Zoning Officer
Andrei Alexeev
Zoning Officer
Phone (609) 664-3167
Office Hours
Friday - 5:00 to 7:00 p.m. and Saturday 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.
The Cranbury Township Zoning Official is responsible for the review and issuance of Zoning Permits for land development projects that are exempt from site plan approval by the provisions of § 150-84 (B) (1) and (2) of the Cranbury Township Land Development Ordinance and New Jersey Municipal Land Use Law, N.J.S.A. 40:55D-1 et seq., and enforcement of zoning laws to ensure all construction projects and commercial tenant occupancies meet the requirements of Cranbury Township and New Jersey State land use regulations.
A Zoning Permit is required as the first step to the commencement of a use or the erection, construction, reconstruction, alteration, conversion or installation of a structure or building. A Zoning Permit acknowledges that such use, structure or building complies with the provisions of the Municipal Zoning Ordinance or variance therefrom duly authorized by the appropriate agency of Cranbury Township pursuant to N.J.S.A. 40:55D-60 and 40:55D-70.
INSTRUCTIONS FOR PROSPECTIVE COMMERCIAL TENANTS
Pursuant to § 150-84 (B) (2) of the Cranbury Township Land Development Ordinance, a change in use or occupancy of a building or land may be exempt from site plan approval provided that all of the following criteria can be met:
(a) The proposed use is permitted in the zone or the previous same or substantially similar use received a use variance approval, and site plan approval was previously granted by the appropriate land use Board. (Note: For lawfully preexisting nonconforming uses - see Article IV of the Land Development Ordinance.);
(b) The proposed use does not require more off-street parking than the previous use based upon the parking requirements of Chapter 150;
(c) The proposed use does not have significantly different hours of operation than the previous use;
(d) The proposed use does not have different loading requirements which have an effect on site circulation;
(e) The proposed use does not involve the storage or handling of chemicals or hazardous substances;
(f) The proposed use does not call for a significant change in one or more of the following: exterior lighting, circulation and/or landscaping;
(g) The proposed use will not generate a significantly greater amount of solid waste requiring additional refuse receptacles than previously required;
(h) The proposed use does not require a change in drainage and stormwater management.
Therefore, all prospective commercial tenants that meet the exemption criteria of § 150-84 (B) (2) shall submit a zoning permit application with the Cranbury Township Zoning Department for review. The application shall be accompanied by a meaningful statement identifying factors provided above, a copy of a site plan or property survey with the proposed location of the tenant space, and/or building floor plan, as applicable, in order to determine that the proposed tenant is exempt from the site plan approval requirements.
For all other tenants that do not meet the exemption criteria of § 150-84 (B) (2), site plan approval shall be required.
PLEASE NOTE, that the zoning tenancy approval does not constitute authority to occupy the building. A proper registration with the Cranbury Township Fire Safety Bureau is required in order to occupy the building. For more information regarding the Fire Safety Bureau registration and inspections please see:
https://www.cranburytownship.org/fire-safety-bureau
Helpful Links:
https://ecode360.com/6664638
Zoning Permit Application