Borough of Roselle Park, NJ Affordable Housing

In Holmdel Builder's Association V. Holmdel Township, 121 N.J. 550 (1990), the New Jersey Supreme Court determined that mandatory development fees are authorized by the Fair Housing Act of 1985, N.J.S.A. 52:27d-301 et seq., and the State Constitution, subject to the Council on Affordable Housing's (COAH's) adoption of rules. This section establishes standards for the collection, maintenance, and expenditure of development fees pursuant to COAH's rules. Fees collected pursuant to this section shall be used for the sole purpose of providing low- and moderate-income housing. This section shall be interpreted within the framework of COAH's rules on development fees.

§ 39-1.2 Basic Requirements.

[Ord. No. 2235 § 2]

The Borough of Roselle Park shall not spend development fees until the Court or COAH has approved a plan for spending such fees and the Borough of Roselle Park has either received third round substantive certification from COAH or a judgment of compliance and repose.

§ 39-1.3 Definitions.

[Ord. No. 2235 § 3]

The following terms, as used in this section, shall have the following meanings:

AFFORDABLE HOUSING DEVELOPMENT

Shall mean 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 one hundred (100%) percent affordable development.

COAH

Shall mean the New Jersey Council on Affordable Housing.

DEVELOPMENT FEE

Shall mean funds paid by an individual, person, partnership, association, company or corporation for the improvement of property as permitted in COAH's rules.

EQUALIZED ASSESSED VALUE

Shall mean the value of a property determined by the Municipal Tax Assessor through a process designed to ensure that all property in the municipality is assessed at the same assessment ratio or ratios required by law. Estimates at the time of issuance of a building permit may be obtained utilizing estimates for construction cost. Final equalized assessed value shall be determined at project completion by the Municipal Tax Assessor.

§ 39-1.4 Residential Development Fees.

[Ord. No. 2235 § 4]

Within the Borough of Roselle Park's zoning district(s), residential developers shall pay a fee of one (1%) percent of the equalized assessed value for residential development provided no increased density is permitted.

When an increase in residential density pursuant to N.J.S.A. 40:55D-70d(5) (known as a "d" variance) has been permitted, developers may be required to pay a development fee of maximum of six (6%) percent of the equalized assessed value for each additional unit that may be realized. However, if the zoning on a site has changed during the two-year period preceding the filing of such a variance application, the base density for the purposes of calculating the bonus development fee shall be the highest density permitted by right during the two-year period preceding the filing of the variance application.

§ 39-1.5 Nonresidential Development Fees.

[Ord. No. 2235 § 5]

Within the Borough of Roselle Park zoning district(s), nonresidential developers shall pay a fee of two (2%) percent of the equalized assessed value for nonresidential development.

If an increase in floor area ratio is approved pursuant to N.J.S.A. 40:55D-70d(4), then the additional floor area realized (above what is permitted by right under the existing zoning) shall incur a bonus development fee of six (6%) percent of the equalized assessed value for nonresidential development. However, if the zoning on a site has changed during the two-year period preceding the filing of such a variance application, the base floor area for the purposes of calculating the bonus development fee shall be the highest floor area permitted by right during the two-year period preceding the filing of the variance application.

§ 39-1.6 Eligible Exactions, Ineligible Exactions and Exemptions.

[Ord. No. 2235 § 6]

Affordable housing developments shall be exempt from development fees. All other forms of new construction shall be subject to development fees, unless exempted below.

Developments that have received preliminary or final approval prior to the adoption of this development fee ordinance shall be exempt from development fees, unless the developer seeks a substantial change in the approval.

Development fees shall be imposed and collected when an existing structure is expanded or undergoes a change to a more intense use. The development fee shall be calculated on the increase in the equalized assessed value of the improved structure.

§ 39-1.7 Collection of Fees.

[Ord. No. 2235 § 7]

Fifty (50%) percent of the development fee shall be collected at the time of issuance of the building permit. The remaining portion shall be collected at the issuance of the certificate of occupancy. The developer shall be responsible for paying the difference between the fee calculated at building permit and that determined at issuance of certificate of occupancy.

§ 39-1.8 Contested Fees.

[Ord. No. 2235 § 8]

Imposed and collected development fees that are challenged shall be placed in an interest bearing escrow account by the Borough of Roselle Park. If all or a portion of the contested fees are returned to the developer, the accrued interest on the returned amount shall also be returned.

§ 39-1.9 Affordable Housing Trust Fund.

[Ord. No. 2235 § 9]

There is hereby created a separate, interest-bearing housing trust fund for the purpose of depositing development fees collected from residential and nonresidential developers and proceeds from the sale of units with extinguished controls. All development fees paid by developers pursuant to this ordinance shall be deposited into this fund.

Within seven (7) days from the opening of the trust fund account, the Borough of Roselle Park shall provide COAH with written authorization, in the form of a three-party escrow agreement between the municipality, its banking institution, and COAH to permit COAH to direct the disbursement of the funds as provided for in N.J.A.C. 5:94-6.16(b).

No funds shall be expended from the affordable housing trust fund unless the expenditure conforms to a spending plan approved by COAH or the Court. All interest accrued in the housing trust fund shall only be used on eligible affordable housing activities approved by COAH or the Court.

§ 39-1.10 Use of Funds.

[Ord. No. 2235 § 10]

Funds deposited in the housing trust fund may be used for any activity approved by COAH or the Court to address the municipal fair share. Such activities include, but are not limited to: rehabilitation, new construction, RCAs subject to the provisions of N.J.A.C. 5:94-4.4(d), ECHO housing, purchase of land for affordable housing, improvement of land to be used for affordable housing, purchase of housing, extensions or improvements of roads and infrastructure to affordable housing sites, financial assistance designed to increase affordability, or administration necessary for implementation of the Housing Element and Fair Share Plan. The expenditure of all funds shall conform to a spending plan approved by COAH or the Court.

Funds shall not be expended to reimburse the Borough of Roselle Park for past housing activities.

After subtracting development fees collected to finance an RCA, a rehabilitation program or a new construction project that are necessary to address the Borough of Roselle Park's affordable housing obligation, at least thirty (30%) percent of the balance remaining shall be used to provide affordability assistance to low- and moderate-income households in affordable units included in the municipal Fair Share Plan. One-third (1/3) of the affordability assistance portion of development fees collected shall be used to provide affordability assistance to those households earning thirty (30%) percent or less of median income by region.

Affordability assistance programs may include down payment assistance, security deposit assistance, low interest loans, and rental assistance.

Affordability assistance to households earning thirty (30%) percent or less of median income may include buying down the cost of low or moderate income units in the third round municipal Fair Share Plan to make them affordable to households earning thirty (30%) percent or less of median income. The use of development fees in this manner shall entitle the Borough of Roselle Park to bonus credits pursuant to N.J.A.C. 5:94-4.22.

Payments in lieu of constructing affordable units on site and funds from the sale of units with extinguished controls shall be exempt from the affordability assistance requirement.

The Borough of Roselle Park may contract with a private or public entity to administer any part of its Housing Element and Fair Share Plan, including the requirement for affordability assistance, in accordance with N.J.A.C. 5:94-7.

No more than twenty (20%) percent of the revenues collected from development fees each year, exclusive of the fees used to fund an RCA, shall be expended on administration, including, but not limited to, salaries and benefits for municipal employees or consultant fees necessary to develop or implement a new construction program, a Housing Element and Fair Share Plan, and/or an affirmative marketing program. In the case of a rehabilitation program, no more than twenty (20%) percent of the revenues collected from development fees shall be expended for such administrative expenses. Administrative funds may be used for income qualification of households, monitoring the turnover of sale and rental units, and compliance with COAH's monitoring requirements. Development fee administrative costs are calculated and may be expended at the end of each year or upon receipt of the fees.

§ 39-1.11 Monitoring.

[Ord. No. 2235 § 11]

The Borough of Roselle Park shall complete and return to COAH all monitoring forms included in the annual monitoring report related to the collection of development fees from residential and nonresidential developers, payments in lieu of constructing affordable units on site, and funds from the sale of units with extinguished controls, and the expenditure of revenues and implementation of the plan either certified by COAH or approved by the Court. All monitoring reports shall be completed on forms designed by COAH.

§ 39-1.12 Borough of Roselle Park Operating Manual for the Administration of Rehabilitation Units.

[Ord. No. 2340 § 1]

The Borough shall establish its own rehabilitation program in compliance with applicable COAH regulations, as detailed in the "Borough of Roselle Park Operating Manual for the Administration of Rehabilitation Units" dated September 2011.