Township of Bernards, NJ SECTION 21-28 Screening and Buffering

§ 21-28.1 Screening.

[Ord. § 516A]

Where required elsewhere in this chapter, visual screens shall be provided through landscaping or other means as approved by the Board. Such screens shall be designed and constructed in such a manner as to provide a solid barrier obstructing the view of the area to be screened on a year round basis. All screens shall be shown on the landscape plan. (See section 21-43.)

§ 21-28.2 Buffers.

[Ord. #585, § 516B; Ord. #760, § 37]

Buffers shall be required on all lots zoned other than residential or used for nonresidential purposes, where the lot or lots abut a residentially zoned lot or lots (except in the case of open space). Additionally, any development under the PRD forms of development which abut existing residential uses shall require buffers. All buffers shall be shown on the landscape plan (See section 21-43). Unless otherwise provided for in this chapter, all buffers shall be designed and constructed in accordance with the following:

a. All buffers shall be minimum of 50 feet in width.

b. No construction shall occur within any buffer area except for the following, if specifically approved by the Board:

1. Drainage improvements.

2. Underground utilities.

3. Pedestrian and bicycle paths.

4. Crossings of access roads.

c. No removal of existing vegetation shall occur in any buffer unless the removal is in conjunction with construction or selective thinning of trees as approved by the Board.

d. Where nonresidential uses abut residentially zoned lots, and where existing vegetation within the buffer does not provide adequate screening, screening shall be provided in accordance with subsection 21-28.1 above, unless the Board shall determine that because of the design of the site, screening is not necessary.