Prior to final approval of a subdivision or
site plan, the applicant shall have made cash payments in the manner
provided below with respect to the installation of any required off-tract
improvements, or, at the applicant's option and with the consent of
the Township, the applicant shall have constructed any required off-tract
improvement.
A. Decision to construct. The Planning Board shall recommend
to the Township Council when it believes that off-tract improvements
are required because of a pending subdivision application. The Planning
Board shall forward to the Township Council, together with its recommendation,
an estimate of the cost of the off-tract improvements and the amount
by which all properties to be serviced thereby, including the applicant's
property, shall be benefited therefrom.
B. Estimate of cost and benefits. If the Township Council
concurs in the recommendation of the Planning Board, it shall notify
the Planning Board of its approval of the recommendation and the Planning
Board shall then, with the aid of the Township Engineer and such other
persons as have pertinent information or expertise, calculate:
(1) The cost of the improvement; and
(2) The amount by which all properties to be serviced
thereby, including the subdivider's property, will be specially benefited
therefrom.
C. Manner of construction. When those estimates are received,
the Township Council shall then decide whether the off-tract improvement
is to be constructed by:
(1) The Township as a general improvement;
(2) The Township as a local improvement; or
(3) The applicant under a formula providing for partial
reimbursement by the Township for benefits to properties other than
the subdivision, subject to agreement of the applicant to install
the improvement.
In determining benefits conferred on properties
specially benefited by an off-tract improvement, the following formula
shall, subject to adjustment for peculiar or exceptional conditions,
be used:
A. The development shall be allocated that percentage
of 100 computed by dividing the development land area by the total
land area benefited by the off-tract improvement.
B. The development shall be allotted that percentage
of 100 computed by dividing the maximum potential intensity use of
the development by the maximum potential intensity of use under existing
zoning limitations in the total land area benefited by the off-tract
improvement. In the case of subdivision, an estimated number of lots
may be used. In the case of site plans, estimated building floor area
may be used.
C. In the case of linear improvements, i.e., roads, curbing,
sidewalks, pipes, drains, sewers, drainage easements, etc., the development
shall be allotted that percentage of 100 computed by dividing the
distance, measured along the course of the off-tract improvement,
from the connecting facility to the farthest abutting point of the
development by the sum of the distances of all intervening properties,
including the applicant's, abutting the off-tract improvement similarly
measured.
D. The sum of Subsections
A and
B (and C if applicable) shall be divided by two (or three if Subsection
C is included), to arrive at the percentage which, subject to discretionary adjustment as above stated, shall be the percentage of the total cost of the off-tract improvements which shall be apportioned to the applicant.
[Amended 7-22-1993 by Ord. No. 531-93]
A. The estimated costs of the off-tract improvement allocated
to the applicant, if deposited in cash, shall be paid by the applicant
to the Township Treasurer, who shall provide a suitable depository
therefor, and such funds shall be used only for the off-tract improvements
for which they are deposited or improvements serving the same purpose,
unless such improvements are not initiated by the Township within
a period of 10 years from the date of payment, after which time said
funds so deposited shall be returned.
B. In the event that the payment by the applicant to
the Township Treasurer provided for herein is less than its share
of the actual cost of the off-tract improvements, then it shall be
required to pay its appropriate share of the cost thereof.
C. In the event that the payment by the applicant to
the Township Treasurer provided for above is more than its appropriate
share of the actual cost of installation of the off-tract improvements,
it or its successor or assigns shall be repaid an amount equal to
the difference between the deposit and its share of the actual cost.
D. Where a developer pays the amount determined as his
pro rata share under protest, he shall institute legal action within
one year of such payment in order to preserve the right to a judicial
determination as to the fairness and reasonableness to such amount.
Upon receipt from the applicant of its allocated
share of the costs of the off-tract improvements, the Township may
adopt a local improvement assessment ordinance for the purpose of
construction and installation of the off-tract improvements based
upon the actual cost thereof. Any portion of the cost of the improvements
not defrayed by a deposit by the applicant may be assessed against
benefiting property owners by the Township. Any assessments for benefits
conferred made against the applicant or his successors in interest
shall be first offset by a pro rata share credit of the allocated
costs previously deposited with the Township Treasurer pertaining
thereto. The applicant or his successors in interest shall not be
liable for any part of an assessment for such improvements unless
the assessment exceeds the pro rata share credit for the deposit,
and then only to the extent of the deficiency.