The purpose of this chapter is to provide guidelines and standards for site plan, P.U.R.D. and subdivision design and associated improvements, and to guide the approving authority in the promotion of the public health, safety, morals and general welfare. In accordance with N.J.S.A. 4055D-2 municipalities are permitted to adopt regulations which will promote a desirable visual environment through creative development techniques and good civic design and arrangements.

[Amended 8-25-97 by Ord. No. 97-25]

Effective June 3, 1997 certain site improvements as specified by state statute and associated with residential site plans, subdivisions or P.U.R.D.'s shall be regulated by the Residential Site Improvement Standards (N.J.A.C., Title 5, Chapter 21). Any required improvements not provided for within this chapter shall be designed in accordance with professionally recognized design standards and constructed in accordance with accepted engineering and planning practice. Prior agreement between the approving authority and the applicant shall be provided for standards not covered in this ordinance.

Except for those site improvements associated with residential development and governed by the provisions of the Residential Site Improvement Standards (N.J.A.C. Title 5, Chapter 21) should it be demonstrated that the minimum requirements herein, in a particular situation are not adequate to protect the public health, safety and welfare of the citizens of the township the approving Board may apply more stringent requirements based on the advice of its professionals and accepted engineering and planning practice.

The developer shall be responsible for and bear the entire cost of any and all investigations, tests, reports, surveys, samples, calculations, environmental assessments, designs, researches or any other activity necessary for the completion of the design. In those cases rot covered by these standards, sufficient precautions shall be taken to assure that the design implements the purposes of this chapter, the Zoning Ordinance and the Township Master Plan. Any decision of the Planning or Zoning Board regarding the suitability or sufficiency of any design proposal, taken upon advice of its professionals and subject to the provisions of this ordinance, shall be deemed conclusive and shall govern.

[Amended 8-25-97 by Ord. No. 97-25]

The rules, regulations and standards set forth in this chapter shall be considered the minimum requirements for the protection of the public health, safety and welfare of the citizens of the township. However, if the applicant can clearly demonstrate that, because of peculiar conditions pertaining to his land, the literal enforcement of this chapter is impracticable or will exact undue hardship, the Planning or Zoning Board may permit such exemption(s) and waiver(s) as may be reasonable, within the general purpose and intent of the rules, regulations and standards established by this chapter, the Township Zoning Ordinance and Township Master Plan. Waivers of Residential Site Improvement Standards shall follow the procedures outlined in N.J.A.C., Title 5, Chapter 21.

Design objectives provide a framework for sound planning while design standards set forth specific improvement requirements.

All other words and phrases are defined in Township Code 132-3, Definitions as well as Township Code 228-3 Definitions and word usage.

**Webmasters Note: The previous paragraph has been amended by Ordinance No. 11-06, effective May 9, 2011.