The Township of Moorestown finds that:
A. The reduction of the amount of extraneous flow to
its sanitary sewer system is an important public concern and is necessary
in order to comply with the New Jersey pollution discharge elimination
system permit issued to the Township of Moorestown. A portion of this
extraneous flow enters the sanitary sewer system via sump pumps, roof
drains and other drainage devices connected directly or indirectly
to the Township's sanitary sewer system. For the purpose of this chapter,
a direct connection is one that is intentionally installed in a manner
which allows extraneous flow to enter the sanitary sewer system by
piping connected to the sanitary sewer lines from any building or
lot. Indirect sanitary sewer connections are those which allow extraneous
flow to enter via a device such as a sink or floor drain.
B. The inspection of and, where necessary, the replacement
of water meters is in the best interest of the Township of Moorestown
and the water ratepayers and promotes water conservation; and said
inspection and replacement is most conveniently done at the time of
property transfers.
C. The inspection of and, where necessary, the repair
or replacement of sidewalks abutting a property is in the best interest
of the Township of Moorestown to assure the continued safety of the
public using said sidewalk area, and the time of property transfers
is a convenient and appropriate time at which necessary repairs or
replacements shall occur.
D. A review
of the permit history of a property is in the best interest of the
Township of Moorestown and future property owners to ensure that any
outstanding construction permits have been closed out. The time a
property transfers ownership is a convenient and appropriate occasion
to verify that all work proposed to be performed following obtaining
a permit has been inspected and passed all required inspections.
E. The encroachment
by adjoining property owners onto Township-owned lands is an important
concern since it can lead to loss of state funding or loss of property
by adverse possession. Identification of encroachments, removal of
current, and prevention of future, encroachments can be achieved by
requiring the production of a current survey performed by a licensed
land surveyor, with flagging of property corners, of any property
that adjoins, abuts, or shares a boundary with Township-owned property
at the time the adjoining property transfers ownership.
The Township of Moorestown requires the seller of any property
in the Township to obtain a certificate for change in occupancy/ownership
prior to the real estate closing to ensure that:
A. Extraneous flow is not entering the sanitary sewer system.
B. The water meter is functioning properly and accurately records the
water usage of the property.
C. The sidewalks are free of any trip hazards and not in a hazardous
condition.
D. There are no outstanding permits from the construction office; any
improvements to the property have been inspected and the improvements
have passed all required inspections so that the permits can be closed
out.
E. Township-owned lands have not been encroached upon by the owner or
occupier of an adjacent property.
A temporary certificate for change of ownership/occupancy shall
be permitted to be issued in only the following circumstances:
A. In the event weather conditions or other compelling justification
exists that prevents the repair or replacement of the sidewalk prior
to closing, a temporary certificate for change in occupancy/ownership
may be issued provided a sufficient sum, determined in the sole discretion
of the Director of Public Works, or the Director's designee,
is set aside in escrow to guarantee the completion of said work after
closing. A temporary certificate issued pursuant to this subsection
shall only be valid for a period of 90 days, unless extended in the
sole discretion of the Director of Public Works, or the Director's
designee. Upon inspection and approval by the Department of Public
Works of the repair or replacement, the escrow shall be released to
the one who posted the escrow. In the event the repair or replacement
is not completed within 90 days, or any extended period, the Township
may request that the escrow be paid to the Township to allow the Township
to make such repair and/or replacement as is deemed necessary.
B. In the event any encroachment onto Township-owned property is of
such a magnitude that it cannot reasonably be removed prior to closing,
a temporary certificate for change in occupancy/ownership may be issued
provided a sufficient sum, determined in the sole discretion of the
Township Manager, or the Manager's designee, is set aside in
escrow to guarantee the removal of the encroachment and restoration
of any damage resulting from the removal of the encroachment. A temporary
certificate issued pursuant to this subsection shall only be valid
for a period of 90 days, unless extended in the sole discretion of
the Township Manager, or the Manager's designee. Upon inspection
and approval by a Township representative of the removal of the encroachment
and restoration of any damage, the escrow shall be released to the
one who posted the escrow. In the event the removal of the encroachment
and restoration of any damage is not completed within 90 days, or
any extended, period, the Township may request that the escrow be
paid to the Township to allow the Township to remove the encroachment
and restore any damage resulting from the removal of the encroachment.
The following schedule of fees, which shall be noted on the
tax search and collected at the time of closing, are hereby established
for the certificate for change in occupancy/ownership inspection:
A. For all residential and commercial properties: $75.
B. For second floor condominium properties: $50.