[Adopted 3-24-2021 by Ord. No. 5/21]
WHEREAS, the Mayor and Board of Commissioners desire to amend Chapter
364 of the Code of the Town of West New York entitled "Taxation" to require that the abatements and the exemptions under the Long Term Tax Exemption Law, N.J.S.A. 40A:20-1 et seq., and the Five-Year Exemption and Abatement Law, N.J.S.A. 40A:21-1 et seq., be approved by either a resolution or ordinance of the Board of Commissioners to the maximum extent permitted by law; and
WHEREAS, the Mayor and Board of Commissioners further desire that it be recognized that Article
I of Chapter
364 was repealed by the adoption of Article
II of Chapter
364:
To the extent that the Long Term Tax Exemption Law, N.J.S.A.
40A:20-1 et seq., provides that any approval required thereunder may
be granted by an official of the Town of West New York other than
the Board of Commissioners; such approval must hereby be granted by
the Board of Commissioners by way of either a resolution or an ordinance,
as may be appropriate.
[Adopted 12-15-2016 by Ord. No. 23/16]
WHEREAS, the State of New Jersey has adopted legislation creating
certain areas within certain cities as Urban Enterprise Zones; and
WHEREAS, under said legislation, the Urban Enterprise Zone Authority
was created for the purpose of examining particular areas in municipalities
and designating these municipalities as Urban Enterprise Zones; and
WHEREAS, the Town of West New York, by resolution, did seek
to have certain areas designated as Urban Enterprise Zones and did
seek to have a zone plan approved by the Authority; and
WHEREAS, representatives of the Urban Enterprise Zone Authority
did designate the areas set forth in the aforementioned resolution
as Urban Enterprise Zones and did approve the application of the Town
of West New York; and
WHEREAS, by ordinance, the governing body of the Town of West
New York accepted the designation of certain areas contained in its
resolution or plan as an Urban Enterprise Zone; and
WHEREAS, based on such designation, the Board of Commissioners
may adopt, pursuant to N.J.S.A. 40A:12A-5(g) and N.J.S.A. 40A:21-1
et seq., the Five-Year Exemption and Abatement Law, an ordinance to
utilize the authority granted under Article VIII, Section I, Paragraph
6, of the New Jersey Constitution and adopt an ordinance setting forth
the eligibility or noneligibility of dwellings, multiple dwellings,
or commercial and industrial structures, or all of these, for exemptions
or abatements, or both, under the Five-Year Exemption and Abatement
Law; and
WHEREAS, such an Ordinance was adopted by the Board of Commissioners
in 2007; and
WHEREAS, the Town wishes to expand and renew said ordinance
having recognized the benefits flowing therefrom; and
WHEREAS, the Town desires to provide for the approval of certain
tax exemptions and abatements by ordinance of the governing body,
if necessary, determining that such authority is necessary for the
efficient operation of the Town:
The Town of West New York hereby authorizes the utilization
of tax exemption in accordance with Article VIII, Section I, Paragraph
6, of the New Jersey Constitution and establishes the eligibility
of residential dwellings, multiple dwellings, and commercial and industrial
structures for five-year tax exemptions and abatements to the maximum
degree permitted by N.J.S.A. 40A:21-1 et seq. throughout the Town,
as further described herein, in all areas within the Town that may
be located within an area designated as an Urban Enterprise Zone,
in an area determined to be in need of rehabilitation, in an area
determined to be in need of redevelopment, and/or in any other area
that may by statute be eligible for an abatement or exemption under
N.J.S.A. 40A:21-1 et seq. on the date of passage of this article or
that thereafter may be so located.
As used in this article, the following terms shall have the
meanings indicated:
ABATEMENT
That portion of the assessed value of a property, as it existed
prior to construction, improvement or conversion of a building or
structure thereon, which is exempted from taxation pursuant to this
article.
ADMINISTRATOR
The Municipal Administrator of the Town of West New York.
AREA IN NEED OF REHABILITATION
A portion or all of a municipality which has been determined
to be an area in need of rehabilitation or redevelopment pursuant
to the Local Redevelopment and Housing Law, P.L. 1992, c. 79 (N.J.S.A.
40A:12A-1 et seq.); a "blighted area" as determined pursuant to the
Blighted Areas Act, P.L. 1949, c. 187 (N.J.S.A. 40:55-21.1 et seq.); or which has been determined to be in need of rehabilitation
pursuant to P.L. 1975, c. 104 (N.J.S.A. 54:4-3.72 et seq.); P.L. 1977, c. 12 (N.J.S.A. 54:4-3.95 et seq.); or P.L. 1979, c. 233 (N.J.S.A. 54:4-3.121 et seq.).4
ASSESSOR
The officer of a taxing district charged with the duty of
assessing real property for the purpose of general taxation.
COMMERCIAL OR INDUSTRIAL STRUCTURE
A structure or part thereof used for the manufacturing, processing
or assembling of material or manufactured products, or for research,
office, industrial, commercial, retail, recreational, hotel or motel
facilities, or warehousing purposes, or for any combination thereof,
which the governing body determines will tend to maintain or provide
gainful employment within the municipality, assist in the economic
development of the municipality, maintain or increase the tax base
of the municipality and maintain or diversify and expand commerce
within the municipality. It shall not include any structure or part
thereof used or to be used by any business relocated from another
qualifying municipality unless the total square footage of the floor
area of the structure or part thereof used or to be used by the business
at the new site, together with the total square footage of the land
used or to be used by the business at the new site, exceeds the total
square footage of that utilized by the business at its current site
of operations by at least 10% and the property that the business is
relocating to has been the subject of a remedial action plan costing
in excess of $250,000 performed pursuant to an administrative consent
order entered into pursuant to authority vested in the Commissioner
of Environmental Protection under P.L. 1970. c. 33 (N.J.S.A. 13:1D-1
et seq.); the Water Pollution Control Act, P.L. 1977, c. 74 (N.J.S.A.
58:10A-1 et seq.); the Solid Waste Management Act, P.L. 1970, c. 39
(N.J.S.A. 13:1E-1 et seq.); and the Spill Compensation and Control
Act, P.L. 1976, c. 141 (N.J.S.A. 58:10-23.11 et seq.).
COMPLETION
Substantially ready for the intended use for which a building
or structure is constructed, improved or converted.
CONDOMINIUM
A property created or recorded as a condominium pursuant
to the Condominium Act, P.L. 1969, c. 257 (N.J.S.A. 46:8B-1 et seq.).
CONSTRUCTION
The provision of a new dwelling, multiple dwelling or commercial
or industrial structure, or the enlargement of the volume of an existing
multiple dwelling or commercial or industrial structure by more than
30%, but shall not mean the conversion of an existing building or
structure to another use.
CONVERSION or CONVERSION ALTERATION
The alteration or renovation of a nonresidential building
or structure, or hotel, motel, motor hotel or guesthouse, in such
manner as to convert the building or structure from its previous use
to use as a dwelling or multiple dwelling.
COOPERATIVE
A housing corporation or association, wherein the holder
of a share or membership interest thereof is entitled to possess and
occupy for dwelling purposes a house, apartment, or other unit of
housing owned by the corporation or association, or to purchase a
unit of housing owned by the corporation or association.
COST
When used with respect to abatements for dwellings or multiple
dwellings, only the cost or fair market value of direct labor and
materials used in improving a multiple dwelling, or of converting
another building or structure to a multiple dwelling, or of constructing
a dwelling, or of converting another building or structure to a dwelling,
including any architectural, engineering, and contractor's fees associated
therewith, as the owner of the property shall cause to be certified
to the governing body by an independent and qualified architect following
the completion of the project.
DWELLING
A building or part of a building used, to be used or held
for use as a home or residence, including accessory buildings located
on the same premises, together with the land upon which such building
or buildings are erected and which may be necessary for the fair enjoyment
thereof, but shall not mean any building or part of a building defined
as a "multiple dwelling" pursuant to the Hotel and Multiple Dwelling
Law, P.L. 1967, c. 76 (N.J.S.A. 55:13A-1 et seq.). A dwelling shall
include, as they are separately conveyed to individual owners, individual
residences within a cooperative, if purchased separately by the occupants
thereof, and individual residences within a horizontal property regime
or a condominium, but shall not include general common elements or
common elements of such horizontal property regime or condominium,
as defined pursuant to the Horizontal Property Act, P.L. 1963, c.
168 (N.J.S.A. 46:8A-1 et seq.), or the Condominium Act, P.L. 1969,
c. 257 (N.J.S.A. 46:8B-1 et seq.), or of a cooperative, if the residential
units are owned separately.
EXEMPTION
That portion of the Assessor's full and true value of any
improvement, conversion, alteration, or construction not regarded
as increasing the taxable value of a property pursuant to this article.
HORIZONTAL PROPERTY REGIME
A property submitted to a horizontal property regime pursuant
to the Horizontal Property Act, P.L. 1963, c. 168 (N.J.S.A. 46:8A-1
et seq.).
IMPROVEMENT
A modernization, rehabilitation, renovation, alteration or
repair which produces a physical change in an existing building or
structure that improves the safety, sanitation, decency or attractiveness
of the building or structure as a place for human habitation or work
and which does not change its permitted use. In the case of a multiple
dwelling, it includes only improvements which affect common areas
or elements, or three or more dwelling units within the multiple dwelling.
In the case of a multiple dwelling or commercial or industrial structure,
it shall not include ordinary painting, repairs and replacement of
maintenance items or an enlargement of the volume of an existing structure
by more than 30%. In no case shall it include the repair of fire or
other damage to a property for which payment of a claim was received
by any person from an insurance company at any time during the three-year
period immediately preceding the filing of an application pursuant
to this article.
MULTIPLE DWELLING
A building or structure meeting the definition of "multiple
dwelling" set forth in the Hotel and Multiple Dwelling Law, P.L. 1967,
c. 76 (N.J.S.A. 55:13A-1 et seq.), and means, for the purpose of improvement
or construction, the general common elements and common elements of
a condominium, a cooperative, or a horizontal property regime.
[Amended 3-24-2021 by Ord. No. 5/21]
Improvements to a residential property resulting from a renovation
housing project, as defined under Subsection c of N.J.S.A. 40A:12A-14,
as amended, are eligible for an abatement or exemption from taxation.
In determining the value of real property, the municipality shall
regard up to and including the Assessor's full and true value
of the improvements as not increasing the taxable value of the property
for a period of five years, notwithstanding that the market value
of the property to which the improvements are made is increased thereby.
During the exemption period, the assessment on the property shall
not be less than the assessment thereon immediately prior to the improvement
affecting the value of the property, unless there is damage to the
structure through action of the elements sufficient to warrant a reduction.
No exemption or abatement may be granted under this section by resolution
of the Board of Commissioners if the improvement giving rise thereto
directly affects more than three residential units.
[Amended 3-24-2021 by Ord. No. 5/21]
Improvements to a residential property that is a single-family
dwelling, resulting from a renovation housing project, as defined
under Subsection d of N.J.S.A. 40A:12A-14, as amended, are eligible
for an abatement or exemption from taxation, upon approval by resolution
of the Board of Commissioners upon a recommendation of the Administrator
and the Tax Assessor. In determining the value of real property, the
municipality shall regard up to and including the Assessor's
full and true value of the improvements as not increasing the taxable
value of the property for a period of five years, notwithstanding
that the value of the property to which the improvements are made
is increased thereby. During the exemption period, the assessment
on the property shall not be less than the assessment thereon immediately
prior to the improvements.
New constructions of commercial and industrial structures and multiple dwellings are eligible for tax exemption for a period of five years. This exemption may only be approved upon the filing of a formal application pursuant to §
364-15, by ordinance of the Board of Commissioners and memorialized through the execution of a tax agreement setting forth the conditions of the abatement and/or exemption in accordance with the requirements of N.J.S.A. 40A:21-1 et seq.
The Municipal Clerk shall forward a copy of all tax exemption
agreements to the Director of the Division of Local Government Services
in the Department of Community Affairs within 30 days of the date
of execution.
The Town shall include the appropriate notice of this article
in the mailing of annual property tax bills to each owner of a dwelling
located in an area in which exemptions, or exemptions and abatements,
may be allowed pursuant to this article during the first year following
adoption of this article.
This article is hereby readopted in accordance with N.J.S.A.
40A:21-4. No application for tax exemption or abatement shall be filed
for an exemption or abatement to take initial effect for the tax year
commencing 2028 or any tax year thereafter, unless this article is
readopted by the Board of Commissioners in accordance with N.J.S.A.
40A:21-4.