§ 175-61. Procedure for application for development of single-family dwellings.

[Added 5-22-1995 by Ord. No. 12-1995]

   A.   The Zoning Officer is hereby authorized and directed to issue preliminary zoning permits as a prerequisite to the issuance of a construction permit or other permits or approvals which are needed to develop a single-family dwelling on an existing lot of record within the Town of Hammonton.

   B.   Applications for a preliminary zoning permit.

      (1)   An application for a preliminary zoning permit shall be submitted to the Zoning Officer and shall include the following:

         (a)   The applicant's name and address and his interest in the subject property.

         (b)   The applicant's signed certification that he is duly authorized to submit the application, that the materials and information are accurate and that duly authorized representatives of the Town of Hammonton and Pinelands Commission are authorized to inspect the property.

         (c)   The owner's name and address, if different from the applicant's, and the owner's signed consent to the filing of the application.

         (d)   The street address, if any, the Tax Map sheet and block and lot number of the property.

         (e)   Proof that taxes for the property have been paid.

         (f)   Acreage of the property in square feet.

         (g)   A dated plot plan, with the scale noted, showing the following:

            [1]   The zoning district in which the property is located.

            [2]   The location and dimensions of all property lines, easements affecting the property and streets abutting the property.

            [3]   The location of all yards and setbacks required pursuant to Article XIII.

            [4]   The location and use of all existing structures and improvements on the property and their intended disposition.

            [5]   A building envelope within which the single-family dwelling is to be located.

            [6]   The location and dimensions of the proposed driveway.

            [7]   The location and dimensions of any proposed accessory structures or improvements.

            [8]   The location and dimensions of the area in which any sewage disposal system, including the disposal field, is proposed to be located.

            [9]   The location of any proposed water supply well.

         (h)   If proposed, certification that central sewer and/or water service are available.

         (i)   If development of the property is proposed in accordance with the density transfer program of § 175-145J, the street address, if any, the Tax Map sheet, block and lot number and acreage in square feet of the noncontiguous property.

      (2)   The Zoning Officer is authorized to require such additional information as may be necessary to determine compliance with this chapter. Such information may include, but is not limited to, a soil boring in the area of any proposed septage system disposal field, a wetland buffer map and information to determine compliance with any permitted use requirement of this chapter.

      (3)   The Zoning Officer is authorized to waive any of the aforementioned application requirements if the information is not necessary to determine compliance with this chapter.

      (4)   Within 14 days of receipt of an application, the Zoning Officer shall determine whether the application is complete and, if necessary, notify the applicant of any additional information which is necessary to complete the application.

   C.   Permit decisions. Within 14 days of determining an application to be complete, the Zoning Officer shall issue either a preliminary zoning permit or a refusal to issue a preliminary zoning permit.

   D.   Preliminary zoning permit.

      (1)   A preliminary zoning permit shall be issued if.

         (a)   The Zoning Officer determines that the application is consistent with the requirements of this chapter.

         (b)   A duly authorized representative of the Pinelands Commission approves the Zoning Officer's determination and so signifies by signing the preliminary zoning permit.

      (2)   A preliminary zoning permit shall expressly incorporate the plot plan being approved, shall specify any conditions which the Zoning Officer determines are necessary to ensure compliance with this chapter and shall specify the expiration date of the permit.

      (3)   The Zoning Officer shall provide copies of the application and the preliminary zoning permit to the Pinelands Commission within five days of the issuance of the permit.

   E.   Effect of preliminary zoning permit.

      (1)   A preliminary zoning permit represents a determination that the application meets the requirements of this chapter and the Pinelands Comprehensive Management Plan, N.J.A.C. 7:50-1.1 et seq.

      (2)   A preliminary zoning permit shall be valid for two years and shall, during that period, confer the following rights and privileges:

         (a)   The approved application shall not be subject to any substantive revisions of the Code of the Town of Hammonton or the Pinelands Comprehensive Management Plan, N.J.A.C. 7:50-1.1 et seq.

         (b)   Any subsequent approvals necessary for the development of the single-family dwelling on the property may be sought without the need for a certificate of filing from the Pinelands Commission.

      (3)   Any subsequent approvals to be sought, including but not limited to construction permits, shall be subject to the notice, review and decision requirements of § 175-60D through 175-60G.

   F.   Refusal to issue preliminary zoning permit.

      (1)   The Zoning Officer shall issue a refusal to issue a preliminary zoning permit if any of the following are found to apply:

         (a)   A variance from the Code of the Town of Hammonton is required.

         (b)   A waiver of strict compliance from the Pinelands Comprehensive Management Plan is required.

         (c)   The Zoning Officer determines that the application does not meet the requirements of this chapter.

         (d)   The duly authorized representative of the Pinelands Commission has not attested to the consistency of the application with the Pinelands Comprehensive Management Plan, N.J.A.C. 7:50-1.1 et seq.

      (2)   A refusal to issue a preliminary zoning permit shall expressly reference the reasons why the refusal was issued.

      (3)   When a refusal to issue a preliminary zoning permit is predicated solely upon the need to obtain a variance, the Zoning Officer shall provide copies of the application and the refusal to the Pinelands Commission within five days of the issuance.

      (4)   When a refusal to issue a preliminary zoning permit is predicated wholly or in part upon Subsection F(1)(b), (c) or (d) above, the Zoning Officer shall provide the original application and a copy of the refusal to the Pinelands Commission within five days of the issuance. The Pinelands Commission shall thereafter process the application pursuant to the Pinelands Comprehensive Management Plan, N.J.A.C. 7:50-1.1 et seq., and § 175-60D through 175-60G of the Code of the Town of Hammonton. In lieu of a preliminary zoning permit, a certificate of filing from the Pinelands Commission shall thereafter be required as a prerequisite to the issuance of a construction or other permit.

   G.   Zoning Officer vacancy. Should the position of Zoning Officer become vacant for any reason, the application procedures set forth in § 175-61 shall be of no force or effect, and the procedures of § 175-60 shall apply until the position has been filled.