Source: https://www.ecode360.com/10832112
Timestamp: 2019-04-25 19:44:37+00:00

Document:
§ 153-4 Establishment of Riparian Buffer Conservation Zones.
§ 153-7 Nonconforming structures and uses.
§ 153-10 Boundary interpretation; appeals procedures; inspections; conflicts; severability.
§ 153-11 Enforcement; violations and penalties.
Flood damage prevention — See Ch. 108.
Subdivision of land — See Ch. 181.
Water conservation — See Ch. 209.
Conserve the natural features important to land and water resources, e.g., headwater areas, groundwater recharge zones, floodways, floodplains, springs, streams, wetlands, woodlands, and prime wildlife habitats.
Water Pollution Control Act, N.J.S.A. 58:10A et seq.
Water Quality Planning Act, N.J.S.A. 58:11A-1 et seq.
Spill Compensation and Control Act, N.J.S.A. 58:10-23.11 et seq.
Soil Erosion and Sediment Control Act, N.J.S.A. 4:24-39 et seq.
Flood Hazard Area Control Act, N.J.S.A. 58:16A-50 et seq.
The Planning Board and Board of Adjustment or Construction Office with all of the powers delegated, assigned, or assumed by them according to statute or ordinance.
A person applying to the Planning Board and Board of Adjustment or the Construction Office proposing to engage in an activity that is regulated by the provisions of this chapter, and that would be located in whole or in part within a regulated Riparian Buffer Conservation Zone.
The meaning ascribed to this term by the Flood Hazard Area Control Act (N.J.S.A. 58:16A-50 et seq.) and regulations promulgated thereunder published at N.J.A.C. 7.13 et seq., and any supplementary or successor legislation and regulations from time to time enacted or promulgated.
Surface water drainage channels with definite natural bed and banks in which there is not a permanent flow of water. Streams shown as a dashed line on either the USGS topographic quadrangle maps or the USDA County Soil Survey Maps of the most recent edition that includes hydrography are included as intermittent streams.
Any impoundment, whether naturally occurring or created in whole or in part by the building of structures for the retention of surface water, excluding sedimentation control and stormwater retention/detention basins and ponds designed for treatment of wastewater.
A stream that flows continuously throughout the year in most years. These streams usually appear as a blue line on USGS topographic quadrangle maps or on USDA County Soil Survey Maps.
An area of land or water within or adjacent to a surface water body within the borough of Pennington.
Any aboveground perennial stream, intermittent stream, lake, pond, or reservoir, as defined herein. In addition, any state open waters identified in a letter of interpretation issued by the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection Land Use Regulation Program shall also be considered surface water bodies.
For areas adjacent to surface water bodies, the RBCZ shall be measured from the top of bank of an intermittent or perennial stream, or center line if bank is not defined, and shall extend 50 feet horizontally outward from the perpendicular.
For areas adjacent to surface water bodies for which the floodway has been delineated, the RBCZ shall cover the entire floodway area, or the area described in Subsection A(1) or (2), whichever area has the greatest extent. Floodway delineations shall be based upon the state's adopted floodway delineations. However, requests for alterations to the adopted delineations can be provided to the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection for consideration if site-specific information is available.
An RBCZ is an overlay to the existing zoning districts. The provisions of the underlying district shall remain in full force except where the provisions of the RBCZ differ from the provisions of the underlying district, in which case the provision that is more restrictive shall apply. These provisions apply to land disturbances resulting from or related to any activity or use requiring application for any of the following permits or approvals: building permit; zoning variance; special exception; conditional use; subdivision/land development approval.
The applicant or designated representative shall be responsible for the initial determination of the presence of an RBCZ on a site, and for identifying the area on any plan submitted to the Borough in conjunction with an application for a construction permit, subdivision, land development, or other improvement that requires plan submissions or permits. This initial determination shall be subject to review and approval by the Municipal Engineer, governing body, or its appointed representative, and, where required, by the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection.
Open space uses that are primarily passive in character shall be permitted by right to extend into an RBCZ, provided near stream vegetation is preserved. These uses, if permitted uses in the affected Land Use Zone District, do not require approval by the Zoning Enforcement Officer or compliance with an approved RBCZ management plan. Such uses include passive recreation areas of public and private lands, including lawns and gardens, hiking, bicycle and bridle trails.
Fences, for which a permit has been issued by the Construction Code Office, to the extent required by applicable law, rule or regulation.
Crossings by farm vehicles and livestock, recreational trails, roads, railroads, stormwaterlines, sanitary sewer lines, waterlines and public utility transmission lines, provided that the land disturbance is the minimum required to accomplish the permitted use, subject to approval by the Zoning Enforcement Officer, provided that any applicable state permits are acquired, and provided that any disturbance is offset by buffer improvements in compliance with an approved RBCZ management plan and that the area of the crossing is stabilized against significant erosion due to its use as a crossing.
Streambank stabilization or riparian reforestation, which conforms to the guidelines of an approved RBCZ management plan, or wetlands mitigation projects that have been approved by the Department of Environmental Protection, subject to approval by the Zoning Enforcement Officer and subject to compliance with an approved RBCZ management plan.
Uses permitted under §§ 153-7 and 153-9.
All new major and minor subdivisions and site plans shall be designed to provide sufficient areas outside of the RBCZ to accommodate primary structures, any normal accessory uses appurtenant thereto, as well as all additional or expanded lawn areas.
A copy or copies of deeds for the property as a whole that indicate the deed book and pages where it has been recorded in the office of the clerk of the applicable county or the registrar of deeds and mortgages of the applicable county.
Any lands proposed for development which include all or a portion of an RBCZ shall, as a condition of any major subdivision or major site plan approval, encourage the vegetation or revegetation of any portions of the RBCZ which are not vegetated at the time of the application or which were disturbed by prior land uses, including for agricultural use. Said vegetation plan shall utilize native and noninvasive tree and plant species to the maximum extent practicable in accordance with an approved Riparian Buffer Conservation Zone management plan, described in § 153-10.
For building lots which exist as of the date of adoption of this chapter, but for which a building permit or a preliminary site plan approval has not been obtained or is no longer valid, the required minimum front, side, and rear setbacks may extend into the RBCZ, provided that a deed restriction and/or conservation easement is applied which prohibits clearing or construction in the RBCZ.
Editor's Note: See N.J.S.A. 58:16A-50 et seq.
All encroachments proposed under this section shall be subject to review and approval by the Administrative Authority.
Legally existing but nonconforming structures or uses may be continued.
Encroachment within the RBCZ shall only be allowed where previous development or disturbance has occurred unless it serves the public health or safety in accordance with § 153-9.
Existing impervious cover shall not be increased within the RBCZ as a result of encroachments where previous development or disturbances have occurred.
Discontinued nonconforming uses may be resumed any time within three years from such discontinuance but not thereafter when showing clear indications of abandonment. No change or resumption shall be permitted that is more detrimental to the RBCZ, as measured against the intent and purpose under § 153-1, than the existing or former nonconforming use. This three-year time frame shall not apply to agricultural uses that are following prescribed best management practices for crop rotation. However, resumption of agricultural uses must be strictly confined to the extent of disturbance existing at the time of adoption of this chapter.
Removal or clear-cutting of trees and other vegetation or soil disturbance such as grading, except for selective vegetation removal for the purpose of stream or riparian area stabilization or restoration projects that require vegetation removal or grading prior to implementation.
Use of fertilizers, pesticides, herbicides, and/or other chemicals in excess of prescribed industry standards or the recommendations of the Soil Conservation District.
Roads or driveways, except where permitted in compliance with § 153-5 or 153-7.
Motor or wheeled vehicle traffic in any area, except as permitted by this chapter.
Any type of permanent structure, except structures needed for a use permitted by § 153-5.
New subsurface sewage disposal areas. The expansion and replacement of existing subsurface sewage disposal areas for existing uses is permitted.
There is no alternative available to meet the established public health or safety need.
A variance can only be granted if it is shown that the activity is in conformance with all applicable local, state, and federal regulations, and that the exception granted is the minimum relief necessary to relieve the hardship.
If the above demonstrations are made, then the encroachment of impervious surfaces (structures or pavement) otherwise permitted by the underlying zoning is permitted to the extent of 1,500 square feet total.
When a landowner or applicant disputes the boundaries of an RBCZ, the landowner or applicant shall submit evidence to the Planning Board that describes the RBCZ, presents the landowner or applicant's proposed RBCZ delineation, and presents all justification for the proposed boundary change.
Within 45 days of a complete submission of subsection A above, the Engineer of the Borough, or appointed representative, shall evaluate all material submitted and shall make a written determination, a copy of which shall be submitted to the Board and the landowner or applicant. Failure to act within the forty-five-day period shall not be interpreted to be an approval of the proposed boundary change.
Any party aggrieved by any such determination or other decision or determination under Subsection B may appeal to the Planning Board under the provisions of this chapter. The party contesting the location of the RBCZ boundary shall have the burden of proof in case of any such appeal.
Any party aggrieved by any determination or decision of the Planning Board under this chapter may appeal to the Borough Council. The party contesting the determination or decision shall have the burden of proof in case of any such appeal.
A discontinued nonconforming use is resumed more than a year later, as described in § 153-7.
The RBCZ may also be inspected periodically by representatives from the Borough if excessive or potentially problematic erosion is present, other problems are discovered, or at any time when the presence of an unauthorized activity or structure is brought to the attention of municipal officials or when the downstream surface waters are indicating reduction in quality.
Conflicts. All other ordinances, parts of ordinances, or other local requirements that are inconsistent or in conflict with this chapter are hereby superseded to the extent of any inconsistency or conflict, and the provisions of this chapter apply.
Interpretation. This chapter shall be so construed as not to conflict with any provision of New Jersey or federal law.
Notwithstanding that any provision of this chapter is held to be invalid or unconstitutional by a court of competent jurisdiction, all remaining provisions of the Ordinance shall continue to be of full force and effect.
The provisions of this chapter shall be cumulative with, and not in substitution for, all other applicable zoning, planning and land use regulations.
A prompt investigation shall be made by the appropriate personnel of the Borough of any person or entity believed to be in violation hereof. If, upon inspection, a condition which is in violation of this chapter is discovered, a civil action may be brought in the Special Part of the Superior Court, or in the Superior Court, if the primary relief sought is injunctive or if penalties may exceed the jurisdictional limit of the Special Civil Part, by the filing and serving of appropriate process. Nothing in this chapter shall be construed to preclude the right of the Borough, pursuant to N.J.S.A 26:3A2-25, to initiate legal proceedings hereunder in Municipal Court. The violation of any section or subsection of this chapter shall constitute a separate and distinct offense independent of the violation of any other section or subsection, or of any order issued pursuant to this chapter. Each day a violation continues may be considered a separate offense.

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