Something new is brewing in the Township following changes to zoning ordinances.
The changes include updates pertaining to microbreweries, accessory dwellings and zoning maps.
Previous ordinances required microbreweries, distilleries and wineries to identify as either a restaurant or an industrial use facility. With the update, those facilities are instead defined by how much alcohol they produce each year, with a limit of 465,000 gallons per year.
These facilities will be permitted in every commercial zoning district, and the distinction will allow for tasting rooms and retail space.
Elsewhere, residents are now able to build additional structures on their property to accommodate family.
The building cannot exceed 1,200 square feet and cannot comprise more than 50 percent of the available land. Additionally, the structure must be connected to the existing home via a breezeway or other connector that cannot exceed 30 feet in length.
The change also updates the definition of “family” based on the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development guidelines.
A change to the comprehensive zoning map will give developments in the Route 228 and Route 19 corridors more flexibility. These Community Character Development endeavors will help ease the process for mixed-use developments, creating more a more communal feel in those areas.
The changes were approved by the Board of Supervisors on December 10 following public hearings.