This chapter is enacted for the following purposes: to promote the health, morals and general welfare of the inhabitants of the Borough of Swedesboro; to lessen congestion in the streets; to secure safety from fire, panic and other dangers; to provide adequate light and air; to prevent the overcrowding of land or buildings; to avoid undue concentration of population; and to conserve the value of property and encourage the most appropriate use of land.
From and after the effective date of this chapter, the use of all land and every building or portion of a building erected, altered with respect to height and area, added to or relocated and every use within a building or use accessory thereto in the Borough of Swedesboro shall be in conformity with the provisions of this chapter. Any existing building or structure and any existing use of a building or land not in conformity with the regulations herein prescribed shall be regarded as nonconforming but may be continued, extended or changed, subject to the special regulations herein provided with respect to nonconforming buildings or uses.
In interpreting and applying the provisions of this chapter, they shall be held to be the minimum requirements for the promotion of the public health, safety, comfort, convenience and general welfare. Where the provisions of this chapter impose greater restrictions than those of any statute, other ordinance or regulation, the provisions of this chapter shall be controlling. Where the provisions of any statute, other ordinance or regulation impose greater restrictions than this chapter, the provisions of such statute, other ordinance or regulations shall be controlling.
This chapter shall be known and may be cited as the "Swedesboro Borough Zoning Ordinance of 1979."
A. 
Terms defined. Unless otherwise expressly stated, the following words and phrases shall be construed throughout this chapter to have the meanings herein indicated:
ACCESSORY BUILDING
A building subordinate to the main building on a lot and used for purposes customarily incidental to those of the main building.
ACCESSORY USE
A use subordinate to the main use of land or of a building on a lot and customarily incidental thereto.
BUILDING
(1) 
DETACHEDA building which has no party wall.
(2) 
SEMIDETACHEDA building which has only one party wall in common with the adjacent building.
(3) 
ATTACHEDA building which has two party walls in common with the adjacent building.
BUILDING AREA
The aggregate of the maximum horizontal cross-section areas, excluding cornices, eaves and gutters, of all buildings on a lot.
BUILDING LINE
The line parallel to the street line at a distance therefrom equal to the depth of the required front yard.
DWELLING
(1) 
SINGLE-FAMILYA building on a lot designed and occupied exclusively as a residence for one family.
(2) 
TWO-FAMILYA building on a lot designed and occupied exclusively as a residence for two families.
(3) 
MULTIPLE or APARTMENTA building on a lot designed and occupied exclusively as a residence for three or more families.
ELECTRIC SUBSTATION
An assemblage of equipment for purposes other than generation or utilization, through which electric energy in bulk is passed for the purposes of switching or modifying its characteristics to meet the needs of the general public, provided that in residence districts, an "electric substation" shall not include rotating equipment, except as is incidental to the operation of the substation as such, storage of materials, trucks or repair facilities or housing of repair crews.
FAMILY
Any number of persons living and cooking together as a single housekeeping unit.
HEIGHT OF BUILDING
A building's vertical measurement from the mean level of the ground abutting the building to a point midway between the highest and lowest points of the roof, provided that chimneys, spires, towers, elevator penthouses, tanks and similar projections of the building and structures supporting utility or transmission facilities shall not be included in calculating the height.
LIMITED BREWERY
A commercial facility, which shall not sell or serve food or operate a restaurant, which brews any malt alcoholic beverages in quantities for which it is licensed by the Alcohol Beverage Commission and which sells the product at retail to consumers on the licensed premises of the brewery for consumption on the premises but only in connection with tours of the brewery, or for consumption off premises in a quantity of not more than 15.5 fluid gallons per person, and to offer samples for sampling purposes only. "Sampling" shall mean the selling at a nominal charge or the gratuitous offering of a open container not exceeding four ounces of any malt alcoholic beverage produced on the premises. A limited brewery must be licensed by the State of New Jersey Division of Alcoholic Beverage Control.
[Added 5-6-2016 by Ord. No. 5-2016]
LOT
A parcel of land on which a main building and any accessory buildings are or may be placed, together with the required open spaces. The area of a lot which abuts a street shall be measured to the street line only.
MICROBREWERY
A facility where more than 250 barrels and less than 10,000 barrels of malt or brewed beverages are produced on premises on an annual basis and then sold or distributed for off-premises consumption. A microbrewery must be licensed by the State of New Jersey Division of Alcoholic Beverage Control; (Per Alcoholic Beverage Control State Division of the guidelines listed under limited brewery pertain to microbreweries).
[Added 5-6-2016 by Ord. No. 5-2016]
NONCONFORMING BUILDING OR USE
A building or a use of land or of a building existing at the effective date of this chapter which does not conform with the requirements of this chapter.
PARKING SPACE
An open space or a garage on a lot used for parking motor vehicles, the area of which is not less than 200 square feet and to which there is access from a street.
PRIVATE GARAGE
An accessory building used for the storage of motor vehicles, which may include one commercial vehicle owned and used by the owner or tenant of the premises, and for the storage of not more than two private noncommercial vehicles owned and used by persons other than the owner or tenant of the premises.
PUBLIC GARAGE
A building, not a private garage, used primarily for the storage and/or repair of motor vehicles of any type of ownership.
SINGLE AND SEPARATE OWNERSHIP
The ownership of a lot by one or more persons, partnerships or corporations, which ownership is separate and distinct from that of any adjoining lot.
STREET
A public street, road or way which has been dedicated to public use, or a private street, road or way which has been approved by the Borough Council.
STREET LINE
The dividing line between a lot and the outside boundary of a public street, road or highway legally open or officially plotted by the Borough or between a lot and a private street, road or way over which the owners or tenants of two or more lots held in single and separate ownership have the right-of-way. Where a "street line" has not been established, it shall be computed as 25 feet from the center of the existing street.
STRUCTURAL ALTERATION
Any change in or addition to the supporting members of a building or structure, such as bearing wall partitions, columns, beams or girders.
TELEPHONE CENTRAL OFFICE
A building and its equipment erected and used for the purposes of facilitating transmission and exchange of telephone or radio-telephone messages between subscribers and other business of the telephone company, but, in residence districts, not to include public business facilities, storage of materials, trucking or repair facilities or housing of repair crews.
YARDS
(1) 
FRONTThe required open space extending along the street line throughout the full width of the lot, exclusive of overhanging eaves, gutters, cornices and steps.
(2) 
SIDEThe required open space extending along the side line of the lot throughout the full depth of the lot, exclusive of overhanging eaves, gutters, cornices and steps.
(3) 
REARThe required open space extending along the rear line of the lot throughout the full width of the lot, exclusive of overhanging eaves, gutters, cornices and steps.
B. 
Word usage. The singular shall include the plural, and the plural shall include the singular. The word "used" shall include the words "arranged," "designed" or "intended to be used." The word "building" shall include the word "structure." The present tense shall include the future tense.