The VR Village Residential I Zone is intended
to permit and promote residential land uses, having a distinctly traditional
village character, within a vibrant, pedestrian-friendly environment.
It is intended to encourage pedestrians to walk from residential areas
into the nearby village center areas.
The goals of the Village Residential I Zone
include having residential building setbacks typical of a village
environment, that encourage a lively and interesting streetscape;
achieving design compatibility with existing and planned developments
through appropriate controls that address architectural character,
building height, bulk, materials, colors and landscaping; providing
adequate on-street and off-street parking; and coordinating vehicular
and pedestrian circulation with existing and planned developments,
including applicable provisions of the Circulation Plan Element of
the Master Plan. A planned village residential area shall reflect
the traditional village planning and design principles contained in
the Master Plan's "Village Area Plan" adopted by the Planning Board
as part of its Land Use Plan Element, including:
A. Provide for a street pattern that interconnects with
existing and proposed uses and links the neighborhoods together.
B. Provide a layout of streets and open space edges which
encourages sidewalk and pathway interconnections.
C. Provide for neighborhood focal points such as small
parks or community spaces and other open spaces, as appropriate, so
that a sense of place is fostered and enhanced.
D. Promote the creation of a new neighborhood that is
spatially understood, limited in size, and exhibits the design features
of a traditional village neighborhood.
E. Promote the creation of an environment that encourages
a sense of security and social interaction.
F. Buildings within a planned village residential development
shall form a consistent streetscape, spatially delineating public
street spaces and private yards.
G. Architecture and landscaping shall respect the character
of the surrounding Plainsboro Township village area within the framework
of a traditional mixed-use village environment.
H. Provide a transition and connection between the village
center areas and the nearby residential areas.
In the VR Village Residential I Zone, no building or premises shall be used and no building shall be erected or altered which is arranged, intended or designed to be used except as part of an approved planned village residential development, which may include the following uses, where all such uses shall be subject to the performance standards set forth in Chapter
85, Subdivision and Site Plan Review:
A. Single-family detached units.
D. Public or private open space.
E. Family day-care homes, subject to the terms set forth in the family day-care home definition in §
101-1.
[Added 11-10-2011 by Ord. No. 0-11-13]
F. Home occupations and professional offices, subject to the standards found in §
101-13.5.
[Added 11-10-2011 by Ord. No. 0-11-13]
G. Necessary public utilities and services pursuant to §
101-13.6.
[Added 10-10-2018 by Ord.
No. 18-13]
In the VR Village Residential I Zone, the following
uses may be permitted as accessory uses:
A. Recreational and/or open space facilities, including,
but not limited to, walkways and courtyards.
C. Street furniture, planters, and trash receptacles.
D. Fences and walls shall complement the architectural
style, type, and design of the dwelling unit and the overall project
design, as established during the site plan review and approval process.
All design standards for fences and walls shall be established and
approved by the Planning Board as part of the subdivision and site
plan approval process.
E. Decks, patios and terraces shall complement the architectural
style and design of the dwelling units and the overall project design,
as established during the site plan review and approval process. All
design standards for decks, patios and terraces shall be established
and approved by the Planning Board as part of the subdivision and
site plan approval process.
F. All residential accessory storage structures shall
be attached to the principal dwelling or detached garage. Such structures
shall be no taller than one story and shall be designed as an integral
part of the structure to which it is attached, including same exterior
materials and color. No freestanding structures of this type shall
be permitted. The yard setback requirements for such structures shall
be the same as the structure to which it is attached.
G. All swimming pools and spas shall be in-ground type
and shall be located at least 10 feet from all property lines. Spas,
however, may be allowed aboveground if incorporated into an attached
house deck and enclosed by a fence that is at least one foot higher
than the spa. All design standards for pool and spa facilities shall
be established and approved by the Planning Board as part of the subdivision
and site plan approval process.
H. Other accessory structures (e.g., gazebo, arbor/trellis,
etc.) not otherwise enumerated above shall be established by design
standards approved by the Planning Board.
I. Temporary construction trailers and one sign, not
exceeding 32 square feet, advertising the developer, general contractor(s),
architect, financial institution and similar data, for the period
of construction beginning with the issuance of a construction permit
and concluding with the issuance of the final certificate of occupancy
or one year, whichever is less, provided that said trailer(s) and
sign are on the site where construction is taking place and are set
back at least 15 feet from all street and lot lines. The one-year
restriction may be extended by the Township Planner/Zoning Officer
in increments of six months, as necessary and appropriate.
Any use not expressly permitted in the VR Village
Residential I Zone shall be prohibited.
Any development application in the VR Village
Residential I Zone shall be submitted, initially, as a planned development,
in the nature of preliminary site plan and subdivision applications,
for the entire zone. Such application shall describe any phasing of
the proposal together with any on-site and off-tract improvements
needed to support such phases. The applications for preliminary site
plan and subdivision approval may also include a request for final
approvals with respect to such phase or phases and subject to the
following:
A. A planned village residential development shall be
subject to the requirements of this zone and to the mandatory findings
for a planned development as required by the Municipal Land Use Law
at N.J.S.A. 40:55D-45.
B. The minimum tract area and existing street frontage
for a planned VR Village Residential I Zone development shall be 10
acres and 900 feet, respectively.
C. The minimum common open space area in a VR Village
Residential I Zone development shall be 15% of the total tract area.
D. In a planned village residential center development,
two dwelling unit types shall be provided, consisting of single-family
detached and townhouse units. Not more than 24 housing units shall
be single-family detached units and not more than five housing units
shall be townhouse units.
E. During site plan and subdivision review, the following
shall be addressed to the satisfaction of the Planning Board:
(1) Consistency with Chapter
85, Subdivision and Site Plan Review, as applicable.
(2) Consistency with the area and yard requirements for
permitted single-family detached and townhouse units contained in
Tables 6 and 7 of this zone. However, minimum lot frontage, width, depth and yard setback
requirements shall not be regarded as inflexible. They shall be applied
in a manner that will achieve implementation of an acceptable plan
of development, as determined by the Planning Board.
(3) The function and visual relationship between the planned
village residential development and adjacent developments.
(4) Sidewalks and pathways that are linked to off-site
sidewalk and pathway networks. The applicant shall utilize the Township's
Master Plan Pedestrian Circulation and Bikeway Plans in designing
and constructing a comprehensive pedestrian and bicycle pathway network
for the development.
Alley specifications are as follows:
C. Right-of-way: 20 feet. Where two alleys intersect
each other at or near 90° or where there are bends in an alley
that approach 90°, the inside corner of the pavement shall have
a radius of approximately 12 feet.
E. Speed limit: 10 miles per hour.
F. Curbing: along inside radii only.
G. Drainage: inverted center line with inlets prior to
roadway intersections.
H. Pedestrian crossing: sidewalks cross alleys at grade.
I. Average daily traffic: less than 200 trips a day.
J. Street lighting: at corners and every 200 feet.
K. Landscaping: stabilized turf or crushed stone where
it abuts residential lots.