This chapter is adopted pursuant to N.J.S.A. 40:55D-1 et seq., in order to promote and protect the public health, safety, morals and general welfare and in furtherance of the following related and more specific objectives:

A. To secure safety from fire, flood, panic and other natural or manmade disasters.

B. To provide adequate light, air and open space.

C. To ensure that the development of the Borough of Avon-by-the-Sea does not conflict with the development and general welfare of neighboring municipalities, the County and the State as a whole.

D. To promote the establishment of appropriate population densities and concentrations that will contribute to the well-being of persons, neighborhoods and preservation of the environment.

E. To encourage the appropriate and efficient expenditure of public funds by the coordination of public development with land use policies.

F. To provide sufficient space in appropriate locations for a variety of residential, recreational, and commercial uses and open space, both public and private, according to their respective environmental requirements.

G. To encourage the location and design of transportation routes that will promote the free flow of traffic while discouraging location of such facilities and routes that result in congestion or blight.

H. To promote a desirable visual environment through creative development techniques and good civic design and arrangements.

I. To promote the conservation of open space and valuable natural resources and to prevent urban sprawl and degradation of the environment through improper use of land.

J. To encourage senior citizen community housing construction consistent with provisions permitting other residential uses of a similar density in the same zoning district.

The provisions of this chapter shall be held to be minimum requirements. Where this chapter imposes a greater restriction than is imposed or required by other provisions of law or by other rules or regulations or resolutions, the provisions of this chapter shall control unless otherwise restricted by law. Where other laws, rules, regulations or resolutions require greater restrictions than are imposed or required by this chapter, the provisions of such other laws, rules, regulations or restrictions shall control.

All uses not expressly permitted in this chapter are prohibited.

All requirements of this chapter shall be complied with at the time of erection, enlargement, alteration, moving or change in use of the principal use and shall apply to the entire structure or structures whether or not the entire structure or structures were involved in the erection, enlargement, alteration, moving or change in use.