In furtherance of the intent of this article,
all terms used herein shall have the definition and meaning as set
forth in the COAH Regulations and all provisions herein shall be interpreted
in a manner consistent with the COAH Regulations, including future
amendments thereto.
[Added 12-9-2004 by Ord. No. 2004-24]
A. Purpose. 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. 52:270-301 et seq. and the State Constitution,
subject to the imposition of rules by COAH. The purpose of this section
is to establish standards for the collection, maintenance and expenditure
of development fees pursuant to COAH's adopted 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.
B. Nonresidential development fees. Within a nonresidential
development zone, developers shall pay a fee of 2% of the equalized
assessed value of any eligible nonresidential activity.
[Amended 7-14-2005 by Ord. No. 2005-06]
C. Eligible exaction, ineligible exaction and exemptions.
(1) Developers of low- and moderate-income units shall
be exempt from paying development fees.
(2) Developers of new nonresidential structures, except
as excluded herein, shall pay a development fee in the manner prescribed
herein.
(3) Developers that expand an existing nonresidential
structure shall pay a development fee. The development fee shall be
calculated based on the increase in the equalized assessed value of
the improved structure.
(4) Developers that have received preliminary or final
approval prior to the effective date of this section shall be exempt
from paying a development fee unless the developer seeks a substantial
change in the approval. Examples of a substantial change include a
substantial alteration in site layout or development intensity.
(5) Developers of any church, library, school, college,
governmental facility, hospital for humans or nursing home shall be
exempt from paying a development fee.
D. Collection of fees.
(1) Developers shall pay 50% of the calculated development
fee to the Township of South Hackensack at the issuance of building
permits. The development fee shall be estimated by the Tax Assessor
prior to the issuance of building permits.
(2) Developers shall pay the remaining fee to the Township
of South Hackensack at the issuance of certificates of occupancy.
At the issuance of certificates of occupancy, the Tax Assessor shall
calculate the equalized assessed value and the appropriate development
fee. The developer shall be responsible for paying the difference
between the fee calculated at the certificate of occupancy and the
amount paid at building permit.
E. Housing trust fund.
(1) There is hereby created an interest-bearing housing
trust fund with Interchange State Bank for the purposes of receiving
development fees from residential and nonresidential developers, which
fund shall be maintained by the Chief Financial Officer who shall
be responsible for the administration of the housing trust fund and
the authorization for any expenditures. All development fees paid
by developers pursuant to this section shall be deposited in this
fund. No money shall be expended from the housing trust fund unless
the expenditure conforms to a spending plan approved by the Superior
Court of COAH.
[Amended 7-13-2006 by Ord. No. 2006-14]
(2) If the Superior Court or COAH determines that the
Township of South Hackensack is not in conformance with COAH's rules
on development fees, the Superior Court or COAH is authorized to direct
the manner in which all development fees collected pursuant to this
section shall be expended. Such authorization is pursuant to this
section; COAH's rules on development fees and the written authorization
from the governing body to the financial institution that is the depository
for the Township housing trust fund. The Township shall execute an
escrow agreement with COAH and the financial institution where the
housing trust fund is maintained to enable COAH to monitor disbursement
of collected development fees and direct the expenditure of development
fees, after proper notice, hearing and Court or COAH approval, if
the imposition, collection and/or expenditure of fees does not conform
with the Development Fee Ordinance, COAH rules or the Court or COAH
approved spending plan.
F. Use of funds.
(1) Money deposited in a housing trust fund may be used
for any activity approved by COAH for addressing the Township of South
Hackensack's low- and moderate-income housing obligation. Such activities
may include, but are not necessarily limited to, housing rehabilitation,
new construction, regional contribution agreements, the purchase of
land for low- and moderate-income housing sites, assistance designed
to render units to be more affordable to low- and moderate-income
people, and administrative costs necessary to implement the Township
of South Hackensack's housing element. The expenditure of all money
shall conform to a spending plan approved by COAH.
(2) At least 30% of the revenues collected shall be devoted
to render units more affordable. Examples of such activities include,
but are not limited to, down payment assistance, low-interest loans
and rental assistance.
(3) No more than 20% of the revenues collected from development
fees 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 rehabilitation program, a new
construction program, a regional contribution agreement, a housing
element and an affirmative marketing program. Administrative funds
may be used for income qualification of households, monitoring the
turnover of sale and rental units and compliance with COAH monitoring
requirements. Development fees shall not be used to defray the costs
of existing staff.
G. Monitoring. The Township shall complete and return
to COAH all monitoring forms related to the collection of development
fees, expenditures of revenues and implementation of the spending
plan certified by COAH. Quarterly financial reports and annual program
implementation and auditing reports shall be completed by the Township
on forms designed by COAH.
H. Penalties.
(1) In the event that any of the conditions set forth in Subsection
H(2) below occur, COAH shall be authorized, on behalf of the Township, to direct the manner in which all development fees collected pursuant to this section shall be expended. Should any such condition occur, such revenues shall immediately become available for expenditure at the direction of COAH upon the Township Clerk's receipt of written notification from COAH that such a condition has occurred. In furtherance of the foregoing, the Township shall, in establishing a bank account pursuant to Subsection
F of this section, ensure that the Township has provided whatever express written authorization which may be required by the bank to permit COAH to direct disbursement of such revenues from the account following the delivery to the bank of the aforementioned written notification provided by COAH to the Township Clerk.
(2) Occurrence of the following may result in COAH taking an action pursuant to Subsection
H(1) above: failure to submit a spending plan within the time limits imposed by COAH; failure to meet deadlines for information required by COAH in its review of this section, the Township's housing element or spending plan; failure to address COAH's conditions for approval of a plan to spend development fees within the deadlines imposed by COAH; failure to address COAH's condition for substantive certification within the deadlines imposed by COAH; failure to submit accurate monitoring reports within the time limits imposed by COAH; failure to implement the spending plan for development fees within the time limits imposed by COAH, or within reasonable extensions granted by COAH; expenditure of development fees an activities not permitted by COAH; revocation of the Township's judgment of repose or substantive certification; or other good cause demonstrating that the revenues are not being used for the intended purpose.