Township of Morris, NJ Article II Designation of Zones; Zoning Map; Boundaries; General Regulations

§ 95-5 Designation of zones.

[Amended 12-28-1983 by Ord. No. 40-83; 5-11-1988 by Ord. No. 10-88; 12-7-2005 by Ord. No. 32-05; 9-20-2006 by Ord. No. 17-06; 10-17-2007 by Ord. No. 24-07; 12-14-2011 by Ord. No. 37-11; 10-1-2012 by Ord. No. 13-12; 12-19-2012 by Ord. No. 17-12; 6-17-2015 by Ord. No. 20-15; 5-24-2018 by Ord. No. 15-18; 9-13-2018 by Ord. No. 24-18; 12-18-2019 by Ord. No. 28-19]

For the purpose of this chapter, the Township of Morris in the County of Morris is hereby divided into the following zones, differentiated according to use, area and bulk regulations, to be designated as follows:

RA-130	Single-Family Residential Zone
RA-87	Single-Family Residential Zone
RA-35	Single-Family Residential Zone
RA-25	Single-Family Residential Zone
RA-15	Single-Family Residential Zone
RA-11	Single-Family Residential Zone
RA-7	Single-Family Residential Zone
RB-7	Multiple-Family Residential Zone
RG-5	Multiple-Family Residential Zone
RH-5	Mixed Housing Zone
RH-16	Mixed Housing Zone
SC	Senior Citizens Housing Zone
PRC	Planned Retirement Community Zone
TH-4	Townhouse Residential Zone
TH-6	Townhouse Residential Zone
TH-8	Townhouse Residential Zone
TH-6/AH	Townhouse Residential Affordable Housing Zone
TH-7.5/AH	Townhouse Residential Affordable Housing Zone
TH-8/AH	Townhouse Residential Affordable Housing Zone
MF-10/AH	Multifamily Affordable Housing Overlay Zone
MF-12/AH	Multifamily Affordable Housing Overlay Zone
B-11	Business Zone
OL-5	Office and Research Laboratory Zone
OL-15	Office and Research Laboratory Zone
OL-40	Office and Research Laboratory Zone
OL-40/PUD	Office and Research Laboratory/Planned Unit Development Zone
I-21	Industrial Zone
CEM	Cemetery Zone
OS-GU	Open Space — Government Use Zone
AOZ	Agricultural Overlay Zone
OS-GU-25A	Open Space — Government Use — Alternate Residential Zone
CO	Conservation Overlay Zone

§ 95-6 Zoning Map.

[Amended 9-20-2006 by Ord. No. 17-06; 10-17-2007 by Ord. No. 24-07; 12-14-2011 by Ord. No. 37-11; 10-1-2012 by Ord. No. 13-12; 12-19-2012 by Ord. No. 17-12; 5-24-2018 by Ord. No. 15-18; 9-13-2018 by Ord. No. 24-18; 10-23-2019 by Ord. No. 23-19; 12-21-2022 by Ord. No. 26-22]

The location and boundaries of said zones or districts are hereby established on the Zoning Map of the Township of Morris in Morris County, dated November 9, 2022, which is attached hereto and hereby made part of this chapter. Said map and all notations, referenced and designations shown thereon shall be, as such, a part of this chapter as if the same were all fully described and set further herein.[1]

[1] Editor's Note: The Zoning Map is available in the Township offices. A Table of Zoning Map Amendments is included as an attachment to this chapter.

§ 95-7 Interpretation of boundaries.

A. Designation of zone boundaries.

(1) The zone boundary lines are intended generally to follow the center lines of streets, the center lines of railroad rights-of-way, existing lot lines, the center lines of rivers, streams and other waterways and municipal boundary lines.

(2) Where a district boundary line does not follow such a line, its position shall be shown on the Zoning Map by a specific dimension expressing its distance in feet from a street line or other boundary line as indicated.

B. Determination of doubtful lines. Except as provided in Subsection C below, in cases of uncertainty or disagreement as to the true location of any zone boundary line, the determination thereof shall be with the Board of Adjustment under the provisions of Chapter 57, Land Development.

C. Boundary line to coincide with lot line.

(1) If a zone boundary line falls within 20 feet of a lot line existing at the time of passage of this chapter, then the lot line shall be considered the zone boundary line.

(2) In the event that a zone boundary line divides one or more lots, other than as provided in Subsection C(1) above, then all area, bulk, yard, buffer and any other dimension requirements specified in this chapter for that particular zone shall be met only within that zone.

D. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this section, boundaries of overlay districts in the OL-40/PUD Zone shall be as shown on the Zoning Map by metes and bounds, and such boundaries shall not be subject to the provisions of Subsections A and C above.

[Added 10-1-2012 by Ord. No. 13-12]

§ 95-8 General regulations and restrictions.

A. General. The restrictions and controls intended to regulate development in each zone are set forth in the Schedule of Area, Bulk and Yard Requirements,[1] which is supplemented by other sections of Chapter 57, Land Development.

[1] Editor's Note: The Schedule of Area, Bulk and Yard Requirements is included as an attachment to this chapter.

B. Application of regulations. Except as hereinafter otherwise provided:

(1) No building or structure shall be erected and no existing building or structure shall be moved, altered, added to or enlarged, nor shall any land or building be designed, used or intended to be used, for any purpose or in any manner other than as specified among the uses hereinafter listed as permitted in the zone in which such building or land is located.

(2) No building or structure shall be erected, reconstructed or structurally altered to exceed in height the limit hereinafter designated for the zone in which such building or structure is located.

(3) No building or structure shall be erected, no existing buildings or structures shall be altered, enlarged or rebuilt, nor shall any open space surrounding any building be encroached upon or reduced in any manner, except in conformity with the area, bulk and yard requirements and other regulations hereinafter designated for the zone in which such building or open space is located.

(4) No yard or other open space provided about any building for the purpose of complying with the provisions of this chapter shall be considered as providing a yard or other open space for any other buildings, and no yard or other open space on one lot shall be considered as providing a yard or open space for a building on any other lot.

(5) No minimum off-street parking area or loading or unloading area shall be considered as providing an off-street parking, loading or unloading area for a use or structure of any other lot, except as provided herein.

(6) No land in a residential zone shall be used to fulfill open space, minimum area, minimum yard and setback requirements, parking or other similar requirements for uses in nonresidential zones. Vehicle access for nonresidential and RG-5 Zone uses shall not traverse a single- or two-family residential zone and shall be directly from a street specified as a collector or arterial or higher road category as shown in the duly adopted Master Plan of the Township of Morris.

(7) No land or building in any zoning district within the Township of Morris shall be used or shall be allowed to be used as any classes of cannabis establishments or cannabis distributors or cannabis delivery services as said terms are defined in Section 3 of P.L. 2021, c. 16. [2]

[2] Editor’s Note: See N.J.S.A. 24:6I-33.

C. General use restriction. Any use not specifically designated as a principal permitted use, a permitted accessory use or a conditional use is specifically prohibited from any zone district in the Township of Morris.