[Amended 6-12-1979 by Ord. No. 79-1; 9-25-1980 by Ord. No. 80-14; 7-14-1981 by Ord. No. 81-11; 11-24-1981 by Ord. No. 81-20; 10-12-1982 by Ord. No.
82-13; 9-24-1985 by Ord. No. 85-14; 6-28-1988 by Ord. No. 88-10; 8-14-1990 by Ord. No. 90-14; 6-22-1993 by Ord. No. 93-21; 5-23-2001 by Ord. No. 2001-25; 12-30-2002 by Ord. No. 2002-48; 12-30-2002 by Ord. No. 2002-49; 7-10-2007 by Ord. No. 2007-25; 4-28-2020 by Ord. No. 2020-08]
A. Purpose. The purpose of the RA, RS, R, R1, R2, CR,
AH, RCA, PD and R8A Residential Districts is to establish a distribution
of population density throughout the Township in relation to existing
and prospective facilities, a convenient street system, employment
areas and reasonable predictability of population growth. The standards
are intended to offer maximum flexibility in site design and the selection
of dwelling unit types in order to offer a balanced housing pattern
attractive to all income and age segments of the community as part
of the Township's fair share of meeting the region's low- and moderate-income
housing need. In each of these districts, development design may follow
either standard subdivision of lots or cluster zoning or, in the RS,
R, R1, R2, CR, AH, RCA and PD Districts, utilize the planned development
provisions of this chapter.
B. Permitted principal uses.
(1) Dwellings, in accordance with the schedule at the
end of this chapter.
(2) Libraries, parks and playgrounds, cemeteries, community
center (noncommercial) and golf courses.
(3) Neighborhood convenience center in conjunction with
planned developments containing more than 300 dwelling units. The
center shall contain not less than four and not more than eight retail
outlets and/or offices. The center shall be located in relation to
the entire development and a convenient street network and shall also
be served by a comprehensive pedestrian and bikeway system serving
the entire project. The lot area shall not be less than two acres
nor more than six acres, with minimum lot width and depth; minimum
front, side and rear yards; maximum building coverage, impervious
surface coverage and building height; and minimum buffer width, all
as set forth in the C-1 District.
(4) All farm and agricultural activities, including nurseries,
poultry and livestock raising, provided that:
(a)
The keeping or raising of swine shall not be
allowed except as part of a general farming operation on a property
of not less than 25 acres. No more than 100 swine shall be kept on
any property.
(b)
No building, fenced run or other enclosure for
the shelter of swine shall be closer to any property line or zone
boundary than 200 feet.
(c)
No building erected entirely or partially for
the storage of hay or other flammable material shall be closer than
100 feet to any property line.
(d)
No building for the shelter of fowl or farm
livestock, other than swine, shall be closer to any side or rear property
line or residential zone boundary than 100 feet, except that no range
shelter or other building used to house a backyard flock shall be
closer to any side or rear property line than 50 feet.
(6) Volunteer
fire companies and first-aid or rescue squads.
[Added 3-10-2009 by Ord. No. 2009-08]
C. Accessory uses.
(1) Garages, storage sheds, tennis courts and swimming
pools for single family homes, and uses customarily associated with
the above uses, provided that such accessory uses are subordinate
to the principal use, do not change the character of the principal
use and serve only the principal use.
(2) Accessory uses are allowed in all yards but the front yard, except as provided in §
188-66D(5).
[Amended 10-9-2012 by Ord. No. 2012-29]
(3) Height limitations. No accessory use, structure or
building shall exceed the height limitations for the principal building
on the lot, except that one private radio tower may be erected on
a lot in a residential zone as an accessory to the principal use with
a maximum height of 50 feet or such lower height based on a required
setback equal to the height of the tower. Such tower may be either
freestanding or attached to the principal building. The tower shall
be set back from any street right-of-way a distance equal to the minimum
requirement of the principal building.
D. Conditional uses.
[Amended 5-23-2001 by Ord. No. 2001-25; 3-10-2009 by Ord. No. 2009-08; 6-23-2009 by Ord. No.
2009-23]
(1) Boardinghouses and nursing homes.
(a)
Nursing homes shall be on a minimum lot size of five acres.
(b)
The minimum number of off-street parking spaces for nursing
homes shall be 0.33 space per patient/resident.
(c)
Boardinghouses are only permitted in the RS District, provided
that the operation meets the requirements of the definition of a boardinghouse
with no more than two boarders permitted to occupy the boardinghouse
at any time, and the owner of the home must also be a resident of
the structure.
(d)
The minimum lot size for a boardinghouse shall be at least 1.5
acres.
(e)
The minimum amount of off-street parking spaces required for
a boardinghouse is two for the resident owner and family plus one
for each boarding room. These additional spaces for boarders should
be located and designed so vehicles can enter and exit each space
without requiring any other vehicle to be moved.
(2) Church, nursery school, public/private school and child-care center.
(a)
Minimum lot area: two acres.
(b)
Minimum lot width: 200 feet.
(c)
Minimum lot depth: 200 feet.
(d)
Minimum front yard: 100 feet.
(e)
Minimum side yard: 50 feet.
(f)
Minimum rear yard: 75 feet.
(g)
Maximum building height: 35 feet, except for religious symbols
affixed to the roof, including steeples, which shall not exceed 20
feet above the highest point on the roof.
(h)
Maximum impervious coverage: not to exceed the amount permitted
in the Schedule of Requirements for the zone district in which facility
is located.
(3) Club pools and accessory recreation areas.
(a)
Minimum lot area: six acres.
(b)
Minimum lot width: 300 feet.
(c)
Minimum front yard: 150 feet.
(d)
Minimum side yard: 75 feet.
(e)
Minimum rear yard: 75 feet.
(f)
Maximum building height: 30 feet.
(g)
Maximum impervious coverage: not to exceed the amount permitted
in the Schedule of Requirements for the zone district in which the
facility is located.
(4) Mortuary.
(a)
Minimum lot area: three acres.
(b)
Minimum lot width: 250 feet.
(c)
Minimum front yard: 75 feet.
(d)
Minimum side yard: 75 feet.
(e)
Minimum rear yard: 100 feet.
(f)
Maximum building height: 35 feet.
(g)
Maximum impervious coverage: not to exceed the amount permitted
in the Schedule of Requirements for the zone district in which the
building is located.
(5) Planned residential cluster and farmland/open space preservation
development option in the RS District, in accordance with the following
standards:
(a)
Purpose of planned residential cluster and farmland/open space
preservation development. In order to preserve open space, farmland
and the rural characteristics of the landscape in the RS Zone, the
planned residential cluster option, a planned residential form of
development, may be used to receive dwelling units transferred from
properties elsewhere in the RS District with the preserved land to
be dedicated to the Township of Hillsborough or permanently deed-restricted
for farmland preservation, open space or public park use.
(b)
General conditions for a planned residential cluster development.
[1]
Dedication or evidence of a permanent deed restriction for farmland
preservation, open space or public use of 70% of the gross tract area,
including sending and receiving parcels.
[2]
Minimum area of receiving tract: 75 acres.
[3]
Maximum density on receiving tract: one dwelling unit per acre.
The maximum density shall be calculated by taking the acreage of the
receiving tract and dividing that number by the number of proposed
dwelling units.
[4]
Direct access to a collector or primary local road system.
[5]
Maximum permitted gross density of receiving parcel: one dwelling
unit per acre, including both the base tract and transfer unit densities.
(c)
Permitted principal uses.
[1]
Single-family detached residential dwellings.
(d)
Accessory uses.
[1]
Community wastewater treatment facility.
(e)
Minimum open space requirements for receiving parcel.
[1]
In a planned residential cluster development, a minimum of 20%
of the receiving parcel shall be set aside for open space.
[2]
Twenty-five percent of the 20% required in Subsection E(1)(10)(e)[1]
above, or a minimum of 3,500 square feet of open space for each dwelling
unit, whichever is greater, shall be set aside in the form of developed
parks, greens, commons and/or informal play fields. This open space
shall be owned and maintained by a homeowners' association established
in conformance with this chapter.
[3]
Up to 25% of the total open space in a planned residential cluster
development can be set aside as estate lots of 10 acres or greater,
so long as these lots may no longer be further subdivided and shall
be permanently restricted by a conservation easement.
(f)
Area, yard and bulk regulations for single-family detached dwellings
served by a community wastewater treatment facility.
[1]
Minimum lot requirements.
[a] Lot area: 20,000 square feet.
[b] Lot width at setback: 120 feet.
[e] Side yard: 15 feet on one side; 30 feet on garage
side.
[2]
Maximum lot requirements.
[a] Building height: 35 feet.
[c] Total impervious coverage: 35%.
(g)
Design requirements for a planned residential cluster development.
[1]
Layout. Planned residential cluster developments may be designed
in an interconnected pattern of blocks and streets, defined by buildings,
street furniture, pedestrianways and sidewalks.
[2]
Greens and commons are to be spatially defined and distributed
within the planned residential cluster development. They shall be
designed to serve a variety of outdoor leisure and assembly needs
of residents and to enhance the form and appearance of the development.
Benches are encouraged. Twenty-five percent of the green or common
area shall be landscaped with trees and/or shrubs. Landscape design
shall be approved by the appropriate land use board.
[3]
Streets.
[a] Street patterns shall form a broadly rectilinear
network, with variations as needed for topographic, environmental
and other design considerations.
[b] Streets shall be designed to:
[i]
Parallel and preserve existing fence lines, tree lines, hedgerows,
stone walls and watercourses;
[ii]
Minimize alteration of natural, cultural or historic site features;
and
[iii] Promote pedestrian movement.
[c] In order to calm traffic speeds, the use of T-intersections
is encouraged.
[d] All streets shall have public sidewalks. Sidewalks,
informal walkways and footpaths shall be no less than four feet wide.
Paths in open space shall be constructed using mulch or stone. A planned
residential cluster development shall create a completely linked neighborhood
of walkways connecting all uses with parks and other open space areas.
[4]
Building design.
[a] All properties shall accommodate a garage for automobiles.
Garages may be attached or detached. Side-entry garages are more preferable
than front-entry garages that front on the street and shall be encouraged.
Detached garages shall be set behind the dwelling and shall resemble
the principal structure in architecture, including roof peak and color.
[b] Covered front porches shall be encouraged.
[c] A diversity of housing styles shall be encouraged
to avoid the same models being next door or directly across the street
from one another.
[5]
Community wastewater treatment facility (CWTF).
[a] The CWTF shall be located within the development
while providing efficient functionality. The property on which the
CWTF is located shall be owned and maintained by the homeowners' or
condominium association established for the development.
[b] The CWTF property shall be adequately landscaped,
bermed and/or fenced to conceal the CWTF and appurtenances to the
extent possible and shall contribute to noise reduction.
[c] The CWTF mechanical equipment shall be housed in
a building that shall be aesthetically pleasing and shall blend with
the architecture of the surrounding properties.
E. Densities, lot size, bulk, setbacks, height and dwelling
unit mix.
(1) The maximum standards shall be as outlined in the
schedule at the end of this chapter.
(2) Any area used for preexisting public streets and any
area proposed for commercial uses under the planned development provisions
shall be excluded from the acreage uses in calculating the number
of permitted dwelling units.
(3) Transfer of development credits. The development density on any parcel in the RS, R1, R2, CR and PD Districts may be increased as outlined in the schedule by transferring credit from other lot(s) in the Township. This increased density on the receiving lot can be accommodated in accordance with all the standards of this chapter. The increased number of units permitted and the procedures to be followed in processing an application for any proposed transfer of development credits shall be as set forth in §
188-93, Transfer of development credits, in Article
IV.
F. Minimum open space.
(1) Any lot on which cluster development or planned unit
residential development is proposed and in which detached single-family
dwellings, patio homes and duplexes are proposed and where the development
has less than 30% of the dwelling units comprised of other housing
types, a minimum of 20% of the tract shall be set aside as common
property and/or offered to the Township for public purpose(s).
(2) In any lot on which cluster or planned unit development
design is proposed and in which multiplexes, townhouses, atrium houses
and/or apartments comprise more than 30% of the dwelling units, a
minimum of 40% of the tract shall be set aside as common property
and/or offered to the Township for public purpose.
(3) All open spaces, whether common property or offered
to the Township, and all land offered to the Township shall be usable
for their intended purpose(s) and have public street, pedestrian and
bikeway access from at least two directions, with appropriate parking
facilities, on- or off-site and be located to conform to an overall
plan for open spaces, floodplain preservation, recreation areas and
public uses or adjoining tracts, where such plans exist.
G. In the event of a partial or total destruction of
a single-family dwelling, to the extent that the dwelling is uninhabitable,
by resolution of the Township Committee, the Zoning Officer may issue
a zoning permit allowing the temporary use of the mobile home on the
affected lot for a period not to exceed eight months. Placement of
the mobile home will be subject to inspection and approval by the
Chief Construction Official. The Township Committee, by separate resolution,
may extend such temporary use for one additional six-month period.
H. Surface access requirements. Neither principal nor
conditional uses shall be permitted in any zone until such time as
the proposed improvements to the off-site road infrastructure are
completed as provided in the Master Plan or until such time as the
Township Engineer and the Planning Board by majority vote certify
to the Township Committee that then-current alternate surface roadways
will safely and adequately handle the projected traffic entering and
exiting the development proposed for the district, except that those
uses provided may be permitted if the developer places a pro rata
share in an escrow fund to be administered by the Township and used
for completion of off-site road improvements. Each developer's pro
rata share of the total road improvement cost will be in proportion
to the area to be developed as compared to the district as a whole.
Funds in the escrow account shall be expended by the Township for
their intended purpose within five years of deposit or shall be returned
with interest to the developer.
I. Additional requirements for the R8A District.
[Added 4-28-2020 by Ord.
No. 2020-08]
(1) The affordable housing obligation for the R8A District is 88 units,
which shall be provided in accordance with the settlement agreement
dated October 15, 2019, between Hillsborough Township and M&M
Realty Partners, LLC.
(2) The total number of dwelling units constructed in the R8A District
shall not exceed 380.
(3) In addition to the accessory uses permitted in §
188-98C, clubhouses, swimming pools, tennis or other sport courts, sitting or picnic areas, walking, cycling or exercise trails and other appropriate active and passive recreational facilities are permitted. Accessory structures shall not exceed 15 feet in height with the following exceptions: cabanas shall not exceed 20 feet in height; a community clubhouse shall comply with the bulk standards for a detached single-family house.
(4) Fences are limited to six feet in height in side and rear yards and
four feet in front yards. Solid fences are prohibited in the front
yard. Fences shall not be located in any required sight triangle.
(5) The regular and customary maintenance of vegetation and facilities
within any required conservation areas including but not limited to
flood hazard areas, watercourses, water bodies, stream corridors,
wetland areas, wetland buffer areas, and detention basins, shall be
conducted by a private association. Maintenance activities include
but are not limited to: lawn maintenance; planting and mulching of
landscape beds; tree maintenance; removal of dead or diseased trees
or limbs; removal of invasive plant species; pond and stormwater facility
maintenance; cleaning, improvement, and protection of drainage systems;
site stabilization measures; and similar improvements to keep the
conservation areas appropriately clean and maintained. All maintenance
activities located within designated conservation areas shall be subject
to and comply with NJDEP and DRCC rules, regulations and restrictions.
(6) Signs. A signage program shall be established as part of the development review and approval process pursuant to the requirements contained in §
188-83G, unless otherwise noted below:
(a)
There shall be a consistent sign design theme throughout the
district related to style of lettering, construction material, size
proportion, and lighting.
(b)
A comprehensive signage plan shall be provided covering overall
project identification, traffic regulations, pedestrian crossing,
street identification, parking and directional instructions.
(c)
The district may have one permanent project/entry sign on each
of the following roads: Sunnymeade, Hamilton, and Falcon Roads, with
a maximum area of 20 square feet each and not exceeding four feet
in height. The signs shall not be located in any sight triangles nor
closer than 20 feet from a public right-of-way.
(7) Any phasing of the project shall be subject to approval of a phasing
plan by the applicable Board.