§ 154-107. Area, yard and building requirements., Article XV. Planned Adult Retirement Community, Chapter 154. Zoning, Part II. General Legislation, Code of Ordinances, Mount Laurel

Minimum area. The minimum area of the PARC, as described on Exhibit A attached hereto, shall not be less than 50 contiguous land acres.

Dwelling unit density; life-care communities.

(1)

There shall not be more than five dwelling units for each gross acre in the PARC, excluding freshwater wetlands, floodplains and similar areas. The total number of each type of unit (for example, townhouses or apartments) may not exceed 60% of the total number of residential units in the PARC. The Planning Board may grant exceptions to this requirement if there are sufficient variations in architectural designs to conform with the purposes of Subsection M. The applicant shall supply reasons for requesting exceptions, citing findings of fact.

(2)

A PARC containing a comprehensive life-care community shall be exempt from the requirements of variations in architectural designs with respect to the types of units to be employed. Life-care communities shall contain dwelling units of various sizes, all on one floor. No residential dwelling unit or service provided for a life-care-community resident shall be above the ground floor unless elevator service is provided. Beds in any medical, nursing facility or extended-care facility constructed as part of the life-care community shall not be included in the density count. However, a life-care community shall be required to construct and maintain beds in a medical, nursing, shelter care or long-term-care facility in relation to the dwelling units constructed in the ratio of one such bed for each five dwelling units proposed. In addition, the developmental plan shall include at the inception of the project the capacity to double the aforesaid number of beds if future needs exist. Health-care facilities in accordance with the minimum ratio of 20% set forth above, together with dining facilities sufficient to accommodate the residents of each dwelling unit constructed shall be completed prior to occupancy of the dwelling units.

[Added 1-21-1980 by Ord. No. 1980-2]

Maximum lot coverage. Not more than 15% of the gross land area of the PARC shall be covered by buildings to be constructed or used as dwelling units, excluding buildings accessory to dwelling units, such as garages and carports; provided, however, that not more than 25% of the gross land area of the PARC may be covered by such dwelling units (limited to 15% as aforesaid) and other buildings or structures, including but not limited to garages and carports, gatehouses, guardhouses, storage facilities for maintenance equipment and administrative, social, cultural, recreational, commercial and medical facilities, which are expressly hereby permitted.

Perimeter boundary lines. No structure shall be closer than 75 feet to any perimeter property line of the PARC or to any water shoreline which may border the PARC, except water-related structures. No paved or improved area shall be closer than 50 feet to any perimeter property line.

Front setbacks. Where the perimeter property line of the PARC abuts a public, county, primary or arterial road, no structure shall be located closer to such road than 100 feet, and no paved or improved area shall be closer than 50 feet.

Physical characteristics of multifamily buildings. A maximum length of 220 feet per freestanding multifamily dwelling shall be permitted. Up to three such two-hundred-twenty-foot-maximum-length buildings may be attached, provided that an angle of at least 30° exists between adjacent buildings. However, there can be no continuous roofline or continuous front and/or rear building line of more than 80 linear feet. It is the purpose of this section to provide for both broken rooflines and different setbacks and to break up a straight linear configuration. Dwelling units connected by party or common walls shall not be considered separate buildings for the purposes of this section. Units connected by open walkways may be, at the Board's discretion, considered separate buildings for the purposes of this section but shall not be considered separate buildings for the purposes of Subsection H, dealing with space between buildings, if the Board so finds.

Bedroom content. The applicant shall furnish as part of the project submittals, data indicating the proposed mix of bedrooms as a percentage of the various types of structures included within the development.

Space between buildings. No multifamily building shall be closer than 25 feet to any other building, nor shall any single-family detached dwelling unit be closer than 15 feet to any other single-family detached dwelling unit nor closer than 25 feet to any multifamily structure, except as allowed by the Planning Board and Council when this requirement is waived for architectural considerations.

Floor area of residential dwelling units. No residential dwelling unit on a single floor shall contain less than 650 square feet, not to include garages or carports. No residential dwelling unit of more than one story shall contain less than 1,000 square feet, total, both floors, excluding garages and carports. However, up to 10% of the total units in the PARC may be reduced below the above minimums, excluding garages and carports, upon demonstration of good cause, provided that the units meet the architectural design objectives and health criteria of the PARC Ordinance.

Building height. No building shall contain more than 2 1/2 stories or be more than 35 feet in height. This provision shall not apply with respect to steeples, towers or similar architectural features of building designs approved by the Planning Board.

No more than two stories of any building shall be used for habitation, and no structure shall exceed 2 1/2 stories in height.

Social and recreational facilities shall reflect, insofar as possible, preferences of the anticipated residents. Indoor facilities shall include hobby or craft facilities, lounging areas which may also be used for meetings and group activities, card rooms and lavatories. Outdoor facilities shall include walks, shuffleboard and horseshoe courts, tennis courts and pools. All social and recreational facilities shall be in proper relationship as to quantity and proximity to location to the number of living units in the project.

The architectural design of all buildings, the site location and recreational facilities must be consistent with the ultimate purpose of achieving independent, self-reliant and pleasant living arrangements and shall take into account the desires and needs of older persons for privacy, participation in social community activities and access to community activities. At the same time, provision shall be made to accommodate the limitations that sometimes accompany advanced years so that independent living can be sustained as long as possible. The applicant shall show in detail how his design considers this criteria in terms of the Checklist of Design Standards given in § 154-115A. The architectural design as aforesaid shall be a matter of review by the Planning Board and Township Council, and failure to comply or provide for the criteria as aforesaid without good and sufficient cause or without proposing acceptable alternatives may be a reason for denial.