[Ord. No. 76-7 § 6F]
This chapter shall be known and may be cited as the Land Use
Procedure Regulations of the Borough of Surf City.
[Ord. No. 76-7 §§ 2B,
2C, 2D, 2E, 2F, 2H. 2I; Ord. No. 79-2 § 1; Ord. No. 90-17 § 1; Ord.
No. 2000-11 § I; Ord.
No. 2003-16 §§ 2, 3; Ord. No. 2003-16 § 4; Ord. No. 2003-16 §§ 5, 7; amended 12-11-2019 by Ord. No.
2019-18]
There is hereby established pursuant to N.J.S.A. 40:55D-1 et
seq., a Borough Land Use Board consisting of nine members. Pursuant
to law all members of the Land Use Board, except for the Class II
members set forth below, shall be municipal residents. The membership
shall consist of the following four classes:
a. Class 1. The Mayor or the Mayor's designee in the absence of
the Mayor.
b. Class II. One of the officials of the Borough other than a member
of the Borough Council to be appointed by the Mayor.
c. Class III. A member of the Borough Council to be appointed by a majority
of the same.
d. Class IV. Six other citizens of the Borough to be appointed by the
Mayor. In addition, two alternate members, who meet the same qualifications
as do the regular members, may be appointed by the same appointing
authority. Such alternate members shall serve for terms of two years,
respectively. Such alternate members shall be designated at the time
of appointment by the Mayor as "Alternate No. 1" and "Alternate No.
2". The terms of the alternate members shall be for two years, except
that the terms of the alternate members shall be such that the term
of not more than one alternate member shall expire in any one year;
and provided further that in no instance shall the terms of the alternate
members first appointed exceed two years. A vacancy occurring otherwise
than by expiration of term shall be filled by the appointing authority
for the unexpired term only. Alternate members may participate in
all matters but may not vote except in the absence or disqualification
of a regular member of any class. Participation of alternate members
shall not be deemed to increase the size of the Land Use Board established.
A vote shall not be delayed in order that a regular member may vote
instead of an alternate member. In the event that a choice must be
made as to which alternate member is to vote, Alternate No. 1 shall
vote.
The members of Class IV shall hold no other municipal office,
position or employment, except one such member may be a member of
the Board of Education. If there be a municipal Environmental Commission,
the member of the Environmental Commission who is also a member of
the Land Use Board, as required by Section 1 of P.L. 1968 c.245 (C.40:56A-1),
shall be a Class IV Land Use Board member, unless there be among the
Class IV or alternate members of the Land Use Board both a member
of the Land Use Board or Historic Preservation Commission and a member
of the Board of Education in which case the member common to the Land
Use Board and municipal Environmental Commission shall be deemed a
Class II member of the Land Use Board. For the purpose of this section,
membership on a municipal board or commission whose function is advisory
in nature, and the establishment of which is discretionary and not
required by statute, shall not be considered the holding of municipal
office.
The term of the member composing Class I shall correspond to
his official tenure. The terms of the members composing Classes II
and III respectively shall be for one year or terminate at the completion
of their respective terms of office, whichever occurs first. The term
of a Class IV member who is also a member of the Environmental Commission
shall be for three years or terminate at the completion of his term
of office as a member of the Environmental Commission, whichever occurs
first. The terms of all Class IV members first appointed shall be
so determined that to the greatest practicable extent the expiration
of such terms shall be distributed evenly over the first four years
after their appointments; provided that the initial Class IV term
of no member shall exceed four years. Thereafter, the Class IV term
of each such member shall be four years. If a vacancy in any class
shall occur otherwise than by expiration of the Land Use Board term,
it shall be filled by appointment, as above provided, for the unexpired
term. The term of a Class IV member shall run from January 1 of the
year in which the appointment was made for a period of four years.
If any vacancy in any class shall occur otherwise than by the
expiration of the term, it shall be filled by appointment for the
unexpired term in the same manner and by the same appointing authority
as the original appointment.
The Land Use Board shall elect a Chairman and Vice Chairman
from the members of Class Four. The Land Use Board shall also select
a Secretary who may or may not be a member of the Land Use Board or
a Borough employee and fill such other offices as established by ordinance.
The Chairman shall assume and carry out all duties and responsibilities
so delegated to the Chairman by the Borough ordinances and N.J.S.A.
40:55D-24. In the event the Chairman is absent or unable to fulfill
the duties of the position, the Vice Chairman shall be authorized
to perform the duties in the Chairman's stead and also execute
any and all documents in fulfillment of those duties.
The Land Use Board may employ or contract for and fix compensation
of legal counsel, who shall be an attorney other than the Borough
Attorney, and such other experts and staff as it may deem necessary.
The Board shall not authorize expenditures which exceed, exclusive
of gifts or grants, the amount appropriated by the Borough for its
use. The appointments of all staff members, including that of the
Land Use Board Attorney and Land Use Board Engineer, shall be made
at the organization meeting of the Land Use Board and shall continue
for one year until the next organization meeting of the Land Use Board
at which time such appointments shall expire.
The Land Use Board is authorized to adopt bylaws governing its
procedural operation which shall be consistent with statute and other
ordinances of this Borough. It shall also have the following powers
and duties:
a. To prepare, adopt and revise or amend a Master Plan, or component
parts thereof, for the physical development of the municipality in
accordance with the provisions of N.J.S.A. 40:55D-28.
b. To administer the provisions of the development regulations of the
Borough in accordance with the provisions of those regulations and
the Municipal Land Use Law of 1975, N.J.S.A. 40:55D-1 et seq. In the
event that any such regulation is inconsistent with the terms of any
portion of N.J.S.A. 40:55D-1 et seq., such regulation is hereby repealed
to the extent of such inconsistency but the remainder of such regulation
shall remain in full force and effect as if more fully set forth herein.
c. To participate in the preparation and review of programs or plans
required by State or Federal law or regulations.
d. To assemble data on a continuing basis as part of a continuous planning
process.
e. To consider and make reports to the Borough Council within 35 days
after the referral to the Land Use Board of any proposed development
regulation or revision or amendment thereto, pursuant to the provisions
of N.J.S.A. 40:55D-26(a), and also to pass upon other matters specifically
referred to the Land Use Board by the Borough Council pursuant to
the provisions of N.J.S.A. 40:55D-26(b).
f. When reviewing applications for approval of subdivisions, plats,
site plans or conditional uses to grant to the extent and subject
to the same restrictions as the Land Use Board:
1. Variances pursuant to N.J.S.A. 40:55D-70(c) from lot area, lot dimensional,
setback and yard requirements, provided that such relief from lot
area requirements shall not be granted for more than one lot.
2. Direction pursuant to N.J.S.A. 40:55D-34 for issuance of a permit
for a building or structure in the bed of a mapped street or public
drainageway, flood control basin or public area reserved pursuant
to N.J.S.A. 40:55D-32.
3. Direction pursuant to N.J.S.A. 40:55D-36 for issuance of a permit
for building or structure not related to a street.
Whenever relief is requested pursuant to this subsection notice
of a hearing on the application for development shall include reference
to the request for a variance or direction for issuance of a permit
as the case may be.
|
g. To perform such other advisory duties as are assigned to it by ordinance
or resolution of the Borough Council for the aid and assistance of
the Borough Council or other agencies or officers not inconsistent
with the purposes and intent of N.J.S.A. 40:55D-1 et seq., and such
other applicable general law.
a. Minor Subdivision. Minor subdivision approval shall be granted or
denied within 45 days of the date of submission of a complete application
to the Land Use Board or within such further time as may be consented
to by the applicant. Approvals of a minor subdivision shall expire
190 days from the date of the Land Use Board approval unless within
such period a plat in conformity with such approval and the provisions
of the Map Filing Law, N.J.S.A. 46:23-9.9 et seq., or a deed clearly
describing the approved minor subdivision is filed by the developer
with the County Recording Officer, the Borough Engineer and the Borough
Tax Assessor. Any such plat or deed shall be signed by the Chairman
and Secretary of the Land Use Board before it will be accepted for
filing.
Whenever review or approval of the application by the County
Planning Board is required by other law, the Land Use Board shall
condition any approval that it grants upon timely receipt of a favorable
report on the application by the County Planning Board or approval
by the County Planning Board by its failure to report thereon within
the required time period of that statute.
b. Preliminary Approval of Major Subdivisions. The developer shall submit to the administrative officer a plat and such other information as is required in Chapter
29 Land Subdivision of this Code. If the application for development is found to be incomplete, the developer shall be notified thereof within 45 days of its submission of such application or it shall be deemed to be properly submitted. If the Land Use Board requires any substantial amendment in the layout of improvements proposed by the developer that have been subject of a hearing, an amended application shall be submitted and proceeded upon as in the case of the original application for development. The Land Use Board shall, if the proposed subdivision complies with Chapter
29 Land Subdivision and statute, grant preliminary approval to the subdivision.
Upon the submission to the administrative office of a complete
application for a subdivision of 10 or fewer lots, the Land Use Board
shall grant or deny preliminary approval within 45 days of such submission
or within such further time as may be consented to by the developer.
Upon the submission of a complete application for a subdivision of
more than 10 lots, the Land Use Board shall grant or deny preliminary
approval within 95 days of the date of such complete submission or
within such further time as may be consented to by the developer.
c. Preliminary Approval of Site Plans. The developer shall submit to the administrative officer a site plan and such other information as is required in the Site Plan Ordinance, Chapter
28 of this Borough if the application for development is found to be incomplete, the developer shall be notified thereof within 45 days of its submission of such application or it shall be deemed to be properly submitted. If the Land Use Board requires any substantial amendment in the layout of improvements proposed by the developer that have been subject of a hearing, an amended application shall be submitted and proceeded upon as in the case of the original application for development. The Land Use Board shall, if the proposed development complies with the Site Plan Ordinance, Chapter
28 and statute, grant preliminary site plan approval.
Upon submission to the administrative officer of a complete
application for a site plan of 10 acres of land or less, the Land
Use Board shall grant or deny preliminary approval within 45 days
of such submission or within such further time as may be consented
to by the developer. Upon the submission of a complete application
for a site plan of more than 10 acres, the Land Use Board shall grant
or deny preliminary approval within 95 days of the date of such complete
submission, or within such further time as may be consented to by
the developer.
d. Final Approval of Site Plans and Major Subdivisions.
1. The Land Use Board shall grant final approval if the detailed drawings,
specifications and estimates of the application for final approval
conform to the standards established by ordinance for final approval,
the conditions of preliminary approval and, in the case of a major
subdivision, the standards prescribed by the Map Filing Law, N.J.S.A.
46:23-9.9, et seq. Application for final site plan or subdivision
approval shall be granted or denied within 45 days of submission of
a complete application or within such further time as may be consented
to by the applicant.
2. Final approval of a major subdivision shall expire 95 days from the
date of signing of the plat, unless within such period the plat shall
have been duly filed by the developer with the County Recording Officer.
The Land Use Board may, for good cause shown, extend the period for
recording for an additional period not to exceed 190 days from the
date of the signing of the plat.
3. Wherever review or approval of the application by the County Planning
Board is required by other law, the Land Use Board shall condition
any approval that it grants upon timely receipt of a favorable report
on the application by the County Planning Board or approval by the
County Planning Board by its failure to report thereon within the
required time period of that statute.
e. Ancillary Powers. Whenever the Land Use Board is called upon to exercise its ancillary powers for the granting of relief as set forth in Subsection
27-2.6 of this chapter, the Land Use Board shall grant or deny approval of the application within 95 days after submission by the developer of a complete application, or within such further time as may be consented to by the applicant. Failure of the Land Use Board to act within the period prescribed shall constitute approval of the application in question and a certificate from the Secretary of the Land Use Board as to the failure of the Land Use Board to act shall be issued on the request of the applicant.
Wherever review or approval of the application by the County
Planning Board is required by other law, the Land Use Board shall
condition any approval that it grants upon timely receipt of a favorable
report on the application by the County Planning Board or approval
by the County Planning Board by its failure to report thereon within
the required period of that statute.
The Land Use Board shall adopt such rules and regulations as
may be necessary to carry into effect the provisions and purposes
of this chapter.
In addition to its Land Use Board powers, the Land Use Board
shall exercise to the same extent and subject to the same restrictions,
all the powers of the Board of Adjustment pursuant to N.J.S.A. 40:55D-70,
et seq., but the Class I and Class III members shall not participate
in the consideration of applications for development which involve
relief pursuant to N.J.S.A. 40:55D-70(d).
Any variance from the terms of this chapter granted by the Land
Use Board shall expire by limitation unless construction or alteration
have actually commenced on each and every structure permitted by such
a variance or unless such permitted use has actually commenced within
one year from the date of notice of publication of the Land Use Board
determination; except, however, that the period of limitation shall
be tolled from the date of filing an appeal from the decision of the
Land Use Board to the Borough Council or to a court of competent jurisdiction
until the termination in any manner of such appeal or proceeding.
All uses not expressly permitted by the development regulations
of this Borough are hereby expressly prohibited.
Where a street or public way serves as the zoning district line
and it is lawfully vacated, the former centerline shall be considered
the zoning district line.
No member or alternate member of the Land Use Board shall act
on any matter in which he has either directly or indirectly any personal
or financial interest. Whenever any such member shall disqualify himself
from acting on a particular matter, he shall not continue to sit with
the Board on the hearing of such matter nor may be participate in
any discussion or decision relating thereto.
a. Regular. Regular meetings of the Land Use Board shall be scheduled
no less than once a month and any meeting so scheduled shall be held
as scheduled unless canceled for lack of applications for development
to process. Further, all meetings shall conform with the Open Public
Meeting Act of the State of New Jersey, N.J.S.A. 10:4-6 et seq.
b. Special. Special meetings may be provided for at the call of the
Chairman or on the request of any two Board members. Such meeting
shall be held on notice to its members and the public in accordance
with all applicable legal requirements.
c. Quorum Required. No action shall be taken at any meeting without
a quorum being present.
d. Open to the Public. All regular meetings and all special meetings
shall be open to the public except as authorized as by the provisions
of the Open Public Meeting Act, N.J.S.A. 10:4-6 et seq.
Minutes of every regular or special meeting of the Land Use
Board shall be kept and shall include the names of the persons appearing
and addressing the Board and of the persons appearing by attorney,
the action taken by the Board, the findings, if any, made by it and
reasons therefor.
A verbatim transcript or recording shall be made of all hearings
before the Land Use Board.
The minutes and transcripts of all proceedings shall thereafter
be made available for public inspection during the normal business
hours at the office of the Land Use Board. Any interested party shall
have the right to compel production of the minutes for use as evidence
in any legal proceeding concerning the subject matter of such minutes.
Such interested party may be charged a fee for reproduction of the
minutes for his or her use as provided for in the rules of the Board
concerning same.
The applicant, upon filing an application, shall pay an escrow
fee to the Borough in an amount deemed appropriate by way of resolution
of the Borough Council. Should said escrow fall below the minimum
deposit amount, the applicant shall be required to replenish the account
by an amount set by resolution of the Borough Council. If the amount
of the deposit exceeds the actual cost the applicant shall be entitled
to a return of the excess deposit pursuant to N.J.S.A. 40:55D-53.2(d).
If the charges to the account exceed the amount of the deposit the
applicant shall be liable for such deficiency. Said escrow fee(s)
shall be made separately and in addition to the application fee required.
The Land Use Board shall make rules governing the conduct of
hearings before such bodies which rules shall not be inconsistent
with the provision of N.J.S.A. 40:55D-2 et seq. or of this chapter
or any amendments thereto.
The presiding official at the hearing shall have the power to
administer oaths and issue subpoenas to compel the attendance of witnesses
and the production of relevant evidence, including witnesses and documents
presented by the parties and the provisions of the County and Municipal
Investigations Law, P.L. 1953 c.1938, N.J.S.A. 2A:67A-1 et seq., shall
apply.
Testimony of all witnesses relating to an application for development
shall be taken under oath or affirmation by the presiding officer
and the right of cross examination shall be permitted to all interested
parties through their attorneys, if represented, or directly, if not
represented, subject to the discretion of the presiding officer and
to reasonable limitations as to time and number of witnesses.
In accordance with law, no corporation shall appear before the
Land Use Board without being represented by an attorney authorized
to practice law in the State of New Jersey.
Whenever a hearing is required on an application for development
pursuant to N.J.S.A. 40:55D-1 et seq., the applicant shall give notice
thereof as follows:
a. Public Notice. Public notice shall be given by publication in the
official newspaper of the Borough at least 10 days prior to the date
of the hearing.
b. Notice to Adjacent Property Owners. Notice shall be given to the
owners of all real property as shown on the current tax duplicate
or duplicate or duplicates located within 200 feet in all directions
of the property which is the subject of such hearing and whether located
within or without the municipality in which the applicant's land
is located. Such notice shall be given by serving a copy thereof on
the owner as shown on the current tax duplicate or his agent in charge
of the property, or mailing a copy thereof by certified mail to the
property owner at his address as shown on the current tax duplicate.
A return receipt shall not be required. Notice to a corporate owner
may be made by services upon its President, its Vice President, Secretary
or other person authorized by appointment or by law to accept service
on behalf of the corporation.
c. Notice to Adjoining Municipality. Notice of all hearings on applications
for development involving property located within 200 feet of an adjoining
Municipality shall be given by personal service, or certified mail,
to the clerk of such Municipality. Such notice shall be in addition
to the notice required to be given to the owners of lands in such
adjoining Municipality which are located within 200 feet of the subject
premises.
d. Notice to the County Planning Board. Notice shall be given by personal
service or certified mail to the County Planning Board of a hearing
on an application for development of property adjacent to an existing
County road or proposed County road shown on the official County Map
or on the County Master Plan adjoining other County land or situated
within 200 feet of a municipal boundary or where the construction
of a bridge is contemplated.
e. Notice to the Commissioner of Transportation. Notice shall be given
by personal service or certified mail to the Commissioner of Transportation
of a hearing on an application for development of a property adjacent
to a State highway or where drainage waters shall be deposited into
a State highway.
f. Notice to the Director of the Division of State and Regional Planning.
Notice shall be given by personal service or certified mail to the
Director of the Division of State and Regional Planning in the Department
of Community Affairs of a hearing on an application for development
of property which exceeds 150 acres or 500 dwelling units. Such notice
shall include a copy of any maps or documents required to be on file
with the Borough Clerk pursuant to this chapter or under the terms
of statute.
g. Proof of Service. All notices hereinabove specified in this section
shall be given at least 10 days prior to the date fixed for hearing
and the applicant shall file an affidavit of proof of service with
the attorney for the Board holding the hearing on the application
for development.
h. Completion by Certified Mail. Any notice made by certified mail as
hereinabove required shall be deemed to be complete upon mailing in
accordance with the provisions of N.J.S.A. 40:55D-14.
i. Form of Notice. All notices required to be given pursuant to the
terms of this chapter shall state:
1. The date, time and place of the hearing.
2. The nature of the matters to be considered.
3. The identification of the property proposed for development by street
address, if any, and by reference to lot and block numbers as shown
on the current tax duplicate in the Borough Tax Assessor's office.
4. The location and times at which any maps and documents for which
approval is sought are available for public inspection as required
by N.J.S.A. 40:55D-10(b).
The Land Use Board may prepare form and require applicants to
utilize such form in accordance with the terms of this subsection.
|
j. List of Property Owners Furnished. Pursuant to the provisions of N.J.S.A. 40:55D-12c, the Tax Assessor shall, within seven days after receipt of request therefor and upon receipt of a payment of a fee of $10 make and certify a list from the current tax duplicate of names and addresses of owners to whom the applicant is required to give notice pursuant to Subsection
b above.
a. Written as Board Resolution. Each decision of the Land Use Board
on any application for development shall be set forth in writing as
a resolution of the Board which shall include findings of fact and
legal conclusions based thereon in accordance with the terms of this
chapter and appropriate statutory and case law.
b. Copies of Decisions.
1. A copy of a certified resolution which shall include the decision
of the Board shall be mailed by the Board within 10 days of the date
of the decision to the applicant or, if represented by an attorney,
then to his attorney without separate charge.
2. A copy of the decision shall be mailed to all persons who have requested
it and paid the fee prescribed by the Board for such service.
3. A copy of the decision shall also be filed in the office of the Borough
Clerk who shall make a copy of such filed decision available to any
interested party upon payment of the fee for the reproduction of the
copy as set forth in the general fee schedule of the Borough concerning
such service.
A brief notice of every final decision shall be published in
the official newspaper of the Borough. Such publication shall be arranged
by the Secretary of the Land Use Board without separate charge to
the applicant. Such notice shall be sent to the official newspaper
for publication within 10 days of the date of any such decision.
Pursuant to the provisions of N.J.S.A. 40:55D-39 and 40:55D-65,
every application for development submitted to the Land Use Board
shall be accompanied by a certification from the Tax Collector that
no taxes or assessments for local improvements are due or delinquent
on the property which is the subject to such application. If such
taxes are due, or in the alternative, if no certification is presented,
the Land Use Board shall not consider such application for processing
and the application shall not be deemed to be complete.
a. Legal Barrier. Pursuant to the provision of N.J.S.A. 40:55D-22, an
application for development proposing a development that is barred
or prevented, directly or indirectly, by a legal action instituted
by any State agency, political subdivision or other party to protect
the public health and welfare or by a directive or order issued by
any State agency, public subdivision or court of competent jurisdiction,
shall be processed in accordance with N.J.S.A. 40:55D-1 et seq. and
this chapter, and if such application for development complies with
the development regulations of this Borough, or the Land Use Board
shall approve such application conditioned on removal of such legal
barrier to development. In that event, the requirement that construction
actually commence on the project nine months subsequent to the final
approval by the Borough agency shall be tolled until the removal of
such legal barrier to development.
b. Approval by Other Governmental Agency. In the event the development
proposed by an application for development requires approval by a
governmental agency other than the Borough Land Use Board, the Board
shall, in appropriate instances, condition its approval upon the subsequent
approval of such governmental agency; provided that the Borough Board
shall make its decision on any application for development within
the time periods provided in this chapter, or within an extension
of such period as has been agreed upon by the applicant and the Borough
Board. However, the Borough Land Use Board shall have the right to
withhold signature on the final plat or map to be filed until such
time as all other governmental agencies have approved the application.
[Ord. No. 76-7 § 5; Ord. No. 77-10 § 1; New; amended 12-11-2019 by Ord. No.
2019-18]
An appeal may be taken to the Borough Council from any final
decision of the Land Use Board approving a variance pursuant to N.J.S.A.
40:55D-70(d), et seq., provided any such appeal shall be filed within
10 days of the date of publication of such final decision of the Board.
Such appeal shall be made in accordance with the provisions of N.J.S.A.
40:55D-17, et seq.
[Ord. No. 76-7 § 6A; Ord. No. 79-12 §§ 1, 2]
a. Whenever a term used in this chapter is defined in N.J.S.A. 40:55D-1,
et seq., such term is intended to have the meaning set forth in the
definition of such term in that statute, unless a contrary intention
is clearly and explicitly expressed from the context of this chapter.
b. For the purpose of this chapter:
ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICER
Shall mean the Secretary or Clerk of the appropriate approving
authority exercising jurisdiction under this chapter.
c. Subsection 27-4.14 of this Revision shall remain in full force and
effect and the Tax Assessor shall certify a list of names and addresses
of owners to whom the applicant is required to give notice, pursuant
to Subsection 27-4.14b of this chapter.
d. Certificates as to approval of subdivision of land shall continue to be issued by the Borough Clerk, as per Subsection
29-5.4 of this Revision.
[Ord. No. 76-7 § 6C]
The substantive provisions of the existing Land Subdivision
Chapter, the Zoning Chapter and Site Plan Chapter of the Borough shall
continue in full force and effect for a period of one year, unless
extended by further amendments to this chapter for a longer period
as permitted by law. The purpose of this interim provision is to provide
a reasonable period of time for the adoption of a new or substantially
revised Master Plan and a new or substantially revised series of development
regulations.
[Ord. No. 76-7 § 6E]
All applications for development filed prior to the effective
date of this chapter may be continued in accordance with pre-existing
ordinances, but any appeals arising out of decisions made on any such
application shall be governed by the provisions of this chapter.
[Ord. No. 76-7 § 6G]
This chapter shall take effect upon its adoption and publication,
as provided by law, but shall be effective no later than February
1, 1977.
[Ord. No. 76-7 § 6L;
amended 12-11-2019 by Ord. No. 2019-18]
Immediately upon the adoption of this chapter, the Borough Clerk
shall file a copy of same with the County Land Use Board, as required
by law. The Clerk shall also file with the County Planning Board copies
of all other ordinances of the Borough relating to land use, including
but not limited to the Subdivision Ordinance, Zoning Ordinance and
Site Plan Review Ordinance, and any revision or amendment thereto.
[Ord. No. 94-3; Ord. No. 99-4 § I]
a. An applicant making application to any Board or Agency within the
Borough of Surf City shall be responsible to reimburse the municipality
for the following:
1. All expenses of professional personnel incurred in connection with
an application, and paid by it, necessary to process an application
for development before a municipal board or agency, such as, but not
by way of limitation:
(a)
Charges for reviews by professional personnel of applications
and accompanying documents.
(b)
Issuance of reports by professional personnel to the municipal
agency setting forth recommendations resulting from the review of
any documents submitted by applicant.
(c)
Charges for any telephone conference or meeting requested or
initiated by applicant, his attorney or any of his experts.
(d)
Review of additional documents submitted by applicant and issuance
of reports relating thereto.
(e)
Review or preparation of easements, developer's agreements,
deeds, resolutions or the like.
(f)
Preparation for and attendance at special meetings.
(g)
Pre- and post-site inspections, review of location and related
expenditures.
2. The cost of expert advice or testimony obtained by the municipal
board or agency for the purpose of corroborating testimony of applicant's
experts; provided that the municipal agency gives prior notice to
applicant of its intention to obtain such additional expert advice
or testimony and affords applicant an opportunity to be heard as to
the necessity for such additional advice or testimony and definition
of the limitations on the nature and extent thereof.
b. Applicant shall be responsible to pay for attendance by the municipality's
professional personnel at any regularly scheduled, or special meeting
of the municipal board or agency in which said professional personnel
were called to attend that meeting specifically for that application.
The applicant shall also pay for attendance of the municipality's
professional personnel at special meetings of a municipal board or
agency which were requested to be called by the applicant for the
applicant's convenience.
c. The term "professional personnel" or "professional services" as used
herein shall include the services of a duly licensed engineer, surveyor,
planner, attorney, realtor, appraiser, or other expert who would provide
professional services to insure an application meets performance standards
set forth in this chapter and other experts whose testimony is in
an area in which the applicant has presented expert testimony.
d. The applicant, upon filing an application, shall pay an escrow fee
to the Borough in the amount of $1,500 by cash, bank money order or
certified check to cover the expenses as listed above. Should said
escrow fall below the amount of $200 an additional amount of not less
than $500 shall be required to replenish the escrow account. If the
amount of the deposit exceeds the actual cost as approved for payment
by the governing body, the developer shall be entitled to a return
of the excess deposit, together with such as allowed by N.J.S.A. 40:55D-53.1,
but if the charges submitted and approved by the governing body exceed
the amount of the deposit, the developer shall be liable for payment
of such deficiency. Said escrow fee(s) shall be made separately and
in addition to any application fee required.
e. No plat or site plan shall be signed, nor shall any zoning permits,
building permits, certificates of occupancy or any other types of
permits be issued with respect to any approved application for development
until all bills for services billable from escrow, have been received
by the municipality from professional personnel rendering services
in connection with such application and payment has been approved
by the governing body.
f. No professional personnel submitting charges to the municipality for any of the services referred to in Subsection
a1 of this subsection shall charge for any of the services contemplated by that subsection at any higher rate or in any different manner than would normally be charged the municipality for similar work as ascertained by the professional's contract of employment with the municipality or by provisions of the municipal salary resolution and/or ordinance. Payment of any bill rendered by a professional to the municipality with respect to any services for which the municipality is entitled to pay for the applicant's escrow account under this subsection shall in no way be contingent upon receipt of reimbursement by a developer, nor shall any payment to a professional be delayed pending reimbursement from a developer.
g. Deposits received from any developer pursuant to Subsection
d shall be deposited in a banking institution or savings and loan association in this State insured by an agency of the Federal government, or in any other fund or depository approved for such deposits by the State, in an escrow account bearing interest at the minimum rate currently paid by the institution or depository on time or savings deposits. The municipality shall notify the applicant in writing of the name and address of the institution or depository in which the deposit is made and the amount of the deposit. The municipality shall not be required to refund an amount of interest paid on a deposit which does not exceed $100 for the year. If the amount of interest exceeds $100 that entire amount shall belong to the applicant and shall be refunded to him by the municipality annually or at the time the deposit is repaid or applied to the purposes for which it was deposited, as the case may be; except that the municipality may retain for administrative expenses a sum equivalent to no more than 33 1/3% of that entire amount, which shall be in lieu of all other administrative and custodial expenses.