[Added 3-4-1996 by Ord. No. 96-04]
Elder cottage housing opportunity (ECHO) units shall be permitted
as a conditional use as accessory structures and uses in the R-100
and R-75 Residential Zone Districts, provided that the following shall
apply:
A. Each ECHO unit shall consist of a single-dwelling unit not to exceed
750 square feet in interior area, on a single level, constructed so
as to be readily removable and owned by a county, state or municipal
agency which shall be responsible for its removal.
B. An ECHO unit may be erected only upon lots on which a single-family
residence is already located; may not be constructed within the front
yard on any lot; shall be constructed and removed in accordance with
all applicable ordinances, statutes and regulations; and shall be
a conditional use requiring approval of a site plan by the Planning
Board and as to all other relevant details by the Health Officer,
Fire Subcode Official and Building Subcode Official of the Town of
Belvidere.
C. An ECHO unit shall be permitted only upon application to the Planning
Board by the owner of the property upon which the principal residence
unit associated with the said ECHO unit is located. The ECHO permit
shall be renewable annually upon application of the owner of the property,
after certification by the Zoning Enforcement Official of the continuing
compliance by the permittee with the conditions of original issuance.
Notice of application for the original permit or any renewals shall
be served in accordance with the provisions of N.J.S.A. 40:55D-12.
D. An ECHO unit shall be occupied by no more than two people, who shall
be related to each other by blood or marriage, at least one of whom
shall be 55 years of age or older and unable to live independently,
and at least one of whom shall be related by blood, marriage or adoption
to one or more of the persons residing in the principal dwelling associated
with the ECHO unit.
E. An ECHO unit shall not be erected on any lot unless the lot contains an area of at least 11,250 square feet. ECHO units shall in no case be erected within the front yard of the lot as elsewhere defined and, when erected in the side yard or rear yard, shall conform to all provisions of this Chapter
505, Zoning, establishing minimum side and rear yard setback requirements for principal structures for the zone district in which the lot is located, such that the outer walls of the ECHO unit shall be the prescribed distance from side or rear lot boundaries.
F. An ECHO unit shall conform to all other provisions of the Code of
the Town of Belvidere as to accessory structures; may be manufactured
dwelling units as elsewhere defined and regulated, provided that the
width or shorter horizontal dimension of the unit shall be no less
than 22 feet; shall be provided with adequate water supply and sewage
disposal arrangements, which shall be by means of interconnections
with the facilities of the principal residence as approved by the
Code Enforcement Official and the Health Officer; and shall be erected
upon a foundation of pressure-treated wood or equivalent material
which meets applicable construction codes while allowing complete
removal when the need for the unit ends.
G. An ECHO unit shall be removed from the premises upon the death of
the dependent occupant for whom permitted, unless the other occupant
(if there be such) and the resident in the principal dwelling specifically
request from the Planning Board a continuation of the permit, or upon
a permanent change of residence of the said occupant or occupants.
Removal shall be completed within 90 days of such event. The site
shall be restored such that no visible evidence of the unit remains.
H. Notwithstanding any other provisions of the Code of the Town of Belvidere,
a site plan for the construction of an ECHO unit shall be submitted
to the Planning Board for approval prior to the issuance of any permit
by a Zoning or other Code Enforcement Official. The approval by the
Health Officer of all water and sewage disposal arrangements shall
be required before the Planning Board shall act on the application.
I. An ECHO unit may not be constructed or erected other than upon a
single lot for land use purposes as defined by the Municipal Land
Use Law, N.J.S.A. 40:55D-7, the definition of "subdivision," exception
no. 5, upon which is already located a single-family residence, which
is utilized as such.
J. The applicant applying for permission to construct an ECHO unit shall
submit a sketch plat, which shall be to scale, showing the location
of all existing or proposed buildings, structures, drives and walkways
and the layout of utility services, including proposed water and sewer
connections, plus landscaping and screening if such are contemplated.
Said sketch site plat shall be endorsed, in writing, by the government
agency which will own the ECHO unit. The said site plan sketch shall
be of sufficient detail and shall be submitted in sufficient numbers
of copies to adequately inform the Planning Board concerning the proposal.
The said plat shall be reviewed by the Planning Board and the Board
Engineer. The Board Engineer shall determine completeness.
K. Applicable design guidelines set forth in Chapter
318, Land Development, of the Code of the Town of Belvidere shall guide the applicant in developing the site plan and the Board Engineer in reviewing it.
L. No fee shall be required for submittal or review of such site plan.
The application shall not be deemed complete until approved by the
Health Officer, Fire Subcode Official and Building Subcode Official.