A. 
Every municipal agency shall, by its rules, fix the time and place for holding its regular meetings for business authorized to be conducted by such agency. Regular meetings of the municipal agency shall be scheduled not less than once a month and shall be held as scheduled unless canceled for lack of applications for development to process.
B. 
The municipal agency may provide for special meetings, at the call of the Chairman or on the request of any two of its members, which shall be held on notice to its members and the public in accordance with municipal regulations.
C. 
No action shall be taken at any meeting without a quorum being present. All actions shall be taken by a majority vote of the members of the municipal agency present at the meeting, except as otherwise required by this chapter.
D. 
Nothing herein shall be construed to contravene any act providing for procedures for governing bodies.
All regular meetings and all special meetings shall be open to the public. Notice of all such meetings shall be given in accordance with state law. An executive session for the purpose of discussing certain matters as specified by state law shall not be deemed a regular or special meeting within the meaning of this chapter.
Minutes of every regular or special meeting shall be kept and shall include the names of the persons appearing and addressing the municipal agency and/or the persons appearing by attorney, the action taken by the municipal agency, the findings, if any, made by it and the reasons therefor. The minutes shall thereafter be made available for public inspection during normal business hours at the office of the Secretary. Any interested party shall have the right to compel production of the minutes for use as evidence in any legal proceedings concerning the subject matter of such minutes. Such interested party may be charged a reasonable fee for reproduction of the minutes for his use.
A. 
Hearings. The municipal agency shall hold a hearing on each application for development.
B. 
Rules. The municipal agency shall make the rules governing such hearings. Any maps and documents for which approval is sought at a hearing shall be complete and on file and available for public inspection at least 21 days before the date of the hearing, during normal business hours, in the office of the Secretary. The applicant may produce other documents, records or testimony at the hearing to substantiate or clarify or supplement the previously filed maps and documents. The administrative officer of the City of Rahway is permitted 45 days by statute to determine the completeness of an application. The applicant shall be notified in writing of the completeness date and the date for which the hearing before the Board shall have been scheduled.
[Amended 5-14-2001 by Ord. No. O-26-01]
C. 
Oaths. The officer presiding at the hearing or such person as he may designate shall have the power to administer oaths and issue subpoenas to compel the attendance of witnesses and the production of relevant evidence, including witnesses and documents presented by the parties, and the provisions of the County and Municipal Investigations Law[1] shall apply.
[1]
Editor's Note: See N.J.S.A. 2A:67A-1 et seq.
D. 
Testimony. The testimony of all witnesses relating to an application for development shall be taken under oath or affirmation by the presiding officer, and the right of cross-examination shall be permitted to all interested parties through their attorneys, if represented, or directly, if not represented, subject to the discretion of the presiding officer and to reasonable limitations as to time and number of witnesses.
E. 
Evidence. Technical rules of evidence shall not be applicable to the hearing, but the agency may exclude irrelevant, immaterial or unduly repetitious evidence.
F. 
Records and transcripts.
(1) 
The municipal agency shall provide for the verbatim recording of the proceedings by either stenographic, mechanical or electronic means.
(2) 
The municipal agency shall furnish a transcript, or duplicate recording in lieu thereof, on request, to any interested party at his expense. The municipal agency in furnishing a transcript of the proceedings to an interested party at his expense shall not charge such interested party more than the maximum permitted in N.J.S.A. 2A:11-15.
(3) 
Said transcript shall be certified in writing by the transcriber to be accurate. The municipality has the authority to substitute a duplicate recording at not more than $5 per tape.
G. 
Decisions.
(1) 
Each decision on any application for development shall be reduced to writing as provided in this subsection and shall include findings of facts and conclusions based thereon.
(2) 
Failure of a motion to approve an application for development to receive the number of votes required for approval shall be deemed an action denying the application.
(3) 
The municipal agency may provide such written decision and findings and conclusions either on the date of the meeting at which the municipal agency takes to grant or deny approval or, if the meeting at which such action is taken occurs within the final 45 days of the applicable time period for rendering a decision on the application for development, within 45 days of such meeting, by the adoption of a resolution of memorialization setting forth the decision and the findings and conclusions of the municipal agency thereon.
(4) 
An action resulting from the failure of a motion to approve an application shall be memorialized by resolution as provided above, notwithstanding the time at which such action occurs within the applicable time period for rendering a decision on the application.
(5) 
The adoption of a resolution of memorialization pursuant to this subsection shall not be construed to alter the applicable time period for rendering a decision on the application for development. Such resolution shall be adopted by a vote of a majority of the members of the municipal agency who voted for the action previously taken, and no other member shall vote thereon.
(6) 
The vote on such resolution shall be deemed to be a memorialization of an action of the municipal agency and not to be an action of the municipal agency, except that failure to adopt such a resolution within the forty-five-day period shall result in the approval of the application for development, notwithstanding any prior action taken thereon.
(7) 
Whenever a resolution of memorialization is adopted in accordance with this subsection, the date of such adoption shall constitute the date of the decision for purposes of the mailings, filings and publications required by Subsections H and I of this section.
H. 
Mailing copies of decisions. A copy of the decision shall be mailed by the municipal agency within 10 days of the date of the decision to the applicant or, if represented, then to his attorney, without separate charge, and to all who request a copy of the decision for a reasonable fee. A copy of the decision shall also be filed by the municipal agency in the office of that agency. The Secretary shall make a copy of such filed decision available to any interested party for a reasonable fee, and it shall be available for public inspection at his office during reasonable hours.
I. 
Notices of decisions published. A brief notice of the decision shall be published in the official newspaper of the municipality, if there is one, or in a newspaper of general circulation in the municipality. Such publication shall be arranged by the applicant. The period of time in which an appeal of the decision may be made shall run from the first publication of the decision.
Notices pursuant to this chapter shall state the date, time and place of the hearing, the nature of the matters to be considered and, in the case of notices pursuant to § 53-29 of this chapter, an identification of the property proposed for development by street address, if any, or by reference to lot and block numbers as shown on the current tax duplicate in the Municipal Tax Assessor's office, and the location and times at which any maps and documents for which approval is sought are available pursuant to § 53-27, above.
Notice pursuant to Subsections A, B, C, D, E, F and G of this section shall be given by the applicant at least 10 days prior to the date of the hearing.
A. 
Public notice of a hearing on an application for development shall be given except for minor subdivisions, final site plans and final subdivisions. Public notice shall be required in the event that relief is requested on applications undertaken by the Planning Board in lieu of the Zoning Board of Adjustment. Public notice shall be given by publication in the official newspaper of the municipality, if there is one, or in a newspaper of general circulation in the municipality.
B. 
Notice of a hearing requiring public notice pursuant to Subsection A of this section shall be given to the owners of all real property, as shown on the current tax duplicate, located in the state and within 200 feet in all directions of the property which is the subject of such hearing, provided that this requirement shall be deemed satisfied by notice to the condominium association, in the case of any unit owner whose unit has a unit above or below it, or horizontal property regime, in the case of any co-owner whose apartment has an apartment above or below it. Notice shall be given by serving a copy thereof on the property owner as shown on the said current tax duplicate or his agent in charge of the property or by mailing a copy thereof by certified mail to the property owner at his address, as shown on said current tax duplicate. Notice to a partnership owner may be made by service upon any partner. Notice to a corporate owner may be made by service upon its president, a vice president, secretary or other person authorized by appointment or by law to accept service on behalf of the corporation. Notice to a condominium association, horizontal property regime, community trust or homeowners' association, because of its ownership of common elements or area located within 200 feet of the property which is the subject of the hearing, may be made in the same manner as to a corporation, without further notice to unit owners, co-owners or homeowners on account of such common elements or areas.
C. 
Upon the written request of an applicant, accompanied by a list of block and lot numbers to whom the applicant is required to give notice, the Tax Assessor of the City of Rahway, within seven days, shall make and certify a list from said current tax duplicates of names and addresses of owners to whom the applicant is required to give notice pursuant to Subsection B of this section. The applicant shall be entitled to rely upon the information contained in such list, and failure to give notice to any owner not on the list shall not invalidate any hearing or proceeding. A sum not to exceed $0.25 per name, or $10, whichever is greater, may be charged for such list. At the option of the applicant, the Tax Assessor will provide three sets of mailing labels of the names and addresses of owners to whom the applicant is required to give notice. The sum of $25 will be charged for such mailing labels.
[Amended 4-12-1999 by Ord. No. O-10-99]
D. 
Notice of all hearings on applications for development involving property located within 200 feet of an adjoining municipality shall be given by personal service or certified mail to the Clerk of such municipality.
E. 
Notice shall be given by personal service or certified mail to the County Planning Board of a hearing on an application for development of property adjacent to an existing county road or proposed road shown on the Official County Map or on the County Master Plan, adjoining other county land or situated within 200 feet of a municipal boundary.
F. 
Notice shall be given by personal service or certified mail to the Commissioner of Transportation of a hearing on an application for development of property adjacent to a state highway.
G. 
Notice shall be given by personal service or certified mail to the director of the Division of a hearing on an application for development of property which exceeds 150 acres or 500 dwelling units. Such notice shall include a copy of any maps or documents required to be on file with the Municipal Clerk pursuant to § 53-52 of this chapter.
H. 
The applicant shall file an affidavit of proof of service with the municipal agency holding the hearing on the application for development in the event that the applicant is required to give notice pursuant to this section.
I. 
Notice pursuant to Subsections D, E, F and G of this section shall not be deemed to be required, unless public notice pursuant to Subsection A and notice pursuant to Subsection B of this section are required.
A. 
The Planning Board shall give:
(1) 
Public notice of a hearing on adoption, revision or amendment of the Master Plan and development regulations. Such notice shall be given by publication in the official newspaper of the municipality, if there is one, or in a newspaper of general circulation in the municipality, at least 10 days prior to the date of the hearing.
(2) 
Notice by personal service or certified mail to the Clerk of an adjoining municipality of all hearings on adoption, revision or amendment of a Master Plan and development regulations involving property situated within 200 feet of such adjoining municipality, at least 10 days prior to the date of any hearing.
(3) 
Notice by personal service or certified mail to the County Planning Board of all hearings on the adoption, revision or amendment of the Municipal Master Plan and development regulations, at least 10 days prior to the date of the hearing. Such notice shall include a copy of any such proposed Master Plan or any revision or amendment thereto; and notice shall be given of the adoption, revision or amendment of the Master Plan and development regulations not more than 30 days after the date of such adoption, revision or amendment. Such notice shall include a copy of the Master Plan, development regulations or revision or amendment thereto, as the case may be.
B. 
Effect of mailing notice. Any notice made by certified mail shall be deemed complete upon mailing.
C. 
Fees for Board of Adjustment, Planning Board and administrative determinations.
[Amended 5-14-2001 by Ord. No. O-26-01]
(1) 
Development application fees. The developer shall, at the time of filing of an application, pay a nonrefundable fee to the City of Rahway by cash, check, certified check or bank draft in accordance with the fees contained herein. The fee to be paid shall be the sum of the fees for the component elements of the plat or plan. Proposals requiring a combination of approvals, such as subdivision, site plan and/or variance, shall pay a fee equal to the sum of the fee for each element. Additional fees may be assessed for extraordinary review costs not otherwise covered.
(a) 
Application for development permit (zoning permit, except fences and sheds): $20.
(b) 
Conceptual review: $300.
(c) 
Minor subdivision application:
[1] 
Application fee: $250.
(d) 
Major subdivision application:
[1] 
Preliminary application fee: $500, plus $50 per lot.
[2] 
Final application fee: 50% of preliminary application fee.
(e) 
Minor site plan application (less than 10,000 square feet additional construction plus additions over 10,000 square feet): $450.
(f) 
Major site plan application:
[1] 
Preliminary application fee: $500.
[a] 
Residential (including multifamily and planned residential but not including sheltered care, nursing homes or other medical/institutional uses), the sum of:
[b] 
For each new dwelling unit plus: $75 per unit.
[c] 
Uses other than residential:
[i] 
For each square foot of new construction up to 1,000 square feet: $1 per square foot.
[ii] 
For each 1,000 square feet thereafter: $10 per 1,000 square feet.
[iii] 
For each proposed new or additional parking space (only if no new construction): $20 per space.
[iv] 
For each proposed freestanding sign: $50.
[2] 
Final application fee: 50% of the total of preliminary application fee.
(g) 
Appeals of decisions of administrative official: $150.
(h) 
Interpretation of the land use and development regulations or Zoning Map: $350.
(i) 
Certification as to prior nonconforming use:
[1] 
Application to administrative officer (up to one year from adoption of ordinance): $10.
[2] 
Application to Board of Adjustment: $50.
(j) 
Variances.
[1] 
Hardship or bulk variance: $350.
[a] 
Except residential additions, including sheds, decks, porches, garage conversions, rooms, etc.: $50.
[2] 
Use variance: $500.
[3] 
Variance for frontage on unimproved road: $300.
(k) 
Conditional uses: $500.
(l) 
Extension of approval: $100.
(2) 
Miscellaneous fees.
(a) 
Continued hearings (other than use variances): 10% of original filing fee for all hearings continued beyond initially scheduled hearing date.
(b) 
Continued hearings (use variances): $650 per meeting or portion thereof.
(c) 
Special meeting (where granted): $1,500.
(d) 
Fee for extension of time requested by applicant: $25.
(e) 
Flood certification: $15.
(f) 
City publication of decision by Board: $100.
[Amended 4-11-2005 by Ord. No. O-9-05]
(g) 
Copies of Planning Board and Zoning Board meeting tapes: $25 per tape.
[Added 10-14-2003 by Ord. No. O-71-03]
(3) 
Initial escrow deposit. Notwithstanding the above, every application which is filed shall be accompanied by an initial escrow deposit of $500 to defray the costs incurred during the completeness review process. This initial deposit shall be credited towards the total escrow deposit required in § 53-31 below. However, payment of this initial escrow deposit shall not constitute payment of fees for completeness purposes.
[Added 11-9-2009 by Ord. No. O-38-09]
[Added 2-14-1989 by Ord. No. A-2-89]
A. 
In addition to the fees set forth in § 53-30C, an applicant shall be responsible for reimbursing the City for escrow deposits in accordance with the provisions of the fee and deposit schedule set forth in § 53-31D. The Chief Financial Officer of the municipality shall make all of the payments to professionals for services rendered to the municipality or approving authority for review of applications for development, review and preparation of documents, inspection of improvements or other purposes under the provisions of N.J.S.A. 40:55D-1 et seq., including, without limitation:
[Amended 7-10-1989 by Ord. No. A-7-89; 9-8-2008 by Ord. No. O-23-08; 2-90-2009 by Ord. No. O-1-09]
(1) 
Expenses and applications.
(a) 
All expenses of professional personnel appointed by the board to provide necessary professional services, including in-house professionals and outside professionals, to process an application for development before the approving board, including, without limitation:
[Amended 7-10-2023 by Ord. No. O-29-23]
[1] 
Charges for reviews by professional personnel of applications and accompanying documents;
[2] 
Issuance of reports by professional personnel to the approving board setting forth recommendations resulting from the review of any documents submitted by the applicant;
[3] 
Charges for any telephone conference or meeting with the applicant, his attorney or any of his experts;
[4] 
Review of documents submitted by the applicant and issuance of reports relating thereto;
[5] 
Review or preparation of documents, including but not limited to easements, developers' agreements, deeds, resolutions of approval or the like; and
[6] 
Preparation for and attendance at hearings on the application.
(b) 
Applications for development shall include appeals, interpretation, site plans, subdivisions, bulk variances, conceptual reviews and any other development application.
(2) 
The costs of expert advice and/or testimony obtained by the approving board in connection with its consideration of the application.
(3) 
Charges against the escrow.
[Added 7-10-2023 by Ord. No. O-29-23]
(a) 
Outside professionals. Charges for professional services of outside professionals shall be based upon a schedule of fees established by appropriate action of the City Council or reviewing board and shall include the dollar amount of all charges by outside professionals (as defined herein) for professional services rendered to the City and/or the reviewing board in connection with the application, plus all actual out-of-pocket disbursements incurred in regard to such services.
(b) 
Fees and escrow charges for in-house professionals appointed by the board shall be based on the median dollar amount of the hourly base salary range pursuant to Chapter 89, Salaries and Compensation, of each in-house professional who has rendered professional services to the City and/or the reviewing board in connection with the application multiplied by both of the following:
[1] 
The total number of hours of professional services rendered by each in-house professional in connection with the application.
[2] 
200%.
B. 
No applicant shall be responsible to reimburse the municipality for any of the following:
(1) 
Except as otherwise set forth in Subsection A(2) and (3)(b) above, attendance by the municipality's professional personnel at any regularly scheduled meeting of the approving Board; provided, however, that the municipality shall be entitled to be reimbursed for attendance of its professional personnel at special meetings of the approving Board which are called at the applicant's request. Nothing contained herein shall be construed as requiring the approving Board to grant an applicant's request to hold a special meeting.
[Amended 7-10-2023 by Ord. No. O-29-23]
(2) 
Except as otherwise set forth in Subsection A(1)(a)[7] above, the preparation of a resolution or memorializing resolution setting forth the findings of fact and conclusions of the approving Board with respect to an application.
C. 
The term "professional personnel" or "professional services," as used herein, shall include the services of a duly licensed engineer, surveyor, planner, attorney, realtor, appraiser or other expert who would provide professional services to ensure an application complies with the standards set forth in this chapter and other experts whose testimony is in an area testified to by any of the applicant's experts.
D. 
Escrows.
[Amended 7-10-1989 by Ord. No. A-7-89]
(1) 
Subject to the provisions of Subsection E hereinbelow, each applicant shall, prior to the application being ruled complete pursuant to the provisions of the Municipal Land Use Act,[1] submit the following sum(s) to be held in escrow in accordance with the provisions hereof:
[Amended 4-11-2005 by Ord. No. O-9-05; 9-8-2008 by Ord. No. O-23-08; 2-9-2009 by Ord. No. O-1-09]
(a) 
Residential development.
Number of Units
Escrow Amount To Be Posted
0 to 3
$2,000
4 to 10
$3,000
11 to 25
$4,500
26 to 100
$7,500
100 or more
$10,000
(b) 
All other development applications involving structures.
Total Floor Plan
(square feet)
Escrow Amount To Be Posted
0 to 500
$3,000
501 to 1,000
$4,000
1,001 to 5,000
$4,500
5,001 to 10,000
$7,000
10,001 to 15,000
$9,000
15,001 to 20,000
$10,000
20,001 to 25,000
$12,500
25,001 to 100,000
$15,000
Over 100,001
$18,000
(c) 
Escrows shall be deposited and disbursed pursuant to the provisions of N.J.S.A. 40:55D-53.1. Escrow deposits shall be replenished by the applicant as required by N.J.S.A. 40:55D-53h.
[1]
Editor's Note: See N.J.S.A. 40:55D-1 et seq.
(2) 
If the approving agency is requested to have a special meeting by the applicant and decides to do so, the applicant shall have professional fees deducted from the escrow fees per this section. Professionals attending meetings may bill at the rate of four hours minimum which may be distributed over one applicant or multiple applicants who so requested the special meeting. If the planning consultant requested by the applicant to review the application prior to formal submission of the application, the fee shall be $150 for each consultation, which shall be deposited in the escrow fund.
(3) 
The sums hereinabove set forth are estimates and, during its review of an application for development, the approving Board may determine that such sums are sufficient, excessive or insufficient, based upon the following criteria:
(a) 
The presence or absence of public water and/or sewer servicing the site.
(b) 
Environmental considerations, including without limitation geological, hydrological and ecological factors.
(c) 
Traffic impact of the proposed development.
(d) 
Impact of the proposed development on existing aquifer and/or water quality.
(e) 
Impact on improvements which might require off-tract or off-site contributions.
(4) 
In the event that the approving Board shall determine said amount is excessive, it shall, upon the prior written request of the applicant and by resolution, specify the amount that shall be deemed sufficient, including a specification, if appropriate, that no escrow be posted, and the excess of the escrowed amount over the amount so determined shall be refunded to the applicant, together with such interest as allowed by Subsection G below. In the event that the approving Board shall determine the amount specified above is insufficient, it shall, by resolution, so specify and shall further set forth the additional amount required to be posted in light of the criteria specified herein. Said additional amount shall be paid by the applicant prior to advancing to the next step in the approval procedure.
E. 
Conditions and requirements.
(1) 
No subdivision plat or deed or site plan shall be signed, nor shall any zoning permits, building permits, certificates of occupancy or any other types of permits be issued with respect to any approved application for development until:
(a) 
All bills for reimbursable services have been received by the municipality from professional personnel rendering services in connection with such application.
(b) 
Payment of such bills has been approved by the Department of Health, Welfare and Building.
(c) 
The applicant has reimbursed the municipality the excess of such bills over the escrowed amount otherwise herein provided for.
(2) 
If the amount of the deposit exceeds the actual cost as approved for payment by the governing body, the developer shall be entitled to a return of the excess deposit, together with such interest as allowed by Subsection G below. The administrative officer shall determine the position of all escrow accounts and, where additional funds are required, it shall be the obligation of the administrative officer to so notify the applicant of the amounts needed. At the time of filing the application for development, the applicant shall execute an escrow agreement containing the terms set forth herein.
F. 
No professional personnel submitting charges to the municipality for any of the services referred to in Subsection A above shall charge for any of the services contemplated by said section at any higher rate or in any different manner than would normally be charged the municipality for similar work as ascertained by the professional's contract of employment with the municipality or by provisions of the Municipal Salary Ordinance. Payment of any bill rendered by a professional to the municipality in respect to any service for which the municipality is entitled to reimbursement under this section shall in no way be contingent upon receipt of reimbursement by the developer, nor shall any payment to a professional be delayed pending reimbursement from a developer.
G. 
Deposits received from any developer pursuant to Subsection D shall be deposited in a banking institution or savings and loan association in this state insured by an agency of the federal government, or in any other fund or depository approved for such deposits by the state, in an account bearing interest at the minimum rate currently paid by the institution or depository on time or savings deposits. The municipality shall notify the applicant in writing of the name and address of the institution or depository in which the deposit is made and the amount of the deposit. The municipality shall not be required to refund an amount of interest paid on a deposit which does not exceed $100 for the year. If the amount of interest exceeds $100, that entire amount shall belong to the applicant and shall be refunded to him by the municipality annually or at the time the deposit is repaid or applied to the purposes for which it was deposited, as the case may be; except that the municipality may retain for administrative expenses a sum equivalent to no more than 33 1/3% of that entire amount, which shall be in lieu of all other administrative and custodial expenses.
A. 
The Zoning, Subdivision and Site Plan Review Ordinances, or any revision or amendment thereto, shall not take effect until a copy thereof shall be filed with the County Planning Board. The Secretary of the County Planning Board shall, within 10 days of the date of receipt of a written request for copies of any such ordinance, make such available to the party so requesting, with said Secretary's certification that said copies are true copies and that all filed amendments are included. A reasonable charge may be made by the County Planning Board for said copies. The Official Map of the municipality shall not take effect until filed with the county recording officer.
B. 
Copies of all development regulations and any revisions or amendments thereto shall be filed and maintained in the office of the Municipal Clerk.