Township of Rockaway DRAFT Highlands Element for Municipal ...

DRAFT Highlands Element to the Rockaway Township Master Plan November 2010
the Land Preservation & Land Stewardship Plan Element), shall be modified such
that they remain valid only in conjunction with a waiver permitting such use from
the Highlands Council.
C. DENSITY AND INTENSITY OF DEVELOPMENT
The physical potential for development and/or redevelopment in each Highlands Zone and
Sub-Zone of the Township Highlands Area is limited by existing natural features, resource
protection priorities, and the capacity of the land and available infrastructure to support it.
This section sets forth a capacity-based planning framework intended to ensure that future
development and redevelopment do not exceed carrying capacity.
To the extent that the existing development density and intensity standards of the
underlying zone districts (as defined and applied under the existing Land Use Plan and
Zoning Ordinance) are consistent with the parameters of this section, they shall remain in
effect. Where any density or intensity goals of the existing Land Use Plan are inconsistent
with these limits, they are herewith modified with respect to the Highlands Area, to the
extent necessary to conform to the Highlands RMP. For purposes of these provisions,
density of development standards refer to the requirements of the underlying Zoning
Ordinance that regulate the permitted number of dwelling units per acre of land, whether
specifically defined as density standards or set forth as minimum lot size requirements for
application to specific zoning districts. Intensity of development standards refer to those
requirements used to define the relationship between the permitted extent, form and
location of development of a lot, to the size, shape, and configuration of the lot on which it is
situated (e.g., floor area ratio, building coverage, building height, yard setbacks, number of
stories).
In the context herein, modifications to the underlying density or intensity of development
standards will occur only to the extent that existing standards conflict with provisions of the
Highlands Act, NJDEP Preservation Area Rules, or RMP, in particular those concerning water
availability or available septic system yield. These modifications shall not apply to lawfully
existing or approved development in the Highlands Area at the time of adoption of the
ordinances that effectuate such provisions. They shall apply, however, if modifications or
improvements to such existing development result in an increase in demand for water
availability or septic system yield (excluding any increase directly attributed to exercise of a
Highlands Act exemption).
Permitted densities and intensities of development shall comport with the provisions of the
Highlands RMP, Highlands Council Technical Reports and all data related thereto, and the
applicable provisions of the Preservation Area Rules adopted by the NJDEP (N.J.A.C. 7:38).
As provided therein, the framework for setting development density/intensity guidelines
relies primarily on water and wastewater capacity analyses, with natural resource
constraints to be applied largely on a project-specific basis at the development review level.
Permitted density and intensity allowances for the Highlands Area must also reflect
municipal intents with respect to growth and development of the community. A
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