As used in this article, the following terms shall have the
meanings indicated:
ABATEMENT
An exemption from real property taxes provided for the purposes
of encouraging residential construction, conversion, improvement and
redevelopment pursuant to this article.
IMPROVEMENT
The modernization, rehabilitation, renovation, alteration
or repair of a structure that does not increase the volume of the
structure by more than 30%, pursuant to this article.
QUALIFIED MUNICIPALITY
A municipality in which an urban enterprise zone or part
of an urban enterprise zone has been designated pursuant to the New
Jersey Urban Enterprise Zones Act, P.L. 1983, c. 303 (N.J.S.A. 52:27H-60
et seq.), and shall include the entire area within the corporate boundaries
of that municipality, whether or not that area is included within
an urban enterprise zone. For the purpose of this article, the City
of Camden is deemed to be a "qualified municipality."
QUALIFIED RESIDENTIAL PROPERTY
Any building used or to be used or held for use as a home
or residence, including accessory buildings located on the same premises.
No building shall be considered a "qualified residential property"
if the certificate of occupancy for the construction, conversion,
rehabilitation or renovation was issued on or before the date falling
30 months prior to the effective date of this article.
In providing for tax abatements for improvements in areas in
the City of Camden, the City may authorize abatements for improvements
on an individual basis after review, evaluation and approval of each
application by the City of Camden. For applications requiring review
and approval by the City Council, the City of Camden may require the
applicant to submit such information as it deems appropriate, but
in no event shall the City require the submission of information more
detailed than that required for a tax abatement pursuant to N.J.S.A.
54:4-3.139 et seq.
All tax abatement agreements entered into by the City of Camden
pursuant to the terms of this article shall be in effect for a period
of not more than five years starting with the date of completion of
the project.
No abatement shall be granted with respect to any property for
which property taxes are delinquent or remain unpaid or for which
penalties for nonpayment of taxes are due.
No abatement shall be granted except upon written application
filed with the Assessor of the City of Camden, and which is then made
and approved by City Council. Every application shall be on a form
prescribed by the Director of the Division of Taxation, in the Department
of the Treasury, and shall be filed with the Assessor within 30 days,
including Saturdays and Sundays, following the completion of the improvement
or conversion alteration or the effective date of this article, whichever
is later. Every application for an abatement which is filed within
the time specified may be approved and allowed by the Assessor to
the degree that the application is consistent with the provisions
of this article, provided that the property for which the application
is made constitutes qualified residential property pursuant to the
provisions of this article. An abatement that is granted shall take
effect upon the issuance of a certificate of occupancy to the owner
and it shall be recorded and made a permanent part of the official
tax records of the City of Camden, which record shall contain notice
of the termination date of the abatement.
The added assessment provisions of Section 3 of P.L. 1941, c.
397 (N.J.S.A. 54:4-63.3), and the omitted assessment provisions of
Section 9 of P.L. 1947, c. 413 (N.J.S.A. 54:4-63.20), and Section
1 of P.L. 1968, c. 184 (N.J.S.A. 54:4-63.31), shall not be applicable
to any property for which the owner-occupant has been granted a tax
abatement under this article.
When an urban redevelopment project, approved pursuant to Section
19 of P.L. 1961, c. 40 (N.J.S.A. 40:55C-58), includes the construction
of qualified residential property within the City of Camden, the urban
renewal corporation or association carrying out the project may, upon
completion of that qualified residential property, make application
for tax abatements under this article on behalf of prospective purchasers
of dwelling units, whether the units are owner-occupied or investor
owned.