Borough of Leonia, NJ Article I Building Appearance

[Adopted 7-8-1974 by Ord. No. 737 (Ch. 83 of the 1982 Code)]

§ 95-1 Design of buildings; exceptions.

A. No building or other structure shall hereafter be erected, constructed, placed, altered or enlarged in any residential zone which shall be substantially like any neighboring residential dwelling houses, as hereinafter defined, then in existence or for which a building permit has been duly issued, unless such building shall vary in a reasonably substantial manner. In determining whether the building varies reasonably as required herein, the Planning Board shall consider the following features:

(1) Floor plans.

(2) Exterior elevations with respect to but not limited to fenestration, entrances, porches, garages, stairs, landings and prominent ornamentation and facade treatment.

(3) The roof height, shape, orientation of the main ridge line, proportion of roof elements or materials.

(4) The type and pattern of exterior surface materials.

B. Notwithstanding any other provision of this chapter, nothing herein shall be deemed to require an owner or an applicant for a building permit to remove or alter an existing structure or any part thereof or to replace existing structural features or materials, which replacement, removal or alteration the owner or applicant has not included in the plans submitted as part of the application for a building permit. The requirements of this chapter shall only apply to such portions of the dwelling house the owner or applicant desires to repair, alter or add and then only to the extent the same are applicable and can reasonably be required without impairing the architectural integrity of the existing dwelling house and/or adding substantially to the cost of the intended repair, alteration or addition.

C. This chapter shall not apply to parcels of land upon which only one dwelling house may exist under Chapter 290, Zoning:

(1) If the owner does not own any contiguous parcel or lot upon which a dwelling house may lawfully be constructed; and

(2) If no predecessor in title to the owner of the parcel or lot owned any such contiguous parcel or lot as of the effective date of this chapter.

§ 95-2 Neighboring buildings.

In relation to the premises with respect to which a building or structure is sought to be erected, constructed, placed, altered or enlarged, a building or structure shall be deemed to be a neighboring dwelling house, building or structure if the lot or lots upon which it or any part of it has been or will be located is one of the following:

A. Any buildable lot on the same side of the street upon which the building or structure to be located on said premises would front which is the first, second, third or fourth lot next along said street in either direction from said premises, without regard to intervening street lines.

B. Any buildable lot, any part of the street line frontage of which is directly across a street from said premises or from any lot referred to in Subsection A of this section.

§ 95-3 Submission of floor plans required.

Prior to the issuance of a building permit, the Building Subcode Official shall require the applicant to submit floor plans and elevations, including descriptions of materials to be used thereon, drawn to a scale of 1/4 inch equals one foot for review and approval of the Leonia Planning Board.