640 Russell Mill Rd, Woolwich Township, NJ 08085

Residential District

The intent of the R-1 Residential District is to provide appropriate regulations for the preservation of agriculture, natural resources, scenic vistas and the rural landscape of Woolwich Township, along with the development of single-family detached dwellings and other permitted uses in portions of the Township characterized as rural, regardless of the presence or absence of public sewer or water service. The Township is offering two development options in the R-1 District. Option 1 is strongly encouraged as the means to best maintain the rural character while preserving open space and natural resources in the R-1 District. In conformance with the MLUL, the purposes of Options 1 and 2 are as follows: To conserve farmland and open space, including those areas containing active farmland, unique and sensitive natural features such as woodlands, steep slopes, streams, floodplains and wetlands, by setting them aside from development; To provide greater design flexibility and efficiency in the design of services and infrastructure, including the opportunity to reduce length of roads, utility runs, and the amount of paving required for residential development; To reduce erosion and sedimentation by the retention of existing vegetation, and minimization of development on steep slopes; To provide for a diversity of lot sizes and housing choices to accommodate a variety of age and income groups and residential preferences, so that the community's population diversity will be maintained; To implement adopted municipal policies to conserve a variety of irreplaceable and environmentally sensitive resource lands as set forth in the Township's Open Space Plan, including provisions for reasonable incentives to create a greenway system for the benefit of present and future residents; To implement adopted land use, transportation, and community policies, as identified in the Township's Master Plan To protect areas of the Township with productive agricultural soils for continued or future agricultural use by conserving blocks of land large enough to allow for efficient farm operations; To create neighborhoods with direct visual access to open space, with amenities in the form of neighborhood open space, and with a strong neighborhood identity; To provide for the conservation and maintenance of open space within the Township to achieve the above-mentioned purposes and for active and/or passive recreational use by residents; To provide options for landowners in order to minimize impacts on farming and environmental resources (sensitive lands such as wetlands, floodplains, and steep slopes) and disturbance of natural or cultural features such as mature woodlands, hedgerows and tree lines, critical wildlife habitats, historic buildings, and fieldstone walls; To provide standards reflecting the varying circumstances and interests of individual landowners, and the individual characteristics of their properties and To conserve scenic views and elements of the Township's rural character, and to minimize perceived density, by minimizing views of new development from existing roads.