[Amended 3-1-1993 by Ord. No. 93-3]
[Amended 11-1-1993 by Ord. No. 93-23; 12-16-1996 by Ord. No. 96-18; 6-7-2004 by Ord. No. 2004-7; 12-21-2009 by Ord. No. 2009-18; 2-22-2011 by Ord. No. 2011-1; 9-3-2013 by Ord. No. 2013-12; 7-20-2015 by Ord. No. 2015-09; 6-18-2018 by Ord. No. 2018-13; 7-16-2018 by Ord. No. 2018-15; 2-25-2019 by Ord. No. 2019-04; 2-18-2020 by Ord. No. 2020-05; 9-9-2024 by Ord. No. 2024-20]
Every application for development and informal request for reviews by the Borough Engineer, Board Planner, and Board Attorney as to zone change or other questions regarding the implementation, enforcement or application of this chapter shall not be acted upon unless and until:
A. 
Accompanied by cash, check or money order made payable to the Borough of Metuchen for the application and escrow fees prescribed below; and
B. 
The party seeking the application for development or informal request executes an agreement to pay for services to be rendered by the Board professionals or the Borough Attorney.
Fee Schedule
Application for Development
Application Fee
Escrow Fee
Subdivisions
Minor subdivision
$200
$2,000
Preliminary major subdivision
$300
$3,000
Final major subdivision
$200
$2,000
Informal presentation (1 appearance only)
Concept plat for review
$50
$500
Minor subdivision
$50
$500
Major subdivision
$100
$1,000
Upon approval of minor or major final subdivision for amendment of Borough Tax Map
$500 per new lot created
Site plans
Minor site plan
$50
$500
Preliminary major site plan
$300
$3,000
Final major site plan
$200
$2,000
PURD and PUCD
$750
$1,500 per acre or part thereof plus $50 per dwelling unit
Informal presentation (1 appearance only)
Concept plat for review
$50
$500
Minor site plan
$25
$250
Major site plan
$50
$500
Technical assistance, design review and completeness review at Development Review Committee
Single- and two-family dwellings
$25
$250
All other uses
$50
$500
Variances
Appeals (N.J.S.A. 40:55D-70a)
$75
$750
Interpretation (N.J.S.A. 40:55D-70b)
$75
$750
Bulk (N.J.S.A. 40:55D-70c)
First variance for principal structures
$75
$750
First variance for accessory structures
$50
$500
Each additional variance
$25
$250
Use (N.J.S.A. 40:55D-70d)
d(1) or d(2) variances
$200
$2,000
d(3) variance
$150
$1,500
d(4), d(5) or d(6) variances
$100
$1,000
Permits (N.J.S.A. 40:55D-34 and N.J.S.A. 40:55D-35)
$75
$750
Miscellaneous requests for reviews, meetings or consultations involving planning, engineer or other professional review, including request for zoning changes
Hourly rates as set forth on an annual basis by the approving authority's retained professional, which are available in the Borough Clerk's office
As required by applicable Board and/or professional
Certified list of property owners
$0.25 per name or $10, whichever is greater
None
Copy of minutes/transcripts of decisions
$1 per page for first copy, plus $0.25 per page for each additional copy or as required by transcription service
As required by transcription service
Legal reviews
Guaranty review
Review of performance guaranty by Borough Attorney
$150 per review
None
Review of maintenance guaranty by Borough Attorney
$150 per review
None
Preparation of developer's agreement by Borough Attorney
$400 minimum per agreement, plus $125 per hour after first 3 hours
As required by Borough Attorney
Miscellaneous reviews: master deed, certificate of incorporation, bylaws, unit deeds, etc.
$150 per review
None
Appeal of any determination by Borough official to the applicable Board
$50 per appeal, plus hourly rates as set forth on an annual basis by the approving authority's retained professional, which are available in the Borough Clerk's office
As required by applicable Board and/or professional
Special meeting
$750 per meeting, plus hourly rates as set forth on an annual basis by the approving authority's retained professional, which are available in the Borough Clerk's office
As required by applicable Board and/or professional
Continuation of hearing
$250 per appeal, plus hourly rates as set forth on an annual basis by the approving authority's retained professional, which are available in the Borough Clerk's office
As required by applicable Board and/or professional
Fee Schedule
Zoning Permit Applications
Application Fee
Escrow Fee
Grading and drainage
Plan review
$50
$500*
Inspection
$250*
Principal structures
New principal structures
$250
Additions and alterations
Greater than 1,000 square feet
$100
Greater than 500, up to 1,000 square feet
$75
500 square feet or less
$50
Porches, stoops, decks, landings, and steps
$25
Accessory structures
Retaining walls 4 feet or greater in height and in-ground swimming pools
Plan review
$50
$250*
Inspection
$250*
Detached garages, and any other structure deemed to be accessory structures greater than 100 square feet
$50
Retaining walls less than 4 feet in height, parking lots, driveways, sport courts, fences, walls, sheds, patios, private walkways, aboveground swimming pools, rooftop solar panels, A/C condenser units, generators, tanks, and any other structure deemed to be accessory structures 100 square feet or less
$25
Construction trailers, construction fences, and any other structure deemed to be temporary structures
$25
Home occupation
$25
Change of occupancy or use
Greater than 2,500 square feet
$100
Greater than 500, up to 2,500 square feet
$75
500 square feet or less
$25
Pop-up business
$25
Alterations to facade
$50
Signs (each sign)
$25
Outdoor displays of retail merchandise and sidewalk cafes
$25
Exemption from site plan review
$400
Exemption from site plan review for signs
$100
Other zoning permits
$25
NOTES:
* Escrow accounts for grading and drainage (including when associated with new single- and two-family dwellings), retaining walls four feet or greater in height and in-ground swimming pools are for engineering plan review and inspections only
[Amended 9-3-2013 by Ord. No. 2013-12]
The application charge/fee is a flat fee to cover administrative expenses and is nonrefundable. The escrow account is established to cover the costs of professional services, including engineering, planning, legal, environmental, traffic and other expenses connected with the review of the submitted materials, including any necessary studies regarding off-tract improvements and preparation of any resolutions, agreements, reports or other documents. Sums not utilized in the review process shall be returned to the requester/applicant. If additional sums are deemed necessary, the requester/applicant shall be notified of the required additional amount and shall add such sum to the escrow within 15 days. Should the requester/applicant not add such sum to the escrow within said 15 days, the requester/applicant shall indicate, in writing, prior to any further consideration of the request/application by the approving authority and/or professional, why such sum is not being paid. In the event that such additional amount is not added to the escrow by the requester/applicant, the approving authority and/or professional shall be under no obligation to proceed in reviewing the matter.
In the event that the requester/applicant objects to any professional request for any funds, the requester/applicant may appeal to the reviewing board for a determination on the correctness of such request by the professional.
Payment of any bill rendered by a professional to the municipality with respect to any service for which the municipality is entitled to reimbursement under this chapter shall in no way be contingent upon receipt of reimbursement by the requester/applicant, nor shall any payment to a professional be delayed pending reimbursement from a requester/applicant.
Money in excess of $5,000 deposited by a requester/applicant for professional services employed by the municipality to review requests/applications for development shall be collected, held and distributed in accordance with N.J.S.A. 40:55D-53.1 and any amendments thereto.
The application charge/fees are exclusive of any other charges which may be required by the Borough to cover the cost of the inspection of buildings or improvements in conjunction with the issuance of construction permits or certificates of occupancy.
Where an application for development includes several approval requests, the sum of the individual required fees shall be paid, except that when one application includes both a site plan and a minor subdivision, the minor subdivision fee is not required to be paid, and when one application includes both preliminary and final site plan approval, the final site plan fee is not required to be paid.
If a requester/applicant desires a certified court reporter, the cost of taking testimony and transcribing it and providing a copy of the transcript to the Borough shall be at the expense of the requester/applicant, who shall also arrange for the reporter's attendance.
A. 
Exemptions from application fees for the Zoning Board of Adjustment, Planning Board or application fees and inspection fees for construction, rehabilitation and repair of structures and buildings are granted to charitable, philanthropic and eleemosynary organizations in an amount not to exceed $1,000 per project, provided that said organization satisfies the following conditions:
(1) 
It is a nonprofit corporation, or, if a foreign corporation, it is registered as a nonprofit corporation in its domiciliary state or country.
(2) 
It is qualified as a tax-exempt organization and it is registered with the Internal Revenue Service of the Department of the Treasury as a Section 501(c)(3) organization, and:
(a) 
It receives federal or State of New Jersey funding; or
(b) 
It provides services to the citizens of Metuchen which the government does not currently provide.
B. 
Exemptions may be granted to reduce the inspection fees to an amount reasonably estimated by the Construction Code Official to cover the actual and minimum cost to the Borough of the inspections required.
[Added 2-18-1997 by Ord. No. 97-3]