Case Studies in Smart Growth

Smart Growth Ordinances: Edison Township--Open Space

ORDINANCE NO. 1097-98

AN ORDINANCE AMENDING AND SUPPLEMENTING CHAPTER 86 KNOWN AS THE ZONING ORDINANCE OF THE GENERAL CODE OF THE TOWNSHIP OF EDISON FOR THE PURPOSE OF CREATING AN OPEN SPACE/RECREATION CONSERVATION ZONE

BE IT ORDAINED, by the Township Council of the Township of Edison in the County of Middlesex and State of New Jersey that Chapter 86 known as the Zoning Ordinance of the Township of Edison General Code be Amended by adding Section 86-6.1 as follows:

SECTION I:

86-8.1 OSR-C Open Space/Recreation Conservation District

The purpose of the OSR-C zone is to preserve within the Township of Edison lands that are identified as open space, recreational facilities or environmentally sensitive. Placed in this zone will be public, quasi-public and other parcels that would be inherently suitable for this zone based on their use and purpose. Specifically, all federal, state, county, municipal and private parks with inherent recreational facilities shall be included in the OSR-C zone.

The following regulations are applicable in the OSR-C zone:

A. Permitted uses. No building, structure, premises or facility shall be used and no building, structure or facility shall be erected or physically and structurally altered except for the following uses.

1) Buildings to include offices, locker rooms, concession stands and equipment storage sheds for the purpose of servicing sport and recreational facilities such as baseball, softball, football, soccer, tennis, swimming pools, skating rinks, and other similar uses:

2) Buildings to house centers with related facilities for the purpose of studying, learning, record keeping, and gathering information on the wildlife, ecology and natural resources indigenous to the surrounding area.

B. Prohibited uses. Except as set forth in the Conditional Uses subsection of the OSR-C zone, all uses not specifically permitted are therefore prohibited.

C. Accessory uses. Permitted is any accessory use on the same lot with and customarily incidental to any principal use permitted in this district. No accessory structure shall be larger in area than fifteen percent (15%) of the area of the principal structure. Permitted accessory uses shall consist of but not necessarily be limited to:

1) Maintenance sheds. 2) Toilet facilities. 3) Nature trails for walking and biking. 4) Observation stands. 5) Bleachers.

D. Conditional uses.

1) Golf courses with the following conditions and regulations:

a) Same requirements as set forth in the G-C Golf Course zone in this chapter.

E. Off-street and loading requirements. Off-street parking, together with appropriate access thereto, shall be provided on the same lot as the building, structure, or facility it is intended to serve in accordance with the standards of Section 86-27 with the additional following standards:

1) Off-street parking space may be located in the front, side or rear yards; provided, however, that no parking shall be nearer than fifteen (15) feet to any street right of way line nor nearer than five (5) feet to any side of a building, structure or facility, and further provided that complete building perimeter parking is prohibited.

2) Where a building, structure or facility has loading and unloading needs based on use, the number of loading spaces required shall be set forth in Section 86-27D(2)(a).

F. Requirements for signs. Due to the complexity and wide spectrum of intensity and uses that can be implemented in the OSR-C Zone, sign regulations shall be determined on an individual basis for each parcel that requires a site plan or subdivision by either the Planning Board or Zoning Board of adjustment. The professionals that report to either of these Boards shall make recommendations regarding the signs proposed for this zone based on the requirements of Section 86-28. Proposed signs that are not as a result of a site plan or subdivision approval shall be reviewed and recommendations made by the Township Planner also based on the requirements of Section 86-28.

G. Other requirements. All parcels that are in the OSR-C zone may also be subject to limitations as the case may be other than the development regulations set forth. They shall be subject but not be limited to the following restrictions:

1) Deed restrictions.
2) Green Acres Regulations.
3) Restrictions as set forth by Municipal; County, State or Federal mandates.
4) Any other lawful restriction that precludes development of a subject parcel in part or in full in accordance with the requirements set forth in this Section.

H. Height, area. and yard requirements shall be as specified in the schedule of regulations, Section 86-8 which shall be supplemented as follows;

Minimum Lot Requirement(Area/Width sq.ft.): 40,000/100

Minimum Required Yard Depth(feet)

Principal Building
Front: 50
Side/Both: 25/50
Rear: 75
Access Side/Rear:15/15
Maximum % Lot Coverage By all buildings: 15

Max Height (stories/feet): 2/30

Max % Lot Coverage by All buildings and pavemant: 40

Min Gross Floor Area (1 story/more than 1 story): N/A

Max Floor Area Ratio: 0.30

SECTION II.
Section 86-4 "Establishment of Districts", Subsection A, is hereby amended to include the following: OSR-C Open Space/Recreation Conservation District

SECTION III:
Section 86-4B of the Township of Edison establishing the Official Zoning Map is hereby amended to place the Lot and Blocks on the attached list in the OSR-C Open Space/Recreation Conservation District: see attached list.