[Added 12-13-2021 by Ord.
No. 2021-35; amended 6-28-2022 by Ord. No. 2022-13]
(a)
In accordance with N.J.S.A. 40A:26A-11 et seq., as may be amended,
the owner of real property within Princeton shall be obligated to
pay a sewer connection fee whenever a new physical connection is made
to the sanitary sewer system.
(b)
For property with an existing connection to the sanitary sewer system:
(1)
If connected to the sanitary sewer system for less than 20 years,
any addition, alteration, or change in use that materially increases
the level of use and imposes a greater demand on the system shall
be subject to payment of a connection fee, even if the addition, alteration,
or change in use does not involve a new physical connection of the
property to the system.
(2)
A connection fee shall be owed for any new or additional connection
of a property to the sanitary sewer system, for any increase in the
size of an existing connection, or for any new construction of additional
service units connected to the system that materially increases the
level of use or demand on the system.
(3)
The connection fee shall be based upon the amount by which the
increased use and demand on the sanitary system exceeds the use and
demand that existed prior to such addition, alternation, or change
in use.
(4)
As used in this section, "materially increases" means any increase
in the number of service units; or any other change which increases
the level of use or demand on the sanitary sewer system by 15% or
more over the highest actual annual use and demand that existed during
the prior 10-year period immediately preceding the addition, alteration,
or change in use; provided, however, that, if the property has been
connected to the sanitary sewer system for less than 10 years, the
average level of use and demand shall be calculated based on the actual
period of connection.
(c)
The calculation of anticipated volume of wastewater shall be made
by the sewer engineer in accordance with the provisions and standards
established by and set forth in N.J.A.C. 7:14A-23.3, as may be supplemented
and amended from time to time, based on the establishment type and
number of measurement units thereof. The sewer engineer's calculation
shall be final.
[Added 12-13-2021 by Ord.
No. 2021-35; amended 6-28-2022 by Ord. No. 2022-13]
In accordance with N.J.S.A. 40A:26A-11 et seq., the sewer connection
fee charged to an owner (in dollars) shall be the cost incurred by
Princeton for the physical connection, including administrative and
inspection costs, plus an amount representing a fair payment towards
the cost of the sanitary sewer system, calculated as follows:
(a)
The sewer connection fee shall be $12,110.87 per each residential
(3+ bedroom) dwelling unit.
(b)
For uses other than residential (3+ bedroom) dwelling unit(s), the
connection fee shall be calculated by multiplying the anticipated
daily volume of wastewater for the use, in gallons per day, by the
sewer connection fee rate of $40.37 per gallon per day, with said
rate calculated and established by dividing the sewer connection fee
for each residential (3+ bedroom) unit (subparagraph (a) of this section)
by the NJDEP projected flow of 300 gallons per day as set forth at
N.J.A.C. 7:14A-23.3.
(c)
The sewer connection fee shall be recomputed at the end of each fiscal
year by the municipal chief financial officer, in consultation with
the sewer engineer and municipal engineer, as necessary. Any changes
in the connection fee and connection fee rate shall be adopted by
the Council via ordinance following a public hearing thereon.
[Added 6-28-2022 by Ord.
No. 2022-13]
For affordable housing units created by public housing authorities,
non-profit organizations building affordable housing projects, and
any other affordable housing units, including affordable housing units
in inclusionary projects in accordance with N.J.S.A. 40A:26A-11.3:
(a)
The sewer connection fee shall be reduced by 50% for new connections
to the sanitary sewer system.
(b)
For units previously connected to the sanitary sewer system
that were demolished or refurbished to allow for new affordable housing
units and for which a connection fee was previously paid, a credit
against the connection fee shall be provided in an amount equal to
the connection fee previously assessed and paid for the units previously
connected to the system.
(c)
The connection fee for units previously connected to the sanitary
sewer system that were demolished or refurbished to allow for new
affordable housing units shall be the lesser of:
(1)
The reduced rate provided for in subsection (a) of this section,
or
(2)
The assessment under subsection (b) of this section for units
for which a connection fee was previously paid, provided that the
public housing authority, non-profit organization, or other affordable
housing owner can establish the connection fee was previously assessed
and paid for connection with the system. If such previous assessment
and payment cannot be established, the reduced rate provided for in
subsection (a) of this section shall be assessed.
[Added 6-28-2022 by Ord.
No. 2022-13]
(a)
In accordance with N.J.S.A. 40A:26A-11.2, a credit shall be
provided toward the connection fee to be charged for a reconnection
of a disconnected property that was previously connected to the sanitary
sewer system, provided that:
(b)
The credit required under subsection (a) of this section shall be calculated as follows:
(1)
If the reconnection does not require any new physical connection
or does not increase the nature or size of the service or the number
of service units, or does not expand the use of the sanitary sewer
system, the credit shall be equal to the new connection fee.
(2)
If the reconnection requires a new physical connection, increases
the nature or size of the service or the number of service units,
or expands the use of the sanitary sewer system, the credit shall
be equal in amount to any connection fee previously paid for the property,
and the amount charged shall be the difference between the credit
and the connection fee for the new use or class.
(3)
If no connection fee was ever paid for the property, but all
service charges due and owing on the property have been paid for at
least 20 years, the credit shall be equal in amount to the new connection
fee, provided, however, that any charge due and owing pursuant to
paragraph (2) of this subsection shall be paid.
(c)
If no connection fee was ever paid for a disconnected property
that is to be reconnected and which was previously connected to the
sanitary sewer system for at least 20 years, in addition to any amount
due and owing after application of a credit pursuant to this section,
a connection fee shall be charged that is equal to the lesser of:
(1)
Twenty (20%) percent of the service charges that would have
been paid based upon the usage for the last full year that the property
was connected to the sanitary sewer system for the period from the
date of the disconnection from the system to the date of the new connection;
or
(2)
The new connection fee.
(d)
A credit shall not be allowed under this section for a property
that has been disconnected from the sanitary sewer system for more
than five years.
(e)
As used in this section, "disconnected property" means a property
that has been physically disconnected from the sanitary sewer system
or a property not physically disconnected but to which service has
been discontinued without payments being made. A "disconnected property"
shall not include a property that has been temporarily disconnected
from the system or to which service has been discontinued without
payments being made for less than 12 consecutive months and is being
reconnected as it existed, prior to the temporary disconnection or
discontinuance of service.
[Added 6-28-2022 by Ord.
No. 2022-13]
For Laundromats, as listed and included within N.J.A.C. 7:14A-23.3,
the sewer connection fee shall be reduced by 50%.
