The Planning Board, Zoning Board of Appeals. Town Board or any board,
agency or body with permitting authority is hereby authorized to charge
to any permit applicant an amount for the estimated actual, reasonable
and necessary engineering, legal or other consultant review services
required in order to properly review an application before it.
Estimate and payment of fees. The board, agency or permitting authority
to whom an application for approval has been submitted shall make
an initial estimate of any actual and necessary reasonable engineering,
legal or other consultant review fees required to be paid by it in
order to properly review the application. Such estimate shall be provided
to and paid by the applicant for permit approval before an application
shall be considered complete for SEQR purposes and prior to any required
review of a project by the board, agency or permitting authority.
An applicant shall, as a part of any required application, undertake
and agree to pay all such consultant review expenses incurred by the
board, agency or permitting authority. If protracted or extended review
of a project results in the initial estimate and payment of such consultant
review fees being exceeded, the board, agency or permitting authority
shall advise the applicant. who shall thereupon pay the additional
estimate for such further actual and necessary expenses.
Payment before final approval. Any engineering, legal or other consultant
review charges imposed on an applicant, pursuant to the provisions
of this chapter, shall be paid in full by the applicant prior to the
board, agency or permitting authority making, or being required to
make, any final decision with regard to the application pending before
it.
Refund of unused fees. Any fees or charges paid by an applicant,
pursuant to the provisions of this chapter. which are not necessary
to be expended by the board or agency that processed the application
shall be refunded to the applicant at the completion of the application
process.