[HISTORY: Adopted by the Mayor and Council of the Borough of Metuchen 7-18-2000 by Ord. No. 2000-9. Amendments noted where applicable.]
A. 
Metuchen Borough in Middlesex County has a fair share obligation of (21 units) to provide new affordable housing opportunities. This chapter will apply to all new developments that contain proposed low- and moderate-income units that are listed below and any future developments that may occur:
(1) 
Homestead at Metuchen.
(2) 
Central Square.
(3) 
Franklin Square.
(4) 
10 Mulberry Lane (DePasquale).
(5) 
756 Middlesex Avenue (Clemente).
B. 
The affirmative marketing plan is a regional marketing strategy designed to attract buyers and/or renters of all majority and minority groups, regardless of sex, age or number of children, to housing units which are being marketed by a developer/sponsor, municipality and/or designated administrative agency of affordable housing. The plan will address the requirements of N.J.A.C. 5:93-11. In addition, the plan prohibits discrimination in the sale, rental, financing or other services related to housing on the basis of race, color, sex, religion, handicap, age, familial status/size or national origin. Metuchen Borough is in the housing region consisting of Middlesex County, Somerset County and Hunterdon County.
The affirmative marketing program is a continuing program and will meet the following requirements:
A. 
All newspaper articles, announcements and requests for applications for low- and moderate-income units will appear in the following daily regional newspapers:
(1) 
The Home News Tribune.
(2) 
The Courier News.
B. 
The primary marketing will take the form of at least one press release sent to the above publications and a paid display advertisement in each of the above newspapers. Additional advertising and publicity will be on an "as needed" basis.
C. 
The advertisement will include the:
(1) 
Street address;
(2) 
Direction to housing units;
(3) 
Number of bedrooms per unit;
(4) 
Range of selling prices/rents;
(5) 
Size of units;
(6) 
Household income limits; and
(7) 
Location of applications, including business hours and where/how applications may be obtained.
D. 
All newspaper articles, announcements and requests for applications for low- and moderate-income housing will appear in the following neighborhood-oriented weekly newspapers within the region:
(1) 
Perth Amboy.
(2) 
New Brunswick Home News Tribune.
(3) 
Somerville.
(4) 
Flemington.
(5) 
Amboy Beacon.
(6) 
Somerset Messenger Gazette.
(7) 
Hunterdon County Democrat.
E. 
The following is the location of applications, brochure(s), sign(s) and/or poster(s) used as part of the affirmative marketing program, including specific employment centers within the region:
(1) 
Municipal Building.
(2) 
Municipal Library.
(3) 
Developer's Sales/Rental Office On Site.
(4) 
Senior Center.
F. 
The following is a listing of community contact person(s) and/or organizations(s) in Middlesex, Somerset and Hunterdon Counties that will aid in the affirmative marketing program with particular emphasis on contacts that will reach out to groups that are least likely to apply for housing within the region:
(1) 
Urban League of Greater New Brunswick.
(2) 
Catholic Charities - Diocese of Metuchen.
(3) 
Middlesex County Housing Coalition.
G. 
Mailing of applications.
(1) 
Applications will be mailed to prospective applicants upon request.
(2) 
Additionally, applications will be sent to the chief administrative employees of each of the following agencies in the counties of Middlesex, Somerset and Hunterdon:
(a) 
Office on Aging.
(b) 
Housing Agency or Authority.
(c) 
Library.
(d) 
Area community action agencies.
The following is a description of the random selection method that will be used to select occupants of low- and moderate-income housing: random "lottery" drawing.
Metuchen Borough is ultimately responsible for administering the affirmative marketing program. Metuchen Borough has delegated this responsibility to Piazza & Associates. Piazza & Associates will income qualify low- and moderate-income households; place income eligible households in low- and moderate-income units upon initial occupancy; provide for the initial occupancy of low- and moderate-income units with income-qualified households; continue to qualify households for reoccupancy of units as they become vacant during the period of affordability controls; assist with advertising and outreach to low- and moderate-income households if in contract; and enforce the terms of the deed restriction and mortgage loan as per N.J.A.C. 5:93. The Borough Administrator within Metuchen Borough is the designated housing officer to act as liaison to Piazza & Associates. Piazza & Associates will provide counseling services to low- and moderate-income applicants on subjects such as budgeting, credit issues, mortgage qualification, responsibilities of homeownership, rental lease requirements and landlord/tenant law. The following service providers have agreed to perform the above services: Piazza & Associates.
Households who live or work in the COAH-established housing region may be given preference for sales and rental units constructed within that housing region. Applicants living outside the housing region will have an equal opportunity for units after regional applicants have been initially serviced. Metuchen Borough intends to comply with N.J.A.C. 5:93-11.7.
Developers of low- and moderate-income housing units may assist in the marketing of the affordable units in their respective developments if so designated by Metuchen Borough.
The marketing program will commence at least 120 days before the issuance of either temporary or permanent certificates of occupancy. The marketing program will continue until all low- and moderate-income housing units are initially occupied and for as long as affordable units are deed restricted and occupancy or reoccupancy of units continues to be necessary. Piazza & Associates will comply with monitoring and reporting requirements as per N.J.A.C. 5:93-11.6 and 12.1.