disposed and arranged in conformity with the overall density standards herein and to the conditions of comprehensive plans therefor, the general features and design of which shall be approved by the Planning Board. Minimum lot size and frontage are not specified herein for comparable conditions and by common good practice.

(2) Maximum density: seven units per acre.

(3) Minimum front yard setback: 30 feet.

(4) Minimum distance between buildings: 10 feet.

(5) Minimum rear yard setback: 20% of the lot depth.

(6) Maximum building height: the lesser of 30 feet or 2 1/2 stories.

(7) Maximum lot coverage: 25%.

(8) Minimum gross habitable floor area, per unit: 600 square feet.

B. Other provisions.

(1) If a single-family home is proposed to be developed adjacent to an apartment or nonresidential use which does not include a buffer area in accordance with the requirements of this chapter, then an additional thirty-foot buffer strip, designed in accordance with the requirements of Article XXVI, shall be added along any required side or rear yard which abuts said apartment or nonresidential use.

(2) All properties and uses shall also be subject to the general provisions under Articles IV and V.

(3) For nonconforming lots existing prior to June 6, 1966, where insufficient land width and/or area is available to meet the requirements and where there are existing homes on either side, the minimum lot width and/or area shall be 2/3 of the present zoning requirements, provided that the proposed structure shall meet all other zoning requirements.

§ 205-92.4 Development standards for townhouse use dwellings.

Development standards for townhouse dwellings shall be as follows:

A. Area, yard and building requirements.

(1) Plot and lot sizes and dimensions may be freely disposed and arranged in conformity with the overall density standards herein and to the conditions of comprehensive plans therefor, the general features and design of which shall be approved by the Planning Board. Minimum lot size and frontage are not specified herein, although the Planning Board may be guided by standards set elsewhere herein for comparable conditions and by common good practice.

(2) Maximum density: seven units per acre.

(3) Minimum setback distance: 50 feet from state and county roads and 30 feet from all other streets.

(4) Maximum lot coverage: 20%.

(5) Minimum width of any townhouse: 20 feet.

(6) Minimum gross habitable floor area: 700 square feet.

(7) Maximum building height: the lesser of 30 feet or 2 1/2 stories.

(8) Maximum number of units per structure: eight.

(9) Minimum distance between buildings: 25 feet.

(10) Every dwelling unit shall contain a minimum of two means of access.

(11) Television antenna equipment shall be built into the buildings. No individual antenna shall be permitted to be erected on any roof.

(12) Where townhouse units have frontage on off-street parking lots and driveways, the minimum front yard setback shall be approved by the Planning Board at the time of site plan review.

B. Other provisions.

(1) There shall be a buffer strip 30 feet in width from any side or rear lot line that abuts an area zoned or developed for single-family, industrial or commercial use. The buffer strip shall conform to the standards of Article XXVI.

(2) All properties and uses shall also be subject to the general provisions under Articles IV and V.

(3) For nonconforming lots existing prior to June 6, 1966, where insufficient land width and/or area is available to meet the requirements and where there are existing homes on either side. the minimum lot width and/or area shall be 2/3 of the present zoning requirements, provided that both municipal water and sanitary sewers are available and are to be used, and further provided that the proposed structure shall meet all other zoning requirements.

(4) The developer of a townhouse dwelling project shall donate to the Township or other public or quasi-public body or homeowners' association, whichever shall be designated by the Mayor and Council, an amount of land within the project not less than 10% of the gross area of the tract. The Planning Board shall review and recommend to the Mayor and Council, which, in turn, shall specifically approve the open space land for dedication, the locations and proposed uses of land to be dedicated in accordance with the foregoing and as guided in its decisions by this section and the following:

(a) Lands to be dedicated shall be so located as to meet the needs of open spaces, parks, playgrounds, rights-of-way protecting major streams or open drainage ways or buffer areas as shown on the Master Plan or Official Map of the Township or to provide additional neighborhood area for recreational purposes. The Planning Board shall make certain that not only Township requirements shall be satisfied but that the dedicated area is so located as to meet any possible potential need of the neighborhood included in a development proposal being considered.

(b) The lands so dedicated shall include, wherever feasible, natural features such as streams, brooks, wooded areas, steep slopes and other natural features of scenic and conservation value. The developer may be required to plant trees or make other similar landscaping improvements in order to qualify open land for acceptance by the Township.

(5) Dedicated areas may be deeded to Township ownership and control for its dedicated purposes, deeded to another public or quasi-public body or organization approved by the Mayor and Council or deeded to property owners or associations within the bounds of the original development for their use, control and management for a club or recreational use and providing appropriate restrictions to assure the effectuation of the purposes of this chapter and to provide for the maintenance and control of the area. Every effort shall be made, if nonTownship ownership is approved, to place development and maintenance responsibility upon the property owners within the bounds of the development. Upon failure to maintain an orderly open space, the Township may and can perform such maintenance and assess the cost to the responsible property owner or owners.