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Township of Washington, NJ
Burlington County
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Table of Contents
Table of Contents
Code
New Laws (1) Index
A. 
Pinelands Villages. It is the intent of this chapter to encourage infill within the boundaries of existing discrete developed areas identified as Pinelands Villages. Moreover, the stated goal is to maintain the existing character of the Pinelands Villages and to retain cultural ties with a rural, agrarian way of life. Uses that are compatible with the established village character shall be encouraged, providing they are environmentally acceptable and further providing they will limit their ultimate potential for growth to the immediate Pinelands Village area.
B. 
Pinelands Village-Neighborhood Business Zone. It is the further intent of this chapter to create and encourage pocket neighborhood business zones to accommodate viable, existing businesses and new businesses found to be compatible with both the established Pinelands Village character and the environment. Neighborhood Business Zone locations were selected so their centers are either hubs of existing commercial activity or prospective commercial subregions with a readily available transportation network, commercial exposure and compatibility with surrounding land usage and character. The Pinelands Village-Neighborhood Business Zone is also intended to provide an interim transition zone where residential uses may continue by right, subject to future land use definition.
Lands or buildings shall be used for only the following purposes:
A. 
Principal uses.
(1) 
All those principal uses permitted in the Pinelands Village-Residential Zone (PV-R), § 275-12, subject to the conditions and controls thereof.
(2) 
Retail stores and shops, service establishments, including, for the sake of definition, but not limited to: antiques, arts and crafts, blacksmiths, books, boutiques, camera and photography centers, china and glass, clothing, department stores, draperies, dry goods, electrical appliances, equipment rental, fabrics, floor coverings, florists, furniture, general stores, gifts, garden centers, hardware, jewelry, leather, luggage, lumber yards, mail order houses, musical instruments, newsstands, paint and wallcoverings, pet shops, plant nurseries, plumbing, printing, records, roofers, sporting goods, stationery, tobacco, toys, upholstery.
(3) 
Personal service establishments, including, for the sake of definition, but not limited to: art studios, barber or beauty shops, dance studios, day nurseries, driving schools, employment agencies, exterminators, funeral homes, hobbies, locksmiths, laundry and dry cleaning, music studios, photo studios, shoe repair, tailoring and dressmaking, travel bureaus.
(4) 
Business and professional offices, including, for the sake of definition, but not limited to: accountants, advertising, architects, attorneys, building maintenance, business and management consultants, chiropractors, clergy, data processing, dentists, detective agencies, engineers, general business offices, office supplies, optometrists, physicians, psychiatrists, publishers, realtors, surveyors.
[Amended 5-4-1989 by Ord. No. 1989-4]
(5) 
Banks and financial institutions, including, for the sake of definition, but not limited to: accounting and bookkeeping services, banks, bank drive-ins, credit unions, income tax offices, insurance agencies and offices, savings and loans, securities and commodities, small loan offices.
[Amended 5-4-1989 by Ord. No. 1989-4]
(6) 
Medical facilities, including, for the sake of definition, but not limited to: clinics, convalescent and old age homes, drug stores and pharmacies, hospitals, medical laboratories, medical supplies, nursing homes, optical supplies.
(7) 
Restaurants, food stores and liquor establishments, including, for the sake of definition, but not limited to: bakeries, confectionaries, caterers, dairy products, convenience markets, delicatessens, fish and seafood, grocery stores, inns, meat markets, packaged goods, produce, restaurants, taverns.
[Amended 5-4-1989 by Ord. No. 1989-4]
(8) 
Recreational and cultural centers, including, for the sake of definition, but not limited to: art galleries, auditoriums, bowling alleys, community centers, dinner theaters, gymnasiums, health clubs, libraries, theaters, museums, penny arcades, indoor roller- and ice-skating rinks, indoor shooting galleries and ranges.
(9) 
Automobile and transportation establishments, including, for the sake of definition, but not limited to: bicycle sales and service, automobile parts, automobile rentals, automobile sales, car washes, recreational vehicle sales and supplies.
B. 
Accessory uses.
(1) 
For those principal uses listed in Subsection A of this section, all those accessory uses permitted in the Pinelands Village-Residential Zone (PV-R), § 275-12B, subject to the conditions and controls thereof.
(2) 
Any accessory use and building reasonably and customarily incidental to any of the principal uses permitted for business, commercial and professional establishments, providing that the accessory use or building does not create conditions detrimental to the health, safety, morals or general welfare of the municipality.
(3) 
Ground level parking lots for the convenience of shoppers, customers and clients, providing the parking lots are not operated for a profit.
(4) 
Appropriate facilities for the placement and removal of trash and garbage, providing:
(a) 
The facility is completely enclosed and constructed to hide the trash and garbage from the general public.
(b) 
The facility is buffered from principal structures, parking facilities and pedestrian- and vehicle-traveled ways.
(c) 
The facility fits into the overall project design.
C. 
Conditional uses.
(1) 
For those principal uses listed in Subsection A(1) of this section, all those conditional uses permitted in the Pinelands Village-Residential Zone (PV-R), § 275-12C, subject to the conditions and controls thereof.
(2) 
Fast food stores and drive-in restaurants, subject to the following conditions and standards:
(a) 
The use will not overdevelop the surrounding area in terms of similar usages (e.g., another frozen dessert stand or another hamburger drive-in). For purposes of this conditional use, the surrounding area will consist of all land within a ten-minute automobile drive, and overdevelopment will consist of more than one similar use for each 500 population, including seasonal population peaks, in the surrounding area.
(b) 
The use or structure shall not be located within 1,000 lineal feet, measured along street lines, of any public or private school.
(c) 
The use has no deleterious influence upon surrounding properties nor upon the surrounding traffic and parking conditions.
(d) 
No building or associated equipment facility shall be located in a fifty-foot perimeter setback area formed along the property boundaries.
(e) 
A buffer strip at least 15 feet wide shall be provided along all property lines bordering residential uses.
(f) 
Vehicular ingress and egress shall be clearly visible from the access road, and accessways shall not be located within 50 feet of any right-of-way line forming an intersection with another right-of-way line or driveway.
(3) 
Automobile garages, service stations, gasoline service stations and body shops, subject to the following conditions and standards:
(a) 
No more than three such uses shall be permitted within one lineal mile measured along street lines.
(b) 
The use or structure shall not be located within 1,000 lineal feet, measured along street lines, of any public or private school, hospital, church, library, theater, club, place of public assembly or governmental building.
(c) 
The use has no deleterious influence upon surrounding properties nor upon the surrounding traffic and parking conditions.
(d) 
No building or associated equipment facility shall be located in a fifty-foot perimeter setback area formed along the property boundaries.
(e) 
A buffer strip at least 15 feet wide shall be provided along all property lines bordering residential uses.
(f) 
Vehicular ingress and egress shall be clearly visible from the access road, and accessways shall not be located within 50 feet of any right-of-way line forming an intersection with another right-of-way line or driveway.
(g) 
All major automobile repair areas, lifts, grease racks, car wash facilities, body shops, paint shops, hoists, testing equipment and similar facilities shall be located within an enclosed building.
(h) 
Only the rear yard area may be used for temporary storage (not to exceed three months) of wrecked, damaged or disassembled vehicles or automobile parts. If used for this purpose, the rear yard area shall be fenced, screened or buffered so that no stored vehicle or article is visible from the street or from adjoining properties. No more than three vehicles may be in wrecked, damaged or disassembled condition at any given time.
(4) 
Motels, subject to the following conditions and standards:
(a) 
The use has no deleterious influence upon surrounding properties nor upon the surrounding traffic and parking conditions.
(b) 
A buffer strip at least 10 feet wide shall be provided along all property lines bordering residential uses.
(c) 
Vehicular ingress and egress shall be clearly visible from the access road, and accessways shall not be located within 50 feet of any right-of-way line forming an intersection with another right-of-way line or driveway.
(d) 
Minimum motel unit sizes shall be 250 square feet in gross floor area.
(5) 
Outdoor recreational centers such as miniature golf courses, driving ranges, drive-in theaters, tennis courts, swimming pools, skateboard parks and stadiums, subject to the following conditions and standards:
(a) 
The use has no deleterious influence upon surrounding properties nor upon the surrounding traffic and parking conditions.
(b) 
A buffer strip at least 15 feet wide shall be provided along all property lines.
(c) 
Vehicular ingress and egress shall be clearly visible from the access road, and accessways shall not be located within 50 feet of any right-of-way line forming an intersection with another right-of-way line or driveway.
(d) 
No building or associated equipment facility shall be located in a fifty-foot perimeter setback area formed along the property boundaries.
(e) 
No operations shall be permitted from 11:00 p.m. to 8:00 a.m. prevailing time. No drive-in feature may begin after 11:00 p.m. prevailing time.
(6) 
Marinas and marine service facilities, subject to the following conditions and standards:
(a) 
The use is shown to be compatible with residential development along the waterway, and it has no deleterious influence upon surrounding properties nor upon the surrounding traffic and parking conditions.
(b) 
A buffer strip at least 10 feet wide shall be provided along all property lines bordering residential uses.
(c) 
Mechanical repairs and services shall be conducted within fully enclosed structures.
(d) 
Outdoor boat storage may be permitted, providing adequate emergency vehicle circulation is maintained on site and said storage is limited to the lot or lots in question.
(e) 
The use and its controls are shown to be environmentally compatible with all applicable standards and regulations of the adjoining waterway. Existing water quality standards, governmental laws and regulations, and recreational goals and objectives shall be described in detail along with developmental measures to assure implementation of these standards and regulations.
(f) 
All federal, state and county requirements and permits are satisfied.
A. 
Lot size. The corresponding conditions and controls of § 275-13A are applicable to this category.
[Amended 2-13-2007 by Ord. No. 2007-1]
B. 
Lot width.
(1) 
Single-family residential uses: 100 feet minimum with the following exceptions:
(a) 
Minimum of 200 feet if the basic lot size required under Subsection A is 3.2 acres.
(2) 
Nonresidential uses: 200 feet minimum.
C. 
Building setback lines.
(1) 
Front yard setback: 50 feet minimum with the following exceptions:
(a) 
Roadside stands: 30 feet minimum.
(b) 
Greater minimum front yard setbacks may be required under § 275-93 Scenic preservation standards.
(2) 
Side yard setback.
(a) 
Principal buildings: 30 feet minimum with the following exceptions:
[1] 
Public and private schools: 50 feet minimum.
[2] 
Any conditional use under § 275-20C: 50 feet minimum.
(b) 
Accessory buildings: 30 feet minimum with the following exceptions:
[1] 
Single-family residential uses: 20 feet minimum.
[2] 
Private stables: 50 feet minimum.
[3] 
Any conditional use under § 275-20C: 50 feet minimum.
(3) 
Rear yard setback.
(a) 
Principal buildings: 40 feet minimum with the following exceptions:
[1] 
Churches: 50 feet minimum.
[2] 
Public and private schools: 50 feet minimum.
[3] 
Any conditional use under § 275-20C: 50 feet minimum.
(b) 
Accessory buildings: 40 feet minimum with the exceptions noted on the following page.
[1] 
Single-family residential uses: 20 feet minimum.
[2] 
Private stables: 50 feet minimum.
[3] 
Any conditional use under § 275-20C: 50 feet minimum.
D. 
Lot coverage.
(1) 
Lot coverage by building areas only: 30% maximum.
(2) 
Lot coverage by all structures or improvements, excluding landscaping and underground improvements: 40% maximum.
E. 
Building height. The corresponding conditions and controls of § 275-13E are applicable to this category.
F. 
Gross floor area.
(1) 
Single-family residential uses. The corresponding conditions and controls of § 275-13F are applicable to this category.
(2) 
Commercial, neighborhood business uses: 1,200 square feet minimum.
The corresponding conditions and controls of § 275-14 are applicable to this section.
A. 
Site plan review. All commercial, neighborhood business uses within this article, whether principal, accessory or conditional, are subject to site plan review by either the Planning and Zoning Board or the Zoning Board of Adjustment.
B. 
Building projections. The corresponding conditions and controls of § 275-15 are applicable to this category.
C. 
Solid waste. All commercial, neighborhood business uses within this article may provide separate facilities for the placement of trash and garbage, but all such facilities shall be in keeping with the overall design of the zoning district.
A. 
Single-family residential uses. Excepting the possible use of landscaping in buffer strips imposed under this article, no additional landscaping requirements are imposed for single-family residential uses under this zoning district.
B. 
Commercial, neighborhood business uses:
(1) 
A minimum of two native trees of 1 1/2 inch minimum caliper shall be planted for each 1,000 square feet of building gross floor area or fraction thereof. Existing on-site native vegetation of comparable species and of at least the minimum caliper may be substituted for new plants.
(2) 
An area of at least 5% of the total parking area, including stalls, aisles and driveways, shall be landscaped with native plants, particularly in protected areas, along walkways, in irregular spaces and in center islands. Existing on-site native vegetation of acceptable species, size and location may be substituted for new plants.
C. 
Landscaping design provisions and standards are listed in § 275-95.
D. 
Buffer strip provisions and standards are presented in Article XI and in § 275-95C.
A. 
Parking requirements.
(1) 
The corresponding conditions and controls of § 275-17 are applicable to this section.
(2) 
Commercial, neighborhood business uses. The following schedule of minimum required off-street parking spaces applies.
Use
Required Parking Spaces
Assembly, auditorium
1 per 4 seats (fixed seating), or 1 per 100 square feet (no fixed seating)
Auto gas or service station
2 per bay or 1 per 2 pumps (whichever is greater)
Auto sales room
1 per 400 square feet plus 1 per car in stock
Bank (with drive-in)
1 per 400 square feet
Bank (without drive-in)
1 per 300 square feet
Barbershop, beauty salon
3 per chair
Bowling alley
4 per lane
Business office
1 per 400 square feet
Club
1 per user (30% of building capacity)
Cultural center
1 per user (30% of building capacity)
Educational studio
1 per 4 students
Funeral home
5 plus 5 per parlor
Governmental office
1 per 400 square feet
Hospital, institution
1 per 4 beds plus 1 per doctor
Laundromat
1 per 3 washers
Marina
1 per dock space
Medical office
6 per doctor
Motel
1 per room plus 10%
Nursing home, convalescent home
1 per 6 beds
Parks, playgrounds
2 per acre for first 10 acres plus 1 per 2 acres thereafter
Professional office
1 per 300 square feet
Recreational center (indoor)
1 per user (30% of building capacity)
Recreational center (outdoor)
1 per 5 patrons (maximum capacity)
Restaurant (sit down)
1 per customer (30% of building capacity)
Restaurant (fast food or drive-in)
1 per customer (30% of building capacity) (at least 1 per 100 square feet)
Retail store or shop
1 per 300 square feet
School
1 per employee plus 1 per 4 students over 16 years old
Service establishment
1 per 400 square feet
Shopping center
1 per 300 square feet
Supermarket
1 per 300 square feet
Theater
1 per 4 seats
Note: Area refers to gross floor area.
(3) 
Under no conditions will the number of parking spaces be less than one per employee, based upon the largest work shift, unless the applicant can demonstrate the effectiveness of ride sharing or similar carpooling operations.
(4) 
Further provisions and standards for parking areas are presented in § 275-71.
B. 
Loading requirements.
(1) 
Notwithstanding the provisions of Subsection B(2) of this section, at least one loading space shall be provided for the following business establishments:
(a) 
Department stores, floor covering stores, furniture stores, lumber yards, mail order houses.
(b) 
Convenience food markets, grocery stores, restaurants, drive-in restaurants, fast food stores or restaurants.
(2) 
Loading spaces and docking facilities shall be provided in sufficient numbers and locations to accommodate delivery, shipping and receiving operations while avoiding interference with both pedestrian and vehicular circulation associated with customers, employees, adjacent properties, public streets and public properties. Under no conditions will the number of loading spaces be less than that required by the following schedule.
Gross Floor Area
(square feet)
Minimum Number of Loading Spaces
Less than 5,000
None
5,000 to 25,000
1
25,000 to 50,000
2
50,000 to 100,000
3
100,000 to 200,000
4
200,000 to 400,000
5
400,000 to 750,000
6
Over 750,000
*
*
To be determined at time of application.
(3) 
In general, loading spaces shall be located in the rear or side yard areas.
(4) 
Loading spaces and their routes shall be designed to avoid traffic interference with customer and employee parking.
(5) 
Further provisions and standards for loading areas are presented in § 275-71.
In addition to the signs permitted in any zoning district by § 275-77, and in addition to the signs permitted in § 275-18, signs shall be permitted in this zoning district for all business, commercial and professional uses, providing that they comply with the corresponding conditions and standards of § 275-77.
A. 
All nonresidential uses in this zoning district shall provide illumination of all parking areas, entryways, pedestrian routes and offset building locations.
B. 
Illumination design standards shall include the following:
(1) 
Perimeter lighting shining in shall be used rather than building lighting shining out.
(2) 
Lighting shields shall be used.
(3) 
Parking areas shall average a minimum of one footcandle in intensity throughout the lot.
(4) 
Light standards shall not exceed 25 feet in height and shall not be spaced at intervals greater than four times their height.
(5) 
Proposed lighting standards and fixtures shall blend in with the architectural style on site.
C. 
A lighting plan shall be included with a site plan submission and shall include details of the following:
(1) 
Location of all existing and proposed lighting.
(2) 
Illumination intensity levels.
(3) 
Typical details of lighting standards and fixtures.
(4) 
Shielding and screening to protect adjoining properties from glare.
(5) 
Proposed hours of operation.
Depending upon the size, intensity and impact of the proposed site, the Planning and Zoning Board or Zoning Board of Adjustment may also request submission of the following reports for review and approval as part of the site plan submission:
A. 
Traffic impact statement.
B. 
Traffic circulation plan for vehicles, pedestrians and materials.
C. 
Environmental impact statement.
D. 
Vegetation and landscaping plan and landscaping schedule.
E. 
Off-tract improvements plan.
F. 
Utilities plan.
G. 
Solid waste management and disposal plan.
H. 
Open space plan.
I. 
Fire, police and other security plans.
J. 
Fire hazard management plan.
K. 
Historical, archaeological and cultural preservation plan.