This chapter shall be known and may be cited as "The Zoning Ordinance of Fredon Township."
A. 
It is the intent of the Township in adopting this zoning ordinance to exercise the powers granted to the Township by the Municipal Land Use Law to promote the orderly growth of lands within the Township, taking into consideration the character of each district and its peculiar suitability for particular uses and to encourage the most appropriate use of land through the police power generally. It is further the intent of the Township in adopting this chapter to limit and restrict buildings and structures to specified districts and to regulate buildings and structures according to their type and nature and the extent of their use and to regulate the nature and extent of use of land for trade, industry, residence, open space or other purposes in order to avoid undue concentration of population and in order to protect the public health, safety and morals and promote the general welfare throughout the community as a whole.
B. 
This chapter is hereby ordained, by the Township Committee of the Township of Fredon, a land development ordinance pursuant to the provisions of N.J.S.A. 40:55D-1 et seq. in order to establish a pattern for the use of land predicated on the land use element of the Master Plan for the following purposes, as set forth therein:
(1) 
To preserve agricultural lands and open space, and to ensure that any future development of farmland that does occur includes a component of preservation and is designed to minimize any visual and environmental impacts that may occur.
(2) 
To preserve large tracts of land for open space and farmland by encouraging the development of new residential subdivisions in a cluster design.
(3) 
To protect areas constrained by steep slopes, wetlands, Category 1 streams, flood-prone areas, forested areas and areas with threatened or endangered habitat.
(4) 
To minimize the visual impact of future development on the rural landscape and scenic corridors and, within this context, make sure that new development is located in appropriate areas and that it provides the appropriate buffers necessary to protect the environment and minimize the visual impact.
(5) 
To enhance the historic character of the Township through proper site planning and architectural design.
(6) 
To provide a variety of housing types, densities and a balanced housing supply, in appropriate locations to serve the Township.
(7) 
To accommodate a broad array of housing types and encourage the provision of some townhouses and multifamily residential development within the Mixed-Use Market District (MUMD), but not encourage any additional attached residential development.
(8) 
To promote commercial and industrial development within established areas, specifically concentrating along the Route 94 corridor exclusively in the central portion of the Township.
(9) 
To encourage commercial farm uses that supplement the existing farms in the Township.
(10) 
To concentrate the development of additional community facilities in the center of the Township and enhance the level of community facilities to meet the current needs of the municipality while remaining consistent with the rural character of the Township.
(11) 
To promote utilization of renewable energy sources, such as solar energy, while providing for regulations relating thereto in order to minimize any actual or potential adverse effects, visual or otherwise, resulting therefrom.
[Added 6-14-2012 by Ord. No. 2012-05]
It is not intended by this chapter to repeal, abrogate, annul or in any way to impair or interfere with existing provisions of other chapters or ordinances, except those specifically repealed by this chapter, or with private restrictions placed upon property by deed, covenant or other agreements. However, where this chapter imposes a greater restriction upon land, buildings or structures than that imposed by existing provisions of chapters, contract or deed, the provisions of this chapter shall control. Where the provisions of this chapter are, or become, repugnant to state or federal law and such differences cannot be reconciled therewith, the provisions of such law shall govern.
This chapter shall be read in para materia with Chapter 45, Land Use Procedures, and with the provisions of the Municipal Land Use Law, N.J.S.A. 40:55D-1 et seq., to the end that all procedures, and to the extent possible, all substantive provisions of the zoning ordinances shall be in compliance with the provisions of the Municipal Land Use Law, N.J.S.A. 40:55D-1 et seq.
Unless otherwise expressly provided, the provisions of this chapter shall apply in all zone districts.
In the interpretation and application of this chapter, the provisions hereof shall be held to be minimum requirements. Where other chapters of the Township Code overlap or conflict with this chapter in jurisdiction and effect, the more restrictive provisions of such chapter shall take precedence.
No land may be used and no structure may be erected, raised, moved, extended, enlarged, altered, or used, for any purpose other than a purpose permitted herein for the zone district in which it is located and all construction shall be in conformity with the regulations provided for the zone district in which such construction is located.