This chapter shall be known as and may be referred to as the "Atlantic City Land Use Ordinance."
This chapter establishes and implements regulatory powers to the ends that adequate light, adequate open space, pure air, convenient access and safety from fire, flood and other dangers may be secured; that the taxable value of land and buildings throughout the City may be conserved and enhanced; that congestion in the public streets may be lessened or avoided; and that the public health, safety, comfort, morals and welfare may otherwise be promoted. To these ends, this chapter is enacted to:
A. 
Guide and regulate the orderly growth, development and redevelopment of the City of Atlantic City, in accordance with a well-considered plan, and to ensure that its development does not conflict with the development and general welfare of neighboring municipalities, the county or the State of New Jersey.
B. 
Regulate and limit the density and concentration of population, to enhance the well-being of persons, neighborhoods, communities and regions and preservation of the environment.
C. 
Promote, in the public interest, the utilization of land for the purposes for which it is most desirable and best adapted.
D. 
Promote sufficient space in appropriate locations for variety of residential, recreational, commercial and industrial uses and open space, both public and private, according to their respective environmental requirements in order to meet the needs of all New Jersey citizens.
E. 
Promote the location and design of transportation routes to facilitate the free flow of traffic and to avoid facilities and routes which result in congestion or blight.
F. 
Promote a desirable visual environment through creative development techniques and good civic design and arrangements.
G. 
Promote the conservation of open space and valuable natural resources and prevent urban sprawl and degradation of the environment through improper use of the land.
H. 
Encourage planned unit developments which incorporate the best features of design and relate the type, design and layout of residential, commercial, industrial and recreational development to the particular site.
I. 
Encourage an open housing policy to provide adequate housing for persons of every economic sector and encourage senior citizen community housing construction and housing construction for the poor consistent with provisions permitting other residential uses of a similar density in the same zoning district.
J. 
Encourage coordination of the various public and private procedures and activities shaping land development to avoid unnecessary costs of development and to promote more efficient use of land.
K. 
Encourage the appropriate and efficient expenditure of public funds by the coordination of public development with land use policies.
L. 
Divide the entire City into districts of such number, shape and area and of such different classes according to use of land and buildings, height and bulk of buildings, intensity of use of lot areas, area of open spaces and other classifications as best suited to regulate development.
M. 
Regulate and limit the height, bulk, setback and location of buildings.
N. 
Regulate and determine the area of yards, courts and other open spaces within and surrounding buildings.
O. 
Provide regulations pertaining to preexisting lots, structures and uses which do not conform to the regulation, standards, restrictions and limitations established by this chapter.
P. 
Prevent additions to and alteration or remodeling of existing buildings or structures in such a way as to avoid the restrictions and limitations lawfully imposed by this chapter.
Q. 
Provide for variances from such regulations, standards, restrictions and limitations.
R. 
Provide for planned development uses, conditional uses and other uses requiring special approval.
S. 
Provide administrative bodies and procedures as shall be necessary to the implementation and enforcement of the various provisions of this chapter.
T. 
Provide for the efficient use of energy and for the development of renewable energy resources.
[Added 6-15-1988 by Ord. No. 1-1988]
U. 
Provide for the expansion of university and other academically related uses and facilities.
[Added 7-18-2018 by Ord. No. 10-2018[1]]
[1]
Editor's Note: This ordinance also redesignated former Subsection U as Subsection V.
V. 
Provide for the orderly amendment of this chapter.