[Amended 3-19-1990; 6-7-1993]
A. Public improvements to be installed. The subdivider
shall install or guarantee the installation of all required public
improvements, including but not limited to grading, streets, off-street
parking, gutters, curbs and sidewalks, streetlighting, street signs,
landscaping and shade trees, recreational facilities, culverts, storm
sewers, drainage structures, utilities (electric, telephone, water
mains or other means of water supply, sanitary sewers or other means
of sewage disposal and all appurtenances to such facilities properly
connected with approved systems of water supply and sewerage, as the
case may be, and adequate to handle all present and probable future
development), fire hydrants and monuments.
B. Criteria in determining required public improvements.
To determine the required public improvements, the approving authority
will consider:
(1) The probable development at various parts of the Township
as referred in the Master Plan and the Zoning Ordinance.
(2) The necessity of safe, convenient and pleasant means
for the movement of traffic.
(3) The protection of the public health, safety, comfort,
convenience and general welfare and the preservation of the ecology
and natural environment if necessary public services allow the preservation
of such environment.
(4) The definition of public improvements, as "public
improvements" shall include streets, grading, pavement, gutters, curbs,
sidewalks, streetlighting, shade trees, surveyors' monuments, water
mains, culverts, storm sewers, sanitary sewers or other means of sewage
disposal, drainage structures, erosion-control and sedimentation-control
devices, public improvements of open space and all nonpublic improvements
whose operation may substantially affect or decrease the life of any
and all public improvements.
C. Public improvements required prior to issuance of
a certificate of occupancy. No certificate of occupancy shall be issued
for any use or building involving the installation of utilities or
street improvements, parking areas, buffer areas, storm drainage facilities,
the alteration of the existing grade on a lot or the utilization of
a new on-site well or sanitary disposal system unless the Township
Engineer or other appropriate authority shall have, where applicable,
certified to the following:
(1) Utilities and drainage. All utilities, including but
not limited to water, gas, storm drains, sanitary sewers, electric
lines and telephone lines, shall have been properly installed, and
service to the lot, building or use from such utilities shall be available.
(2) Grading of street rights-of-way. All street rights-of-way
necessary to provide access to the lot in question shall have been
completely graded, and all slope-retaining devices or slope planting
shall have been installed.
(3) Sidewalks. All sidewalks necessary to provide access
to the lot in question shall have been properly installed.
(4) Curbing, parking areas and streets. Curbing, parking
areas and the bituminous base course of bituminous concrete streets
or the curbing and pavement course for portland cement concrete streets
necessary to provide access to the proposed lot, building or use shall
have been properly installed.
(5) Roadway obstructions. All exposed obstructions in
bituminous concrete streets, such as manhole frames, water boxes and
the like, shall be set to the existing grade and raised to final grade
upon installation of any final wearing surface.
(6) Buffer areas and grading of lots. The lot in question
shall have been fully graded and all lot grading on adjacent areas
affecting drainage on or across the lot in question shall be complete
and all topsoiling and planting and required buffer areas or fences
shall have been provided or bonded in accordance with the requirements
of an approved site plan or final plat, if any, or as required by
the Township Engineer, to permit proper surface drainage and prevent
erosion of the soils. Conformance with the approved soil disturbance
plan shall be certified to by the subdivider's engineer.
(7) On-site wells. All on-site wells shall have been installed,
tested and approved by the Township Board of Health.
(8) On-site sanitary disposal systems. All on-site sanitary
disposal systems shall have been installed and approved by the Township
Board of Health.
(9) Public water supply. Where the proposed lot, building
or use is served by a public water supply, said supply shall have
been installed and tested and all required fire hydrants or fire connections
shall have been installed and tested and approved by the Chief of
the Bureau of Fire Prevention and/or the Fire Prevention Subcode Official.
(10)
Street signs and traffic control devices. All
street signs and/or traffic control devices affecting the proposed
lot, building or use and required under the terms of approval of a
final plat or by federal, state, county or municipal rules, regulations
or laws shall have been installed.
(11)
Other. Any other conditions established for
issuance of a certificate of occupancy by the Planning Board as a
condition of final approval shall be complied with.
D. Responsibility for public improvements. Installation
of all public improvements throughout a subdivision shall be under
the inspection of the Township Engineer, shall be at the sole expense
of the subdivider and shall be in accordance with the approved final
plan as modified by other action of the Planning Board and the Township
Council herein provided and in accordance with law.
[Amended 3-19-1990]
Public improvements shall be designed and constructed
in accordance with the requirements herein. Should public improvements
be required which are not provided for within the particular sections
of this chapter, they shall be designed and constructed in accordance
with good engineering practice and recognized design standards. The
subdivider or his engineer shall submit detailed design calculations
and construction specifications in each such instance. Prior to the
approval of such specialized design, the particular standards to be
utilized shall be submitted for review by the Planning Board and the
Township Engineer.
[Amended 3-19-1990; 6-7-1993; 11-14-2005 by Ord.
No. 05-34; 9-4-2018 by Ord. No. 18-11]
A. Before recording final subdivision plats or recording of minor subdivision
deeds or as a condition of a final site plan approval or as a condition
to the issuance of a zoning permit pursuant to N.J.S.A. 40:55D-65,
the Planning Board or Zoning Board of Adjustment may require and shall
accept, in accordance with the standards adopted herein, for the purpose
of assuring the installation and maintenance of certain on-tract public
improvements:
(1)
Performance guaranty required.
(a)
The furnishing of a performance guaranty in favor of the Township
of North Brunswick in an amount equal to 120% of the cost of only
those improvements required by an approval or developer's agreement,
ordinance, or regulation to be dedicated to a public entity, and that
have not yet been installed, which cost shall be determined by the
developer and approved by the Municipal Engineer, according to the
method of calculation set forth in N.J.S.A. 40:55D-53.4, for the following
improvements as shown on the approved plans or plat: streets, pavement,
gutters, curbs, sidewalks, street lighting, street trees, surveyor's
monuments, as shown on the final map and required by the Map Filing
Law, P.L. 1960, c. 141, water mains, sanitary sewers, community septic systems,
drainage structures, public improvements of open space, and any grading
necessitated by the preceding improvements.
(b)
The performance guaranty may also be required to include, at
the discretion of the Township, Planning Board or Zoning Board of
Adjustment, a guaranty for the installation of privately owned perimeter
buffer landscaping. A separate performance guaranty, if required,
shall be posted for the privately owned perimeter buffer landscaping
or may be included in the performance guaranty for the bonded public
improvements. The developer shall prepare an itemized cost estimate
of the improvements covered by the performance guaranty for review
and approval by the Municipal Engineer, which improvements shall be
appended to each performance guaranty posted by the obligor. The developer
shall also submit digital vector data of all bonded as-built utilities
associated with the project, in New Jersey State Plane Coordinate
System NAD83 in or compatible with one of the following formats: AutoCAD
drawing (DWG), ESRI shapefile or Drawing Exchange (DXF) format.
(2)
The developer shall post with the Township, prior to the release
of the performance guaranty, a maintenance guaranty in an amount equal
to 15% of the cost of the installation of the improvements covered
under the performance guaranty, along with the following private site
improvements: stormwater management basins, inflow and water quality
structures within the basins, and the outflow pipes and structures
of the stormwater management system, if any, which itemized cost shall
be determined by the developer and approved by the Municipal Engineer
according to the method of calculation set forth in N.J.S.A. 40:55D-53.4.
The term of the maintenance guaranty shall be for a period not to
exceed two years and shall automatically expire at the end of the
established term.
(3)
The furnishing of a safety and stabilization guaranty in favor
of the Township of North Brunswick to ensure that the Township has
an adequate guaranty to return the property that has been disturbed
to a safe and stable condition or otherwise implement measures to
protect the public from access to an unsafe or unstable condition.
The Township shall be permitted to access the guaranty when site disturbance
has commenced and, thereafter, all work on the development has ceased
for a period of at least 60 consecutive days following such commencement
for reasons other than force majeure, and work has not recommenced
within 30 days following the provision of written notice by the Township
to the developer of the Township's intent to claim payment under the
guaranty. At the developer's option, the safety and stabilization
guaranty may be included as a line item for safety and stabilization
in the performance guaranty rather than in the form of a separate
guaranty. The amount of the safety and stabilization guaranty shall
be calculated pursuant to N.J.S.A. 40:55D-53.4 as follows:
(a)
$5,000 for the first $100,000 of bonded improvement costs; plus
(b)
2.5% of bonded improvement costs in excess of $100,000 up to
$1,000,000; plus
(c)
1% of bonded improvement costs in excess of $1,000,000.
B. The time allowed for installation of the bonded improvements for
which the performance guaranty has been provided may be extended by
the governing body by resolution. As a condition or part of any such
extension, the amount of any performance guaranty shall be increased
or reduced, as the case may be, to an amount not to exceed 120% of
the cost of the installation as determined by the developer and approved
by the Municipal Engineer according to the method of calculation set
forth in N.J.S.A. 40:55D-53.4 as of the time of the passage of the
resolution.
C. If the required bonded improvements are not completed or corrected
in accordance with the performance guaranty, the obligor and surety,
if any, shall be liable thereon to the Township for the reasonable
cost of the improvements not completed or corrected, and the Township
may, either prior to or after the receipt of the proceeds thereof,
complete such improvements.
D. Approved bonded improvements.
(1)
Upon substantial completion of all required street improvements
(except for the top course) and appurtenant utility improvements and
the connection of same to the public system, the obligor may notify
the governing body, in writing, by certified mail addressed in care
of the Municipal Clerk, of the completion or substantial completion
of bonded improvements and shall send a copy thereof to the Municipal
Engineer. The request shall indicate which bonded improvements have
been completed and which bonded improvements remain uncompleted in
the judgment of the obligor. Thereupon, the Municipal Engineer shall
inspect all bonded improvements of which such notice has been given
and shall file a detailed report, in writing, with the governing body,
indicating either approval, partial approval or rejection of such
improvements with a statement of reasons for any rejection. The cost
of the improvements as approved or rejected shall be set forth.
(2)
The governing body, by resolution, shall either approve the
bonded improvements determined to be complete and satisfactory by
the Municipal Engineer or reject any or all of these bonded improvements
upon the establishment in the resolution of cause for rejection and
shall approve and authorize the amount of reduction to be made in
the performance guaranty relating to the improvements accepted, in
accordance with the itemized cost estimate prepared by the Municipal
Engineer and appended to the performance guaranty. This resolution
shall be adopted not later than 45 days after receipt of the list
and report prepared by the Municipal Engineer. Upon adoption of the
resolution by the governing body, the obligor shall be released from
all liability pursuant to its performance guaranty with respect to
those approved bonded improvements, except for that portion adequately
sufficient to secure completion or correction of the improvements
not yet approved, provided that 30% of the amount of the total performance
guaranty and safety and stabilization guaranty posted may be retained
to ensure completion and acceptability of all improvements. The safety
and stabilization guaranty shall be reduced by the same percentage
as the performance guaranty is being reduced at the time of each performance
guaranty reduction.
(3)
For the purpose of releasing the obligor from liability pursuant to its performance guaranty, the amount of the performance guaranty attributable to each approved bonded improvement shall be reduced by the total amount for each such improvement, in accordance with the itemized cost estimate which formed the basis of the performance guaranty and appended to the performance guaranty pursuant to Subsection
A of this section, including any contingency factor applied to the cost of installation. If the sum of the approved bonded improvements would exceed 70% of the total amount of the performance guaranty, then the municipality may retain 30% of the amount of the total performance guaranty and safety and stabilization guaranty to ensure completion and acceptability of bonded improvements, as provided above, except that any amount of the performance guaranty attributable to bonded improvements for which a temporary certificate of occupancy guaranty has been posted shall be released from the performance guaranty even if such release would reduce the amount held by the municipality below 30%.
E. If any portion of the required improvements is rejected, the approving
authority may require the obligor to complete such improvements, and
upon completion, the same procedure of notification as set forth in
this section shall be followed.
F. Nothing herein, however, shall be construed to limit the right of
the obligor to contest by legal proceedings any determination of the
governing body or the Municipal Engineer.
G. Inspection fees.
(1)
The obligor shall reimburse the municipality for reasonable
inspection fees paid to the Municipal Engineer for the foregoing inspection
of the improvements, which fees shall not exceed the sum of the amount
set forth in N.J.S.A. 40:55D-53. The municipality may require the
developer to post the inspection fees in escrow in an amount calculated
as follows: except for extraordinary circumstances, the greater of
$500 or 5% of the cost of improvements subject to a performance guaranty,
plus an amount not to exceed 5% of the cost of private site improvements
not subject to a performance guaranty, which cost shall be determined
pursuant to N.J.S.A. 40:55D-53.4. If the inspection fees required
are less than $10,000, the developer shall have the option of paying
same in two equal installments with the initial amount deposited to
be 50% of the inspection fees. When the balance of inspections fees
on deposit reaches 10%, the remaining installment shall be due and
payable. If the inspection fees required are $10,000 or greater, the
developer shall have the option of paying same in up to four installments
with the initial amount deposited to be 25% of the inspection fees.
When the balance of inspection fees on deposit reaches 10%, the developer
shall make additional deposits of 25% of the inspection fees.
(2)
If the Township determines that the amount in escrow for the
payment of inspection fees, as calculated herein, is insufficient
to cover the cost of additional required inspections, the Township
may require the developer to deposit additional funds in escrow, provided
that the Township delivers to the developer a written inspection escrow
deposit request, prepared by the Municipal Engineer, which informs
the developer of the need for additional inspections, details the
items or undertakings that require inspection, estimates the time
required for those inspections, and estimates the cost of performing
those inspections.
(3)
In the event that final approval is by stages or sections of
development pursuant to Subsection (a) of Section 29 of the Municipal
Land Use Law (N.J.S.A. 40:55D-38), the provisions of this section
shall be applied by stage or section.
H. Temporary certificate of occupancy guaranty.
(1)
In the event that the developer shall seek a temporary certificate of occupancy for a development, unit, lot, building, or phase of development, as a condition of the issuance thereof, the developer shall furnish a separate guaranty, referred to herein as a "temporary certificate of occupancy guaranty," in favor of the Township of North Brunswick in an amount equal to 120% of the cost of installation of only those improvements or items which remain to be completed or installed under the terms of the temporary certificate of occupancy and which are required to be installed or completed as a condition precedent to the issuance of the permanent certificate of occupancy for the development, unit, lot, building or phase of development and which are not covered by an existing performance guaranty. Upon posting of a temporary certificate of occupancy guaranty, all sums remaining under a performance guaranty, required pursuant to §
205-133.6 of the North Brunswick Code, which relate to the development, unit, lot, building, or phase of development for which the temporary certificate of occupancy is sought, shall be released.
(2)
The scope and amount of the temporary certificate of occupancy
guaranty shall be determined by the Construction Code Official, Zoning
Officer, Municipal Engineer, or any other municipal official designated
by ordinance. The temporary certificate of occupancy guaranty shall
be released by the Construction Code Official, Zoning Officer, Municipal
Engineer, or other municipal official designated by ordinance upon
the issuance of a permanent certificate of occupancy with regard to
the development, unit, lot, building, or phase as to which the temporary
certificate of occupancy relates.
I. If the property or any part of same is sold, or otherwise conveyed
to a successor developer prior to the completion and acceptance of
all improvements, an assignment of developer's agreement and new performance,
maintenance or other guaranties shall be required from the new owner
or successor developer. Upon the transfer of ownership of property
that is the subject of a construction permit, and prior to beginning
or continuing work authorized by the construction permit, the new
owner or successor developer shall file with the Building Department
an application for a permit update to notify the Building Department
of the name and address of the new owner or successor developer and
of all other changes to information previously submitted to the Building
Department. The Building Department shall not approve the application
for a permit update until it receives notification from the governing
body, or its designee, that the new owner or successor developer has
furnished adequate replacement performance, maintenance or other guaranties
and assignment of developer's agreement.