Borough of Park Ridge, NJ Article XIA AH-2 Affordable Housing Zone [1]

[Added 8-10-2021 by Ord. No. 2021-019]

[1] Editor's Note: Former Article XIA, Administration of Affordable Housing Program, added 3-11-2008 by Ord. No. 2008-05, was repealed 8-10-2021 by Ord. No. 2021-015. See now Ch. 39, Affordable Housing.

§ 101-47 Applicability.

The AH-1 District encompasses the following properties, as identified on Borough Tax Maps: Block 206, Lots 1 and 2.

§ 101-48 Affordable housing.

One hundred percent of the total dwelling units developed in the AH-2 District shall be set aside as rental housing for very-low-, low- and moderate-income households, in accordance with the provisions of this article and subject to Chapter 39, Affordable Housing, of the Borough Code, provided, however, that one non-deed-restricted unit may be provided for an on-site superintendent.

§ 101-48.1 Permitted uses.

A. In the AH-2 Zone, a building may be erected or used and a lot may be used or occupied for the following purposes:

(1) Principal permitted uses:

(a) Townhouses, garden apartments, multifamily residential dwelling units, and supportive and special needs housing. These housing types may be permitted as non-age-restricted, age-restricted (up to a maximum of 28 units), veterans preference housing (up to a maximum of 25 units), or any combination thereof. All units shall be for rent.

(b) Public open space for conservation use.

(2) Accessory uses: off-street parking, recreation facilities, fences and walls, signs and other customary accessory uses and buildings which are clearly incidental to the principal use and building.

§ 101-48.2 Area and bulk requirements.

The following standards and bulk regulations shall apply to permitted uses in the AH-2 District:

A. Density. The maximum number of dwelling units permitted in the AH-2 Zone shall be 50 affordable dwelling units, plus one on-site non-deed-restricted unit for occupancy by a building superintendent.

B. Buffer area.

(1) A minimum buffer area of at least 75 feet shall be provided from all external lot lines, except that portion which fronts upon an external street or right-of-way and except that portion which abuts deed-restricted open space. Such buffer area shall be kept in its natural state where wooded, and when natural vegetation is sparse or nonexistent, the landowner may be required to provide a year-round visual screen as determined by the approving authority.

(2) No principal or accessory use or structure, including, without limitation, off-street parking and loading areas, shall be permitted within the required buffer area; but the approving authority may, upon a finding of reasons thereof, permit a portion of a buffer area to be used for utility easements or streets to ensure access to or from adjacent property.

(3) In no case shall a buffer area be utilized for any active recreational use.

C. Area, yard and bulk requirements.

(1) The following area, yard and bulk requirements shall apply to permitted uses in the AH-2 Zone:

(a) Minimum lot area: two acres.

(b) Minimum lot width: 100 feet.

(c) Minimum front yard: 40 feet.

(d) Minimum side yard: 75 feet.

(e) Minimum rear yard: 10 feet.

(f) Minimum distance between buildings:

[1] Front-to-front units: 60 feet.

[2] Back-to-back units: 60 feet.

[3] Front-to-back units: 60 feet.

[4] Front-to-side units: 45 feet.

[5] Side-to-side units: 30 feet.

[6] Side-to-back units: 30 feet.

(g) Maximum building height: four stories; 60 feet.

(h) Maximum building coverage: 25%.

(i) Maximum impervious coverage: 60%.

(2) Parking requirements.

(a) Notwithstanding anything in § 101-62A to the contrary, there shall be at least 1.8 off-street parking spaces per dwelling unit for all uses in the AH-2 Zone.

(b) Notwithstanding anything in § 101-62B to the contrary, off-street parking may be located in a required front yard, provided that such parking shall be set back minimally five feet from all external lot lines and further provided that such parking shall not encroach within any sight triangles.

(c) Off-street parking shall be set back minimally five feet from buildings.

§ 101-48.3 Supplemental regulations.

A. Number of buildings and uses on a lot. Multiple buildings and uses shall be permitted on a lot in the AH-2 Zone, irrespective of any regulations to the contrary which are set forth elsewhere in this chapter.

B. Additional height limitations. The additional height limitations set forth at § 101-17C shall not apply in the AH-2 Zone.

C. Occupancy preference. In accordance with N.J.S.A. 52:27D-311(j), the Borough and developer or residential development owner may enter into an agreement to provide a preference for affordable housing to low- to moderate-income veterans who served in time of war or other emergency, as defined in Section 1 of P.L. 1963, c. 171 (N.J.S.A. 54:4-8.10), of up to 50% of the affordable units in the development. This preference shall be established in the applicant selection process for available affordable units so that applicants who are veterans who served in time of war or other emergency, as referenced in this subsection, and who apply within 90 days of the initial marketing period shall receive preference for the rental of the agreed-upon percentage of affordable units. After the first 90 days of the initial 120-day marketing period, if any of those units subject to the preference remain available, then applicants from the general public shall be considered for occupancy. Following the initial 120-day marketing period, previously qualified applicants and future qualified applicants who are veterans who served in time of war or other emergency, as referenced in this subsection, shall be placed on a special waiting list as well as the general waiting list. The veterans on the special waiting list shall be given preference for affordable units as the units become available, and whenever the percentage of preference-occupied units falls below the agreed-upon percentage. Any agreement to provide affordable housing preferences for veterans pursuant to this subsection shall not affect the Borough's ability to receive credit for the unit from the Court, COAH, or its successor.