800 Rose Ln Union Beach, NJ 07735-3550

p.m. § 13-8.9 Common Open Spaces and Public Open Spaces. a. Common open space or public open space areas proposed to be provided in conjunction with applications for development for subdivisions or site plans shall be subject to the following requirements: 1. Each open space area should contain a minimum of two contiguous acres. 2. Open space areas should not be less than 50 feet in width at any location, except where such open space is to be utilized primarily for walkway access from a public street to the open space at the rear of building lots, it may have a minimum width of 20 feet for a length not to exceed 250 feet. 3. Where possible, all of the following land areas and features shall be preserved as open space: (a) Floodway and flood hazard areas. (b) Areas containing a significant number of specimen trees as determined by the planning board. (c) Existing watercourses, ponds. (d) Land with a seasonal high water table of less than two feet. (e) Wetlands as defined by the New Jersey Wetlands Act of 1970 and delineated on wetlands maps prepared by the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection. b. Site Preparation. Within open space areas, the planning board may require a developer to make certain site preparation improvements, which may include, but are not limited to the following: 1. Removal of dead or diseased trees. 2. Thinning of trees or other growth to encourage more desirable growth. 3. Removal of trees in areas planned for ponds, lakes, active recreational facilities or pathways. 4. Grading and seeding. c. Reservation of Public Areas. 1. If the master plan or the official map provides for the reservation of designated streets, public drainage-ways, flood control basins, or public areas within the proposed development, before approving a subdivision or site plan, the planning board may further require that such streets, ways, basins or areas be shown on the plat in locations and sizes suitable to their intended uses. The planning board may reserve the location and extent of such streets, ways, basins or areas shown on the plat for a period of one year after the approval of the final plat or within such further time as may be agreed to by the developer.