A. 
This section of the Township Code sets forth regulations regarding the low- and moderate-income housing units in the Township consistent the Substantive Rules of the New Jersey Council on Affordable Housing, N.J.A.C. 5:93 et seq., the Uniform Housing Affordability Controls (UHAC), N.J.A.C. 5:80-26.1 et seq., and the Township's constitutional obligation to provide a fair share of affordable housing for low- and moderate-income households. In addition, this section applies requirements for very-low-income housing as established in P.L. 2008, c. 46 (the "Roberts Bill").
B. 
This chapter is intended to assure that low- and moderate-income units ("affordable units") are created with controls on affordability over time and that low- and moderate-income households shall occupy these units. This chapter shall apply except where inconsistent with applicable law.
C. 
The Mine Hill Township Planning Board has adopted a Housing Element and Fair Share Plan pursuant to the Municipal Land Use Law at N.J.S.A. 40:55D-1 et seq. The plan has also been endorsed by the Township Council of the Township of Mine Hill. The Fair Share Plan describes the ways the Township shall address its fair share for low- and moderate-income housing as documented in the Housing Element.
D. 
This chapter implements and incorporates the Fair Share Plan and addresses the requirements of N.J.A.C. 5:93, as may be amended and supplemented.
As used herein the following terms shall have the following meanings:
ACCESSORY APARTMENT
A self-contained residential dwelling unit with a kitchen, sanitary facilities, sleeping quarters and a private entrance, which is created within an existing home, or through the conversion of an existing accessory structure on the same site, or by an addition to an existing home or accessory building, or by the construction of a new accessory structure on the same site.
ACT
The Fair Housing Act of 1985, P.L. 1985, c. 222 (N.J.S.A. 52:27D-301 et seq.).
ADAPTABLE
Constructed in compliance with the technical design standards of the Barrier Free Subcode, N.J.A.C. 5:23-7.
ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT
The entity responsible for the administration of affordable units in accordance with this chapter, N.J.A.C. 5:93 and N.J.A.C. 5:80-26.1 et seq.
AFFIRMATIVE MARKETING
A regional marketing strategy designed to attract buyers and/or renters of affordable units pursuant to N.J.A.C. 5:80-26.15.
AFFORDABILITY AVERAGE
The average percentage of median income at which restricted units in an affordable housing development are affordable to low- and moderate-income households.
AFFORDABLE
A sales price or rent within the means of a low- or moderate-income household as defined in N.J.S.A. 52:27D-304; in the case of an ownership unit, that the sales price for the unit conforms to the standards set forth in N.J.A.C. 5:80-26.6, as may be amended and supplemented, and, in the case of a rental unit, that the rent for the unit conforms to the standards set forth in N.J.A.C. 5:80-26.12, as may be amended and supplemented.
AFFORDABLE DEVELOPMENT
A housing development all or a portion of which consists of restricted units.
AFFORDABLE HOUSING DEVELOPMENT
A development included in the Housing Element and Fair Share Plan, and includes, but is not limited to, an inclusionary development, a municipal construction project or a 100% affordable development.
AFFORDABLE HOUSING PROGRAM(S)
Any mechanism in a municipal Fair Share Plan prepared or implemented to address a municipality's fair share obligation.
AFFORDABLE UNIT
A housing unit proposed or created pursuant to the Act, credited pursuant to N.J.A.C. 5:93-3, and/or funded through an affordable housing trust fund.
AGE-RESTRICTED UNIT
A housing unit designed to meet the needs of, and exclusively for, the residents of an age-restricted segment of the population such that: 1) all the residents of the development where the unit is situated are 62 years or older; or 2) at least 80% of the units are occupied by one person that is 55 years or older; or 3) the development has been designated by the Secretary of the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development as "housing for older persons" as defined in Section 807(b)(2) of the Fair Housing Act, 42 U.S.C. § 3607.
AGENCY
The New Jersey Housing and Mortgage Finance Agency established by P.L. 1983, c. 530 (N.J.S.A. 55:14K-1, et seq.).
ASSISTED LIVING RESIDENCE
A facility licensed by the New Jersey Department of Health and Senior Services to provide apartment-style housing and congregate dining and to assure that assisted living services are available when needed for four or more adult persons unrelated to the proprietor and that offers units containing, at a minimum, one unfurnished room, a private bathroom, a kitchenette and a lockable door on the unit entrance.
CERTIFIED HOUSEHOLD
A household that has been certified by an administrative agent as a low-income household or moderate-income household.
COAH
The Council on Affordable Housing, which is in, but not of, the Department of Community Affairs of the State of New Jersey, that was established under the New Jersey Fair Housing Act (N.J.S.A. 52:27D-301 et seq.).
DCA
The State of New Jersey Department of Community Affairs.
DEFICIENT HOUSING UNIT
A housing unit with health and safety code violations that require the repair or replacement of a major system. A major system includes weatherization, roofing, plumbing (including wells), heating, electricity, sanitary plumbing (including septic systems), lead paint abatement and/or load bearing structural systems.
DEVELOPER
Any person, partnership, association, company or corporation that is the legal or beneficial owner or owners of a lot or any land proposed to be included in a proposed development including the holder of an option to contract or purchase, or other person having an enforceable proprietary interest in such land.
DEVELOPMENT
The division of a parcel of land into two or more parcels, the construction, reconstruction, conversion, structural alteration, relocation, or enlargement of any use or change in the use of any building or other structure, or of any mining, excavation or landfill, and any use or change in the use of any building or other structure, or land or extension of use of land, for which permission may be required pursuant to N.J.S.A. 40:55D-1 et seq.
FAIR SHARE PLAN
The plan that describes the mechanisms, strategies and the funding sources, if any, by which the Township proposes to address its affordable housing obligation as established in the Housing Element, including the draft ordinances necessary to implement that plan, and addresses the requirements of N.J.S.A. 52:27D-309 through 52:27D-314.
HOUSING ELEMENT
The portion of the Township's Master Plan, required by the Municipal Land Use Law (MLUL), N.J.S.A. 40:55D-28b(3) and the Act, that includes the information required by N.J.A.C. 5:93-5.1(b) and establishes the Township's fair share obligation.
INCLUSIONARY DEVELOPMENT
A development containing both affordable units and market rate units. This term includes, but is not necessarily limited to: new construction, the conversion of a nonresidential structure to residential and the creation of new affordable units through the reconstruction of a vacant residential structure.
LOW-INCOME HOUSEHOLD
A household with a total gross annual household income equal to 50% or less of the median household income.
LOW-INCOME UNIT
A restricted unit that is affordable to a low-income household.
MAJOR SYSTEM
The primary structural, mechanical, plumbing, electrical, fire protection, or occupant service components of a building which include but are not limited to, weatherization, roofing, plumbing (including wells), heating, electricity, sanitary plumbing (including septic systems), lead paint abatement or load bearing structural systems.
MARKET-RATE UNITS
Housing not restricted to low- and moderate-income households that may sell or rent at any price.
MEDIAN INCOME
The median income by household size for the applicable county, as adopted annually by COAH.
MODERATE-INCOME HOUSEHOLD
A household with a total gross annual household income in excess of 50% but less than 80% of the median household income.
MODERATE-INCOME UNIT
A restricted unit that is affordable to a moderate-income household.
NONEXEMPT SALE
Any sale or transfer of ownership other than the transfer of ownership between husband and wife; the transfer of ownership between former spouses ordered as a result of a judicial decree of divorce or judicial separation, but not including sales to third parties; the transfer of ownership between family members as a result of inheritance; the transfer of ownership through an executor's deed to a class A beneficiary and the transfer of ownership by court order.
RANDOM SELECTION PROCESS
A process by which currently income-eligible households are selected for placement in affordable housing units such that no preference is given to one applicant over another except for purposes of matching household income and size with an appropriately priced and sized affordable unit (e.g., by lottery).
REGIONAL ASSET LIMIT
The maximum housing value in each housing region affordable to a four-person household with an income at 80% of the regional median as defined by COAH's adopted Regional Income Limits published annually by COAH, or other Regional Income Limits that may be approved by the Court.
REHABILITATION
The repair, renovation, alteration or reconstruction of any building or structure, pursuant to the Rehabilitation Subcode, N.J.A.C. 5:23-6.
RENT
The gross monthly cost of a rental unit to the tenant, including the rent paid to the landlord, as well as an allowance for tenant-paid utilities computed in accordance with allowances published by DCA for its Section 8 program. In assisted living residences, rent does not include charges for food and services.
RESTRICTED UNIT
A dwelling unit, whether a rental unit or ownership unit, that is subject to the affordability controls of N.J.A.C. 5:80-26.1, as may be amended and supplemented, but does not include a market-rate unit financed under UHORP or MONI.
UHAC
The Uniform Housing Affordability Controls set forth in N.J.A.C. 5:80-26.1 et seq.
VERY-LOW-INCOME HOUSEHOLD
A household with a total gross annual household income equal to 30% or less of the median household income.
VERY-LOW-INCOME UNIT
A restricted unit that is affordable to a very-low-income household.
WEATHERIZATION
Building insulation (for attic, exterior walls and crawl space), siding to improve energy efficiency, replacement storm windows, replacement storm doors, replacement windows and replacement doors, and is considered a major system for rehabilitation.
Any multifamily development within the Township of Mine Hill created through any Planning Board action on subdivision or site plan applications, rezoning, use variance, redevelopment plan, or rehabilitation plan that provides for densities at or above six dwelling units per acre, resulting in five or more dwelling units shall be required to set aside at least 20% of said units for low- and moderate-income households. This requirement does not give any developer the right to any such rezoning, variance or other relief, nor does it establish any obligation on the part of the Township of Mine Hill to grant such rezoning, variance or other relief.
The following requirements shall apply to all new or planned developments that contain low- and moderate-income housing units.
A. 
Phasing. Final site plan or subdivision approval shall be contingent upon the affordable housing development meeting the following phasing schedule for low- and moderate-income units whether developed in a single phase development or in a multiphase development:
Maximum Percentage of Market-Rate Units Completed
Minimum Percentage of Low- and Moderate-Income Units Completed
25%
0%
25% + 1
10%
50%
50%
75%
75%
90%
100%
B. 
Design. In inclusionary developments, to the extent possible, low- and moderate-income units shall be integrated with the market units.
C. 
Utilities and common elements. In inclusionary developments, affordable units shall utilize the same type of heating source as the market units within the development, and the occupants of the affordable units shall have access to all of the same common elements and facilities as the occupants of the market units within the development.
D. 
Low/moderate split and bedroom distribution of affordable housing units:
(1) 
Affordable, units in a development shall be divided equally between low- and moderate-income units, except that where there is an odd number of affordable housing units, the extra unit shall be a low-income unit.
(2) 
In each affordable development, at least 50% of the restricted units within each bedroom distribution shall be low-income units.
(3) 
At least 13% of all affordable rental units shall be very-low-income units (affordable to households earning 30% or less of median income). The very-low-income units shall be counted as part of the required number of low-income units within the development.
(4) 
Affordable developments that are not age-restricted shall be structured in conjunction with realistic market demands such that:
(a) 
The combined number of efficiency and one-bedroom units shall be no greater than 20% of the total low- and moderate-income units;
(b) 
At least 30% of all low- and moderate-income units shall be two-bedroom units;
(c) 
At least 20% of all low- and moderate-income units shall be three-bedroom units; and
(d) 
The remaining units may be allocated among two- and three-bedroom units at the discretion of the developer.
(5) 
Affordable developments that are age-restricted shall be structured such that the number of bedrooms shall equal the number of age-restricted low- and moderate-income units within the inclusionary development. The standard may be met by having all one-bedroom units or by having a two-bedroom unit for each efficiency unit.
E. 
Accessibility requirements:
(1) 
The first floor of all restricted townhouse dwelling units and all restricted units in all other multistory buildings shall be subject to the technical design standards of the Barrier Free Subcode, N.J.A.C. 5:23-7.
(2) 
All restricted townhouse dwelling units and all restricted units in other multistory buildings in which a restricted dwelling unit is attached to at least one other dwelling unit shall have the following features:
(a) 
An adaptable toilet and bathing facility on the first floor;
(b) 
An adaptable kitchen on the first floor;
(c) 
An interior accessible route of travel on the first floor;
(d) 
An interior accessible route of travel shall not be required between stories within an individual unit;
(e) 
An adaptable room that can be used as a bedroom, with a door or the casing for the installation of a door, on the first floor; and
(f) 
An accessible entranceway as set forth at P.L. 2005, c. 350 (N.J.S.A. 52:27D-311a et seq.) and the Barrier Free Subcode, N.J.A.C. 5:23-7, or evidence that the Township has collected funds from the developer sufficient to make 10% of the adaptable entrances in the development accessible:
[1] 
Where a unit has been constructed with an adaptable entrance, upon the request of a disabled person who is purchasing or will reside in the dwelling unit, an accessible entrance shall be installed.
[2] 
To this end, the builder of restricted units shall deposit funds within the Township of Mine Hill's affordable housing trust fund sufficient to install accessible entrances in 10% of the affordable units that have been constructed with adaptable entrances.
[3] 
The funds deposited under Subsection E(2)(f)[2] herein shall be used by the Township for the sole purpose of making the adaptable entrance of any affordable unit accessible when requested to do so by a person with a disability who occupies or intends to occupy the unit and requires an accessible entrance.
[4] 
The developer of the restricted units shall submit a design plan and cost estimate for the conversion from adaptable to accessible entrances to the Construction Official of the Township of Mine Hill.
[5] 
Once the Construction Official has determined that the design plan to convert the unit entrances from adaptable to accessible meet the requirements of the Barrier Free Subcode, N.J.A.C. 5:23-7, and that the cost estimate of such conversion is reasonable, payment shall be made to the Township of Mine Hill's affordable housing trust fund in care of the Chief Financial Officer who shall ensure that the funds are deposited into the affordable housing trust fund and appropriately earmarked.
[6] 
Full compliance with the foregoing provisions shall not be required where an entity can demonstrate that it is impracticable to meet the requirements on the site. Determinations of site impracticability shall be in compliance with the Barrier Free Subcode, N.J.A.C. 5:23-7.
F. 
Maximum rents and sales prices.
(1) 
In establishing rents and sales prices of affordable housing units, the administrative agent shall follow the procedures set forth in UHAC and in COAH, utilizing the regional income limits established by COAH or as determined by the Court or other appropriate jurisdiction.
(2) 
The maximum rent for restricted rental units within each affordable development shall be affordable to households earning no more than 60% of median income, and the average rent for restricted low- and moderate-income units shall be affordable to households earning no more than 52% of median income.
(3) 
The developers and/or municipal sponsors of restricted rental units shall establish at least one rent for each bedroom type for both low-income and moderate-income units.
(a) 
At least 10% of all low- and moderate-income rental units shall be affordable to households earning no more than 30% of median income.
(4) 
The maximum sales price of restricted ownership units within each affordable development shall be affordable to households earning no more than 70% of median income, and each affordable development must achieve an affordability average of 55% for restricted ownership units; in achieving this affordability average, moderate-income ownership units must be available for at least three different prices for each bedroom type, and low-income ownership units must be available for at least two different prices for each bedroom type.
(5) 
In determining the initial sales prices and rents for compliance with the affordability average requirements for restricted units other than assisted living facilities, the following standards shall be met:
(a) 
A studio or efficiency unit shall be affordable to a one-person household;
(b) 
A one-bedroom unit shall be affordable to a one-and-one-half-person household;
(c) 
A two-bedroom unit shall be affordable to a three-person household;
(d) 
A three-bedroom unit shall be affordable to a four-and-one-half person household; and
(e) 
A four-bedroom unit shall be affordable to a six-person household.
(6) 
In determining the initial rents for compliance with the affordability average requirements for restricted units in assisted living facilities, the following standards shall be met:
(a) 
A studio or efficiency unit shall be affordable to a one-person household;
(b) 
A one-bedroom unit shall be affordable to a one-and-one-half-person household; and
(c) 
A two-bedroom unit shall be affordable to a two-person household or to two one-person households.
(7) 
The initial purchase price for all restricted ownership units shall be calculated so that the monthly carrying cost of the unit, including principal and interest (based on a mortgage loan equal to 95% of the purchase price and the Federal Reserve H.15 rate of interest), taxes, homeowner and private mortgage insurance and condominium or homeowner association fees do not exceed 28% of the eligible monthly income of the appropriate size household as determined under N.J.A.C. 5:80-26.4, as may be amended and supplemented; provided, however, that the price shall be subject to the affordability average requirement of N.J.A.C. 5:80-26.3, as may be amended and supplemented.
(8) 
The initial rent for a restricted rental unit shall be calculated so as not to exceed 30% of the eligible monthly income of the appropriate household size as determined under N.J.A.C. 5:80-26.4, as may be amended and supplemented; provided, however, that the rent shall be subject to the affordability average requirement of N.J.A.C. 5:80-26.3, as may be amended and supplemented.
(9) 
The price of owner-occupied low- and moderate-income units may increase annually based on the percentage increase in the regional median income limit for each housing region. In no event shall the maximum resale price established by the administrative agent be lower than the last recorded purchase price.
(10) 
The rent of low- and moderate-income units may be increased annually in accordance with N.J.A.C. 5:80-26.12(b), which requires rent increases to be consistent with the regional income limits published by COAH, or as otherwise established by the Court or other appropriate jurisdiction. Rents for units constructed pursuant to low-income housing tax credit regulations shall be indexed pursuant to the regulations governing low-income housing tax credits.
(11) 
Tenant-paid utilities that are included in the utility allowance shall be so stated in the lease and shall be consistent with the utility allowance approved by DCA for its Section 8 program.
For any affordable housing unit that is part of a condominium association and/or homeowners' association, the master deed shall reflect that the association fee assessed for each affordable housing unit shall be established at 100% of the market rate fee.