This chapter regulates and limits the uses of land and the uses and locations of buildings and structures; regulates and restricts the height and bulk of buildings and structures and determines the area of yards and other open spaces; regulates and restricts the density of population; divides the Township of Riverside into districts for such purposes; adopts a map of the Township showing boundaries and the classification of such districts; establishes rules, regulations and standards governing the subdivision and development of land within the Township; establishes a Joint Land Use Planning Board and prescribes penalties for the violation of its provisions.
The short form by which this chapter may be known shall be the "Land Use Ordinance," otherwise known as the "Zoning and Land Development Ordinance of the Township of Riverside."
This chapter is adopted pursuant to N.J.S.A. 40A:55D-1 et seq., commonly known as the "Municipal Land Use Law," which confers the power to regulate the use of lands within its jurisdiction upon New Jersey municipalities. This chapter is also based on the duly recognized police powers of a municipality and is an exercise of that authority.
This chapter is adopted in order to promote and protect the public health, safety, morals and general welfare, and in the furtherance of the following related and more specific objectives:
A. 
Encourage action to guide the appropriate use or development of all lands in the Township in a manner which will promote the public health, safety, morals and general welfare.
B. 
Secure safety from fire, flood, panic and other natural and man-made disasters.
C. 
Provide adequate light, air, open space and traffic design.
D. 
Promote the establishment of appropriate population densities and concentrations that will contribute to the well-being of persons, neighborhoods and the entire municipality as well as the preservation of the environment and prevent the overcrowding of land and buildings.
E. 
Provide sufficient space in appropriate locations for a variety of residential, recreational, commercial and industrial uses and open space, both public and private, according to their respective environmental requirements.
F. 
Promote a desirable visual environment through creative development techniques and good civic design and arrangements.
G. 
Promote the conservation of historic sites, open space, energy resources and to prevent the degradation of the environment, including but not limited to the air, water and visual environment, through improper use of land.
H. 
Establish orderly and uniform procedures relating to land use and development regulation.
I. 
Promote utilization of renewable energy sources.
J. 
Conserve the value of property.
This chapter is substantially consistent with the Land Use and Housing Elements of the Riverside Township Master Plan and the Riverside Township 2025 Land Use Plan Element, as adopted August 12, 2013. The statement of objectives, principles, assumptions, policies and standards contained in both the Township Master Plan and the 2025 Land Use Plan Element are adopted by reference and shall be considered the basis of this chapter. All future amendments to this chapter shall be made only after a review of the Land Use and Housing Elements of the Township Master Plan and in conformity with its statement of objectives, principles, assumptions, polices, and standards.
The provisions of this chapter shall be held to be minimum requirements. Where this chapter imposes a greater restriction than is imposed and required by other provisions of law, or by other rules, regulations or resolutions, the provisions of this chapter shall control. Where other laws, rules, regulations or resolutions require greater restrictions than are imposed by this chapter, the provisions of such other laws, rules and regulations shall control.
All uses not expressly permitted in this chapter are prohibited.
All applicable requirements shall be met at the first time of erection, enlargement, alteration, moving or change in use of a structure, and shall apply to the entire structure or structures, whether or not the entire structure or structures were involved in the erection, enlargement, alteration, moving or change in use. Moreover, no building or structure shall be erected, moved, altered, added to or enlarged unless in conformity with this chapter, and no building, structure or land shall be used for any purpose or in any manner other than as specified in this chapter. Nothing in this chapter shall be deemed to require a change in plans, construction or intended use of any buildings, structure or land on which actual construction or the application for a permit or preliminary plans were lawfully submitted to any governmental agency having applicable jurisdiction, and such actions were begun and diligently pursued before the adoption of this chapter.
In case any building or structure is erected, constructed, reconstructed, altered, moved or converted, or any building structure or land is used in violation of, or contrary to, the provisions of this chapter, or any building, structure or land is used in violation of, or contrary to, any approved site plan or subdivision, including any conditions made thereto, the Township may institute any action to enjoin or any other appropriate action or proceeding to prevent such erection, construction, reconstruction, alteration, conversion or use. However, nothing in this chapter shall be construed to restrict the right of any party to obtain a review by any court of competent jurisdiction according to law.
A. 
Violations. Failure to secure the required zoning permit or building permit previous to the erection, construction, alteration or addition to a building shall be a violation of this chapter.
B. 
Removal. Structures erected without a permit that do not conform with this chapter shall be removed.
C. 
Notice of violation. When written notice of a violation of any provision of this chapter has been served by the Zoning Officer on the owner, owner's agent, occupant, contractor or builder, such violation shall be discontinued and/or removed immediately.
D. 
The following rules shall apply in determining responsibility for violations and penalties:
(1) 
The owner, general agent, contractor or occupant, or any combination thereof, of a building, premises, or part thereof, where such a violation has been committed exists shall be guilty of such an offense.
(2) 
Any agent, contractor, architect, engineer, builder, corporation or other person who commits, takes part or assists in such violation shall be guilty of such offense.
E. 
Each day that a violation continues after notification that it exists shall constitute a separate offense.
F. 
The imposition of penalties herein shall not preclude the Township, or any other person, from instituting an action to prevent an unlawful construction, reconstruction, alteration, repair, conversion or use, or to restrain, correct or abate a violation, or to prevent the illegal occupancy of a building, land or premises.
G. 
Fines and penalties. Any person, firm or corporation violating any provisions of this chapter shall, for each violation upon conviction thereof, be subject to one or more of the following: a fine not exceeding $2,000; a term of imprisonment not exceeding 90 days; or a period of community service not exceeding 90 days. Each day that a violation is permitted to exist shall constitute a separate offense.
All ordinances inconsistent with or in conflict therewith are hereby repealed.
If any section, subsection or paragraph of this chapter shall be declared to be unconstitutional, invalid, or inoperative in whole or in part by a court of competent jurisdiction, such section, subsection or paragraph shall, to the extent that is not unconstitutional, invalid or inoperative, remain in full force and effect, and no such determination shall be deemed to invalidate the remaining sections, subsections or paragraphs of this chapter. To this end, the provisions of each section, subsection, paragraph of this chapter are hereby declared to be severable.
This chapter shall take effect 20 days subsequent to passage and publication according to law.