New Hanover Township, NJ Zoning Ordinance

[Amended 8-14-1986 by Ord. No. 23-86]

§ 166-30 Adoption of regulations.

The Township Planning Board, Board of Adjustment and governing body shall adopt and may amend reasonable rules and regulations, not inconsistent with this chapter and P.L. 1975, c. 291, for the administration of its functions, powers and duties and shall furnish a copy thereof to any person, upon request, who pays the fee hereinafter provided for such copy. Copies of all such rules and regulations and amendments thereto shall be maintained in the office of the Township Clerk.

Meetings of municipal agency.

(1)

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. 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. No action shall be taken at any meeting without a quorum's 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 the following sections of P.L. 1975, c. 291:

(a)

Section 23, dealing with the adoption of the Official Map.[1]

[1]

Editor's Note: See N.J.S.A. 40:55D-32.

(b)

Section 25, dealing with the issuance of building permits on lands reserved on the Official Map.[2]

[2]

Editor's Note: See N.J.S.A. 40:55D-34.

(c)

Section 49, dealing with the adoption of a Zoning Ordinance.[3]

[3]

Editor's Note: See N.J.S.A. 40:55D-62.

(d)

Section 50, dealing with a protest against a zoning change.[4]

[4]

Editor's Note: See N.J.S.A. 40:55D-63.

(e)

Section 8e, dealing with the governing body's reversing action by the Planning Board.[5]

[5]

Editor's Note: See N.J.S.A. 40:55D-17e.

(f)

Section 17a, dealing with the governing body's overriding the Planning Board report on development regulations.[6]

[6]

Editor's Note: See N.J.S.A. 40:55D-26a.

(g)

Section 17b, dealing with another municipal agency's overriding the Planning Board on matters referred to the Planning Board.[7]

[7]

Editor's Note: See N.J.S.A. 40:55D-26b.

(h)

Section 57d, dealing with a use variance application.[8]

[8]

Editor's Note: See N.J.S.A. 40:55D-70.

(2)

Nothing herein shall be construed to contravene any act providing for procedures for the governing body.

All regular meetings and all special meetings shall be open to the public. Notice of all such meetings shall be given in accordance with municipal regulations. Any executive session for the purpose of discussing and studying any matters to come before the agency 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 of the persons appearing by attorney, the action taken by the municipal agency, the findings, if any, made by it and reasons therefor. The minutes shall thereafter be made available for public inspection during normal business hours at the office of the Township Clerk. 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 fee as hereinafter provided for reproduction of the minutes for this use.

Failure of a motion to receive the number of votes required to approve an application for development shall be deemed an action denying the application.

[Amended 12-11-1997 by Ord. No. 34-97]

The adoption of a resolution of memorialization, pursuant to § 166-38 of this chapter, shall not be construed to alter the applicable time period for rendering a decision on the application for development.

[Amended 12-11-1997 by Ord. No. 34-97]

§ 166-31 Exclusive authority of Planning Board and Board of Adjustment.

Any power expressly authorized by this chapter to be exercised by the Planning Board or the Board of Adjustment shall not be exercised by any other body, except as otherwise provided in this chapter.

§ 166-32 Tolling of running of period of approval.

In the event that, during the period of approval heretofore or hereafter granted to an application for development, the developer is barred or prevented, directly or indirectly, from proceeding with the development otherwise permitted under such approval by a legal action instituted by any state agency, political subdivision or other party to protect the public health and welfare or by a directive or order issued by any state agency, political subdivision or court of competent jurisdiction to protect the public health or welfare and the developer is otherwise ready, willing and able to proceed with said development, the running of the period of approval under this chapter or under any ordinance repealed by this chapter, as the case may be, shall be suspended for the period of time that said legal action is pending or such directive or order is in effect.

§ 166-33 Conditional approvals.

In the event that a developer submits an application for development proposing a development that is barred or prevented, directly or indirectly, by a legal action instituted by any state agency, political subdivision or other party to protect the public health and welfare or by a directive or order issued by any state agency, political subdivision or court of competent jurisdiction to protect the public health and welfare, the municipal agency shall process such application for development in accordance with this chapter, and, if such application for development complies with this chapter, the municipal agency shall approve such application conditioned on the removal of such legal barrier to development.

In the event that development proposed by an application for development requires an approval by a governmental agency other than the municipal agency, the municipal agency shall, in appropriate instances, condition its approval upon the subsequent approval of such governmental agency, provided that the Township shall make a decision on any application for development within the time period provided in this chapter or within an extension of such period as has been agreed to by the applicant unless the municipal agency is prevented or relieved from so acting by the operation of law.

§ 166-34 When required.

[Amended 7-9-1987 by Ord. No. 22-87]

The Planning Board or the Board of Adjustment, as the case may be, shall hold a hearing on each application for development and on the adoption, revision or amendment of the Master Plan. Notwithstanding any other provisions of this chapter, nothing contained herein shall be construed to require public notice of hearings on concept plans, minor subdivision or resubdivisions, final major subdivision plats or preliminary and final site plans. The governing body shall hold a hearing on the adoption or amendment of a development regulation, an official map or a capital improvements program. Those hearings requiring that a public notice be given are set forth in § 166-41 of this article.

§ 166-35 Rules: filing of documents; complete application.

The Township Planning Board or Board of Adjustment or Township Committee, as the case may be, shall make the rules governing such hearings. Any maps and documents for which approval is sought at a hearing shall be on file and available for public inspection, at least 10 days before the date of the hearing, during normal business hours in the office of the Board Secretary, in the case of the Planning Board or Board of Adjustment, or the Township Clerk, in the case of the Township Committee. The applicant may produce other documents, records or testimony at the hearing to substantiate or clarify or supplement the previously filed maps and documents.

[Amended 5-8-2014 by Ord. No. 17-14]

Complete application.

[Amended 9-13-1990 by Ord. No. 42-90]

(1)

An application for development shall be complete for purposes of commencing the applicable time period for action by a municipal agency when so certified by the municipal agency or its authorized committee or designee. In the event that the agency, committee or designee does not certify the application to be complete within 45 days of the date of its submission, the application shall be deemed complete upon the expiration of the forty-five-day period for purposes of commencing the applicable time period unless:

[Amended 3-12-2020 by Ord. No. 7-2020]

(a)

The application lacks information required in Article XII or Article XVIIA of this chapter, as applicable; and

(b)

The municipal agency or its authorized committee or designee has notified the applicant, in writing, of the deficiencies in the application within 45 days of submission of the application.

(2)

The applicant may request that one or more of the submission requirements be waived, in which event the agency or its authorized committee shall grant or deny the request within 45 days. Nothing herein shall be construed as diminishing the applicant's obligation to prove in the application process that he is entitled to approval of the application. The municipal agency may subsequently require the correction of any information found to be in error and the submission of additional information not specified in the ordinance or any revisions in the accompanying documents as are reasonably necessary to make an informed decision as to whether the requirements necessary for approval of the application for development have been met. The application shall not be deemed incomplete for lack of any such additional information or any revisions in the accompanying documents so required by the municipal agency.

§ 166-36 Presiding officer at hearings.

The officer presiding at the hearing or such person as he may designate shall have 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, P.L. 1953. c. 38 (N.J.S.A. 2A:67A-1 et seq.) shall apply.

§ 166-37 Conduct of hearing.

Testimony of witnesses. 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 the number of witnesses.

Rules of evidence. Technical rules of evidence shall not be applicable to the hearing, but the agency may exclude irrelevant, immaterial or unduly repetitious evidence.

Record of proceedings. The municipal agency conducting any hearing shall provide for a verbatim recording of the proceedings by either stenographer, mechanical or electronic means. Said municipal agency shall furnish a transcript or duplicate recording in lieu thereof on request to any interested party at his expense. Said transcript shall be certified in writing by the transcriber to be accurate.

§ 166-38 Record of decisions.

Written decision. The municipal agency shall include findings of fact and conclusions based thereon in each decision on any application for development and shall reduce the decision to writing. The municipal agency shall provide the findings and conclusions through:

(1)

A resolution adopted at a meeting held within the time period provided in the Act for action by the municipal agency on the application for development; or

(2)

A memorializing resolution adopted at a meeting held not later than 45 days after the date of the meeting at which the municipal agency voted to grant or deny approval. Only the members of the municipal agency who voted for the action taken may vote on the memorializing resolution, and the vote of a majority of such members present at the meeting at which the resolution is presented for adoption shall be sufficient to adopt the resolution. An action pursuant to Section 5 of the Act (N.J.S.A. 40:55D-9), resulting from the failure of a motion to approve an application, shall be memorialized by resolution as provided above, with those members voting against the motion for approval being the members eligible to vote on the memorializing resolution. The vote on any such resolution shall be deemed to be a memorialization of the action of the municipal agency and not to be an action of the municipal agency; however, the date of the adoption of the resolution shall constitute the date of the decision for purposes of the mailings, filings and publications required by Subsections h and i of this section: N.J.S.A. 40:55D-10.

If the municipal agency fails to adopt a resolution or memorializing resolution as hereinabove specified, any interested party may apply to the Superior Court in a summary manner for an order compelling the municipal agency to reduce its findings and conclusions to writing within a stated time, and the cost of the application, including attorney's fees, shall be assessed against the municipality.

§ 166-39 Copies of decisions.

[Amended 5-8-2014 by Ord. No. 17-14]

A copy of the decision shall be mailed by the municipal agency within 10 days of the date of 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 the Board Secretary, in the case of the Planning Board or Board of Adjustment, or the Township Clerk, in the case of the Township Committee. The Board Secretary, in the case of the Planning Board or Board of Adjustment, or the Township Clerk, in the case of the Township Committee, shall make a copy of such filed decision available to any interested party for a reasonable fee and available for public inspection at his office during the hours from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.

§ 166-40 Publication of decisions.

A brief notice of the decision shall be published in the official newspaper of the Township or in a newspaper of general circulation in the Township. Such publication shall be arranged by the Secretary of the Planning Board or Board of Adjustment, provided that nothing contained in this chapter shall be construed as preventing the applicant from arranging such publication if he so desires. The Township shall charge the applicant the cost of said publication. The period of time in which an appeal of the decision may be made shall run from the first publication of the decision, whether arranged by the municipality or the applicant.

§ 166-41 Public notice of hearing.

Public notice of hearing shall be required for:

(1)

All applications for development, except concept plans, minor subdivisions and resubdivisions, final major subdivisions and preliminary and final site plans.

[Amended 12-11-1997 by Ord. No. 34-97]

(2)

The adoption, revision or amendment of the Master Plan or any part thereof.

(3)

Any application for development in which relief is requested pursuant to § 166-9E.

(4)

Deviation relief pursuant to Article XVI.

Said notices 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 § 166-42 as hereinafter regulated, 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 Township Tax Assessor's office, and the location and times at which any maps and documents for which approval is sought are available.

§ 166-42 Notice of application for development.

Notice pursuant to Subsection A(1), (2), (3), (4), (5) and (6) of this section shall be given by the applicant at least 10 days prior to the date of the hearing.

(1)

The public notice of hearing for any application for development shall be given to the owners of all real property within the State of New Jersey shown on the current tax duplicate located within 200 feet in all directions of the property which is the subject of such hearing. Notice shall be given by serving a copy thereof on the property owner as shown on 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.

(2)

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, vice president, secretary or other person authorized by appointment or by law to accept service on behalf of the corporation. 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 to the horizontal property regime, in the case of any co-owner whose apartment has an apartment above or below it. Notice to a condominium association, horizontal property regime, community trust or homeowners association, because of its ownership of common elements or areas 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.

(3)

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.

(4)

Notice shall be given by personal service or certified mail to the County Planning Board of a hearing on an application for the 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.

(5)

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.

(6)

Notice shall be given by personal service or certified mail to the State Planning Commission 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.

[Amended 12-11-1997 by Ord. No. 34-97]

(7)

Notice of hearings on an application for development involving a major subdivision shall be given to a public utility, cable television company or local utility which possesses a right-of-way or easement within the Township and which has registered with the Township in accordance with the Municipal Land Use Law at N.J.S.A. 40:55D-12.1 by serving a copy of the notice on the person whose name appears on the registration form on behalf of the public utility, cable television company or local utility or mailing a copy thereof by certified mail to the person whose name appears on the registration form at the address shown on that form.

[Added 12-11-1997 by Ord. No. 34-97]

Any public notice shall also be given by publication in the official newspaper of the Township of Hanover or in a newspaper of general circulation in the Township of Hanover.

Upon written request of an applicant, the Deputy Township Clerk shall, within seven days, make and certify a list from the current tax duplicates of the names and addresses of owners to whom the applicant is required to give notice pursuant to Subsection A(1) above. In addition, the Deputy Township Clerk shall include on the list the names, addresses and positions of those persons who, not less than seven days prior to the date on which the applicant requested the list, have registered to receive notice as a public utility, cable television company or local utility. The applicant shall be entitled to rely upon the information contained in such list, and failure to give notice to any owner or to any public utility, cable television company or local utility not on the list shall not invalidate any hearing or proceeding. A fee pursuant to Article VII shall be charged for such list.

[Amended 12-11-1997 by Ord. No. 34-97; 5-8-2014 by Ord. No. 17-14]

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.

§ 166-43 Notice of hearing involving Master Plan.

The Planning Board shall give:

Public notice of a hearing on the adoption, revision or amendment of the Master Plan. Such notice shall be given by publication in the official newspaper of the municipality or in a newspaper of general circulation in the municipality at least 10 days prior to the date of the hearing.

Notice by personal service or certified mail to the Clerk of an adjoining municipality of all hearings on the adoption, revision or amendment of a Master Plan involving property situated within 200 feet of such adjoining municipality at least 10 days prior to the date of any such hearing.

Notice by personal service or certified mail to the County Planning Board of:

(1)

All hearings on the adoption, revision or amendment of the Municipal Master Plan 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.

(2)

The adoption, revision or amendment of the Master Plan not more than 30 days after the date of such adoption, revision or amendment. Such notice shall include a copy of the Master Plan or revision or amendment thereto.

§ 166-44 Effect of mailing notice.

Any notice made by certified mail pursuant to §§ 166-42 and 166-43 of this chapter shall be deemed complete upon mailing.

§ 166-45 Notice of hearing on ordinance, capital improvement, Official Map.

Notice by personal service or certified mail shall be made to the Clerk of an adjoining municipality of all hearings on the adoption, revision or amendment of a development regulation involving property situated within 200 feet of such adjoining municipality at least 10 days prior to the date of any such hearing.

Notice by personal service or certified mail shall be made to the Morris County Planning Board of all hearings on the adoption, revision or amendment of any development regulation at least 10 days prior to the date of the hearing. Notice by personal service or certified mail shall be made to the Morris County Planning Board of the adoption, revision or amendment of the Municipal Capital Improvement Program or Municipal Official Map not more than 30 days after the date of such adoption, revision or amendment. Any notice provided hereunder shall include a copy of the proposed development regulation, the Municipal Official Map or the Municipal Capital Program, or any proposed revision or amendment thereto, as the case may be.

Notice of hearings pursuant to this section shall state the date, time and place of the hearing, the nature of the matters to be considered and the location and times at which any maps and documents which are the subject of the hearing are available for inspection in the office of the Township Clerk. In the case of zone district classification or boundary changes with enhanced notice requirements pursuant to Subsection D below, the notice shall also provide an identification of the affected zoning districts and proposed boundary changes, if any, by street names, common names or other identifiable landmarks and by reference to lot and block numbers as shown on the current tax duplicates in the Township's Tax Assessor's office. Any notice made by certified mail as stipulated above shall be deemed complete upon mailing.

[Amended 12-11-1997 by Ord. No. 34-97; 5-8-2014 by Ord. No. 17-14]

Notice of a hearing on an amendment to the zoning regulations, which amendment proposes a change to the classification or boundaries of a zoning district, exclusive of classification or boundary changes recommended in a periodic general reexamination of the Master Plan by the Planning Board pursuant to N.J.S.A. 40:55D-89, shall be given in the following manner:

[Added 12-11-1997 by Ord. No. 34-97]

(1)

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 and regular mail to the property owner at his address as shown on said current tax duplicate.

(2)

Notice to a partnership owner may be made by service upon any partner.

(3)

Notice to a corporate owner, including cooperatives, 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.

(4)

Notice to a condominium association, horizontal property regime, community trust or homeowners' association, because of its ownership of common elements or areas located within 200 feet of the boundaries of the district which is the subject of the hearing, may be made in the same manner as to a corporation in addition to notice to unit owners, co-owners or homeowners on account of such common elements or areas.

(5)

The Township Clerk shall execute affidavits of proof of service of the notices required herein for the hearings on zoning district classification or boundary changes and shall keep the affidavits on file along with the proof of publication of the notice of the required public hearing on the proposed zoning regulation change. Costs of the notice provision shall be the responsibility of the proponent of the amendment.

§ 166-46 Vote of absentee members.

When any hearing before the Planning Board or Board of Adjustment, as the case may be, shall carry over two or more meetings, a member of the municipal agency conducting said hearing who is absent for one or more of the meetings shall be eligible to vote on the matter upon which the hearing was conducted, notwithstanding his absence from one or more of the meetings; provided, however, that said member has available to him a transcript or recording of the meeting from which he was absent and certifies, in writing, to the agency that he has read such transcript or listened to such recording prior to his voting or participating on any decision on the matter.

§ 166-47 Fees payable prior to approval.

[Amended 5-8-2014 by Ord. No. 17-14]

All fees as hereinafter required shall be payable to:

(1)

The Secretary of the Planning Board or Board of Adjustment in the case of an application to either board;

(2)

The Zoning Officer in the case of an application for a zoning permit or a site plan exemption;

(3)

The Township Engineer in the case of an application for a tree permit; or

(4)

The Township Clerk in the case of an application or appeal to the Township Committee.

All fees shall be payable at the time of filing any application for development. All permits, determinations, resolutions or certificates of approval are subject to the payment of all fees provided for in this chapter, and no approval shall be given by the approving authority until proof has been submitted to them that the requisite fees have, in fact, been paid. Furthermore, the applicant must submit proof that no taxes or assessments for local improvements are due or delinquent on the property before the approving authority may act on his application.

§ 166-48 Schedule of fees and deposits.

There is hereby established in connection with the various applications for development and other matters which are the subject of this chapter the following schedule of fees. Every applicant for development shall file with his application a filing fee as indicated in the following schedule under "Filing fees," in addition to technical review fees as indicated in the following schedule under "Technical review fees."

Filing fees.

[Amended 3-26-1987 by Ord. No. 2-87; 7-13-1995 by Ord. No. 18-95; 12-22-2008 by Ord. No. 32-08]

(1)

An application to the Planning Board or Zoning Board of Adjustment for any application for development or other matter to be decided by said boards shall be accompanied by a filing fee, which shall be used to defray the administrative costs of processing the application as follows:

(a)

Concept plan/informal review of development proposal: $100. Fee to be credited against the application fee for a subsequent formal application for the same property if such application is filed within one year of hearing on the concept plan.

(b)

Minor subdivision:

[1]

If limited to lot line relocation only, with no additional lots created: $200, plus $50 for each lot in the subdivision.

[2]

All others: $600, plus $200 for each lot in the subdivision, including the remainder.

(c)

Preliminary major subdivision: $1,000, plus $200 for each lot in the subdivision, including the remainder.

(d)

Final major subdivision:

[1]

If approval requested simultaneously with preliminary major subdivision approval: $250, plus $50 for each lot in the subdivision, including the remainder.

[2]

If approval requested subsequent to preliminary major subdivision approval: $500, plus $100 for each lot in the subdivision, including the remainder.

(e)

Preliminary major site plan:

[1]

Limited only to one or a combination of the following activities: change of use; alteration of the facade or roof of buildings; up to 250 square feet increase or reduction in the gross floor area; and/or site improvements or site disturbance of up to 250 square feet in area: $250.

[2]

All others: $500 for the first 10,000 square feet of lot area or fraction thereof disturbed or altered by the development, plus $100 for each additional 10,000 square feet of lot area or fraction thereof disturbed or altered by the development, plus $300 for the first 1,000 square feet of floor area of any new building or addition, plus $100 for each 1,000 square feet or fraction thereof of floor area over 1,000 square feet. In no case shall the application fee be less than $500 or more than $15,000.

(f)

Final site plan:

[1]

If approval requested simultaneously with preliminary major site plan approval: 20% of the fee for the preliminary major site plan, excluding any variance fee.

[2]

If approval requested subsequent to preliminary major site plan approval: 40% of the fee for the preliminary site plan, excluding any variance fee.

(g)

"C" variances (N.J.S.A. 40:55D-70c):

[1]

If not part of site plan or subdivision application, or if bifurcated from a site plan or subdivision application: $300 for each variance, but not more than $900, provided that the "c" variance fee for single-family detached dwellings shall not exceed $600.

[2]

If reviewed simultaneously with site plan and/or subdivision application: $150 for each variance, but not more than $450.

(h)

"D" variances (N.J.S.A. 40:55D-70d):

[1]

If not part of site plan or subdivision application, or if bifurcated from a site plan or subdivision application: 150% of the fee for "d" variances reviewed simultaneously with site plan and/or subdivision application (see below).

[2]

If reviewed simultaneously with site plan and/or subdivision application:

[a]

"D" variance involving prohibited use, expansion of nonconforming use or density: $1,000 per variance, but not to exceed $2,000.

[b]

"D" variance involving violation of conditional use requirement: $500 per variance, but not to exceed $1,000.

[c]

"D" variance involving violation of floor area ratio or height requirement: $300 per variance, but not to exceed $900.

(i)

Variance or site plan for application solely limited to an exempt antenna as defined by § 166-4, notwithstanding the above site plan and variance fees: $100.

(j)

Appeal for encroachment into mapped public area (§§ 166-19E, 166-215): $300.

(k)

Appeal for permit on a lot not abutting a street (§§ 166-19F, 166-216): $300.

(l)

Appeal of Zoning Officer or Township Engineer decision based on or made in the enforcement of the zoning regulations, Part 5 of this chapter (§§ 166-19A, 166-21A): $300.

[Amended 5-8-2014 by Ord. No. 17-14]

(m)

Zoning chapter interpretations or other special questions by Board of Adjustment (§ 166-19B): $300.

(n)

Amended approval of prior subdivision, site plan or variance application, as defined by § 166-4: 20% of the fee for the original application, but not to exceed $250.

(o)

Application to extend or toll period of protection against changes in development regulations, to extend expiration of variance deadline or to extend deadline for filing of subdivision: $200.

(p)

Application for certification of nonconforming use or structure: $50 if certification request decided by Zoning Officer, $200 if certification request decided by Board of Adjustment (see N.J.S.A. 40:55D-68).

(q)

Special meeting requested by interested party: $1,000.

(r)

Request to amend Master Plan or development regulations: $1,000 if request involves creation of a new zone district, $300 if request involves relocation of a zone boundary, and $200 for other requests.

(2)

In the case of proposals requiring a combination of approvals, such as subdivision, site plan and/or variance(s), the applicant shall pay a fee equal to the sum of the fees for each required approval.

Payment for professional services.

[Amended 12-11-1997 by Ord. No. 34-97]

(1)

The Chief Financial Officer of the Township shall make all of the payments to professionals for services rendered to the Township or approving authority for review of applications for development, review and preparation of documents, inspection of improvements or other purposes under the provisions of the Municipal Land Use Law[1] and this chapter. At the time of filing of an application for development, appeal or other matter pursuant to this chapter, the applicant shall pay to the Board Secretary a deposit, in accordance with the schedule in Subsection B(2) below, to be used to reimburse the Township for said professional services. Deposits shall be paid by cashier's check, certified check, bank money order or cash and shall be placed by the Township in an escrow account if required pursuant to § 166-48C(1). In the case of proposals requiring a combination of approvals, such as subdivision, site plan and/or variance(s), the applicant shall deposit an amount equal to the sum of the deposits required for each application. Notwithstanding the above, if the Board determines that professional services are not required in order to process and review the application, no deposit shall be required.

[1]

Editor's Note: See N.J.S.A. 40:55D-1 et seq.

(2)

Amount of deposits. The initial deposit for payment of professional services shall be four times the application fee or fees as set forth in the schedule of fees, provided that if the Board Secretary determines that a greater or lesser initial deposit is necessary to reimburse the anticipated cost of professional services on a particular application, such as circulation-intensive sites requiring the services of a traffic engineering consultant, the applicant shall be required to deposit said greater or lesser amount.

[Amended 12-22-2008 by Ord. No. 32-08]

Administration of technical review deposit fees. Deposits received for professional services employed by the Township to review applications for development, for Township inspection fees in accordance with this chapter or to satisfy the guaranty requirements of this chapter shall be administered in accordance with the following provisions:

[Amended 12-11-1997 by Ord. No. 34-97]

(1)

Deposits to be held in escrow. Whenever an amount of money in excess of $5,000 shall be deposited by an applicant with the Township, the money, until repaid or applied to the purposes for which it is deposited, including the applicant's portion of the interest earned thereon, except as otherwise provided in this chapter, shall continue to be the property of the applicant and shall be held in trust by the Township. Deposits received pursuant to this article shall be held in escrow and deposited in a banking institution or savings and loan association in New Jersey insured by an agency of the federal government, or any other fund or depository approved for such deposits by the State of New Jersey. Such deposits shall be placed in an account bearing interest at the minimum rate currently paid by the institution or depository on time or savings deposits. The Township 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.

(2)

Depletion of deposits. If an escrow account or deposit contains insufficient funds to enable the Township or approving authority to perform required application reviews or improvement inspections, the chief financial officer of the Township shall provide the applicant with a notice of the insufficient escrow or deposit balance. In order for work to continue on the development or the application, the applicant shall, within a reasonable time period, post a deposit to the account in an amount to be agreed upon by the Township or approving authority and the applicant. In the interim, any required health and safety inspections shall be made and charged back against the replenishment of funds.

(3)

Failure to maintain adequate deposit. No application shall be deemed complete and no formal action shall be taken by the Board until the initial deposit required by Subsection B(2) above has been submitted. If the funds required by Subsection C(2) above for professional services are not deposited in a timely manner, the Board Secretary shall notify the board having jurisdiction over the application. No further action shall be taken on the application unless the deposits have been made by the applicant as required above. In the event that the time for action by the Board, or any extension thereof as required by this chapter, shall expire prior to the payment of the required deposits, the Board may, at its discretion, dismiss the application.

(4)

Eligible charges against deposit. All professional charges for review of an application for development review and preparation of documents or inspection of improvements shall be reasonable and necessary, given the status and progress of the application or construction. The following provisions shall apply:

(a)

Application review and inspection charges shall be limited only to professional charges for review of applications, review and preparation of documents and inspections of developments under construction and review by outside consultants when an application is of a nature beyond the scope of the expertise of the professionals normally utilized by the Township.

(b)

Review fees shall be charged only in connection with an application for development presently pending before the approving authority or upon review of compliance with conditions of approval or review of requests for modification or amendment made by the applicant. A professional shall not review items which are subject to approval by any state governmental agency and not under Township jurisdiction except to the extent consultation with a state agency is necessary due to the effect of state approvals on the subdivision or site plan.

(c)

Inspection fees shall be charged only for actual work shown on a subdivision or site plan or required by an approving resolution. Professionals inspecting improvements under construction shall charge only for inspections that are reasonably necessary to check the progress and quality of the work and such inspections shall be reasonably based on the approved development plans and documents.

(d)

The only costs that shall be added to any such charges in Subsection C(4)(a) through (c) above shall be actual out-of-pocket expenses of any such professionals or consultants, including normal and typical expenses incurred in processing applications and inspecting improvements.

(e)

The Township or approving authority shall not bill the applicant or charge any escrow account or deposit authorized herein for any Township clerical or administrative functions, overhead expenses, meeting room charges or any other Township costs and expenses, except as provided for in this section, nor shall a Township professional add any such charges to his bill.

(f)

If the Township retains a different professional or consultant in the place of the professional originally responsible for development application review or inspection of improvements, the Township or approving authority shall be responsible for all time and expenses of the new professional to become familiar with the application or the project, and the Township or approving authority shall not bill the applicant or charge the deposit or the escrow account for any such services.

(5)

Rates of payment for professional services. If the salary, staff support and overhead for a professional are provided by the Township, the hourly rate charged to the deposit from said professional shall be at 200% of the sum of the products resulting from multiplying the hourly base salary, which shall be established annually by ordinance, of each of the professionals by the number of hours spent by the respective professional on review of the application for development or inspection of the developer's improvements, as the case may be. For other professionals, the charge shall be at the same rate as all other work of the same nature by the professional for the Township when fees are not reimbursed or otherwise imposed on applicants or developers. Rates for professional services shall be in accordance with a schedule of professional fees filed annually with the Board Secretary and maintained in the office of the Township Clerk for public inspection.

(6)

Vouchers for payment of professional services. Each payment charged to a deposit for the review of applications, review and preparation of documents and inspection of improvements shall be pursuant to a voucher from the professional. The processing of vouchers shall be in accordance with the following:

(a)

The voucher shall identify the personnel performing the service and for each date the services are performed, the hours spent to one-quarter-hour increments, the hourly rate and the expenses incurred.

(b)

All professionals shall submit vouchers to the chief financial officer of the Township on a monthly basis in accordance with the schedules and procedures established by the chief financial officer of the Township.

(c)

If the services are provided by a Township employee, the Township employee shall prepare and submit to the chief financial officer of the Township a statement containing the same information as required on a voucher, on a monthly basis.

(d)

The professional shall send an informational copy of all vouchers or statements submitted to the chief financial officer of the Township simultaneously to the applicant.

(e)

The chief financial officer of the Township shall prepare and send to the applicant a statement which shall include an accounting of funds listing all deposits, interest earnings, disbursements and the cumulative balance of the escrow account. This information shall be provided on a quarterly basis, if monthly charges are $1,000 or less, or on a monthly basis, if monthly charges exceed $1,000.

(7)

Appeals of charges. An applicant shall notify, in writing, the Township Committee, with copies to the chief financial officer of the Township, the approving authority and the professional, whenever the applicant disputes the charges made by a professional for service rendered to the Township in reviewing applications for development, review and preparation of documents, inspection of improvements or other charges made pursuant to the Municipal Land Use Law. The following shall apply:

(a)

An applicant shall file an appeal within 45 days from receipt of the informational copy of the professional's voucher required by Subsection C(6)(d) above, except that if the professional has not supplied the applicant with an informational copy of the voucher, then the applicant shall file his appeal within 60 days from receipt of the Township statement of activity against the deposit or escrow account required by Subsection C(6)(e) above.

(b)

The Township Committee, or its designee, shall, within a reasonable time period, attempt to remediate any disputed charges.

(c)

If the matter is not resolved to the satisfaction of the applicant, the applicant may appeal to the County Construction Board of Appeals established under Section 9 of P.L. 1975, c. 217 (N.J.S.A. 52:27D-127) any charge to an escrow account or a deposit by any Township professional or consultant. An applicant or his authorized agent shall submit the appeal, in writing, to the County Construction Board of Appeals. The applicant or his authorized agent shall simultaneously send a copy of the appeal to the Township, approving authority and any professional whose charge is the subject of the appeal. The procedures followed by the County Construction Board of Appeals shall be as set forth in N.J.S.A. 40:55D-53.2b and c.

(d)

An applicant may file an appeal for an ongoing series of charges by a professional during a period not exceeding six months to demonstrate that they represent a pattern of excessive or inaccurate charges. An applicant making use of this provision need not appeal each charge individually.

(e)

During the pendence of any appeal, the Township or approving authority shall continue to process, hear and decide the application for development and to inspect the development in the normal course and shall not withhold, delay or deny reviews, inspections, signing of subdivision plats or site plans, the reduction or the release of performance and maintenance guaranties, the issuance of construction permits or certificates of occupancy or any other approval or permit because an appeal has been filed or is pending under this subsection. The chief financial officer of the Township may pay charges out of the appropriate escrow account or deposit for which an appeal has been filed.

(f)

If a charge is disallowed after payment, the chief financial officer of the Township shall reimburse the deposit or escrow account in the amount of any such disallowed charge or refund the amount to the applicant. If a charge is disallowed after payment to a professional or consultant who is not an employee of the Township, the professional or consultant shall reimburse the Township in the amount of any such disallowed charge.

(8)

Refund of deposits; interest. Any of the funds remaining in the deposit upon completion of the purpose for which the deposit was made shall be returned to the applicant and the account shall be terminated. For deposits over $5,000 placed in an interest bearing account pursuant to this chapter, refunds of interest shall be made as follows:

(a)

The Township shall not be required to refund an amount of interest paid on a deposit which does not exceed $100 for the year.

(b)

If the amount of interest exceeds $100 for the year, that entire amount shall belong to the applicant and shall be refunded to him by the Township 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 Township may retain for administrative expenses a sum equivalent to no more than 1/3 of that entire amount, which shall be in lieu of all other administrative and custodial expenses.

(9)

Procedure for closing of deposits and escrow accounts. The following closeout procedure shall apply to all deposits and escrow accounts established under the Municipal Land Use Law and this chapter:

(a)

In the case of application review escrows and deposits, the closeout of deposits and escrow accounts shall commence after the approving authority has granted final approval and signed the subdivision plat or site plan or after the authority has denied the application or after the applicant has formally withdrawn the application.

(b)

In the case of improvement inspection escrows and deposits, the closeout of deposits and escrow accounts shall commence after the improvements have been approved as provided in § 166-67.

(c)

The applicant shall send written notice by certified mail to the chief financial officer of the Township and the approving authority and to the relevant Township professional that the application is completed, denied or withdrawn or the improvements are completed, as the case may be.

(d)

After receipt of such notice, the professional shall render a final bill to the chief financial officer of the Township within 30 days and shall send a copy simultaneously to the applicant.

(e)

The chief financial officer of the Township shall render a written final accounting to the applicant on the uses to which the deposit was put within 45 days of receipt of the final bill. Any balances remaining in the deposit or escrow account, including interest in accordance with Subsection C(8) above, shall be refunded to the developer along with the final accounting.

Governing body decision. A copy of a decision of the governing body to an interested party in connection with an appeal pursuant to Article VIII of this chapter: $10.

Publication of decision. Publication in a newspaper of general circulation of a decision of the Township Council on an appeal as set forth in Article VIII of this chapter: the cost of publication.

Certification of subdivision approval. Certification of subdivision approval or deed description pursuant to P.L. 1975, c. 291: $30.

Zoning permit: $50.

Transcripts. Copies, duplicates or transcripts of records of proceedings furnished to an interested party pursuant to P.L. 1975, c. 291, Section 6f (N.J.S.A. 40:55D-10f): $0.40 for each folio or original and $0.10 for each of the copies, or the maximum permitted by N.J.S.A. 2A:11-15,[2] whichever is the greater.

[2]

Editor's Note: N.J.S.A. 2A:11-15 was repealed by L. 1991, c. 119, § 4, effective April 25, 1991.

Appeals to the governing body. Any appeal to the governing body shall be accompanied by a fee of $30. The applicant shall furnish 11 copies of the transcript of the hearing record before the approving authority.

Inspection fees for required improvements.

[Amended 12-11-1997 by Ord. No. 34-97]

(1)

The developer shall reimburse the Township for all reasonable inspection fees for the inspection of improvements required pursuant to this chapter. Prior to the initiation of any construction approved pursuant to this chapter, the developer shall deposit with the Board Secretary sufficient funds to reimburse the Township for inspection fees. Deposits shall be paid by cashier's check, certified check, bank money order or cash. The Township shall not perform any inspection if sufficient funds to pay for those inspections are not on deposit. Deposits shall be as follows:

(a)

The developer shall deposit for the inspection fees an amount with the Township not to exceed, except for extraordinary circumstances, the greater of $500 or 5% of the cost of improvements, which cost shall be determined pursuant to § 166-64.

(b)

For those developments for which the reasonably anticipated inspection fees are less than $10,000, inspection fee deposits may, at the option of the developer, be paid in two installments. The initial amount deposited by a developer shall be 50% of the reasonably anticipated inspection fees. When the balance on deposit drops to 10% of the reasonably anticipated inspection fees because the amount deposited by the developer has been reduced by the amount paid to the Township for inspection, the developer shall deposit the remaining 50% of the anticipated inspection fees.

(c)

For those developments for which the reasonably anticipated inspection fees are $10,000 or greater, inspection fee deposits may, at the option of the developer, be paid in four installments. The initial amount deposited by a developer shall be 25% of the reasonably anticipated fees. When the balance on deposit drops to 10% of the reasonably anticipated fees because the amount deposited by the developer has been reduced by the amount paid to the Township for inspection, the developer shall make additional deposits of 25% of the reasonably anticipated fees.

(2)

Appeals of amount of deposit or amount of fee. Appeals of the amount required to be deposited for the payment of inspection fees or the amount charged for the inspection of improvements shall follow the procedures in § 166-48C(7).

Township projects exempted. Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, land use and development by the Township of Hanover, the Cedar Knolls Fire Department and First Aid Squad, the Whippany Fire Department, the Boards of Commissioners of Fire Districts 2 and 3, the Hanover Sewerage Authority and the Whippanong Library are not subject to requirements relating to fees, reimbursement of professional review costs and the posting of bonds otherwise required hereunder. In addition, development projects of the Township of Hanover, the local Hanover Township Board of Education and the Hanover Park Regional High School District Board of Education shall likewise be exempt from the payment of fees, reimbursement of professional review costs and the posting of bonds otherwise required pursuant to this chapter.

[Amended 4-10-2014 by Ord. No. 9-14]

List of property owners. List of property owners from current tax duplicate pursuant to P.L. 1975, c. 291, Section 7.1c (N.J.S.A. 40:55D-12c): $0.25 per name or $10, whichever is greater.

Tree removal permit application fees.

[Added 12-19-2011 by Ord. No. 30-11; amended 8-23-2012 by Ord. No. 19-12; 2-14-2013 by Ord. No. 3-13; 2-14-2013 by Ord. No. 3-13]

(1)

Tree removal as part of a site plan, subdivision or variance application. No additional application fee above that required for the development application by this chapter shall be required for tree removal requested as part of a site plan, subdivision, variance or other development application or appeal submitted to the Planning Board or Board of Adjustment.

[Amended 8-8-2013 by Ord. No. 22-13]

(2)

Tree removal for development that does not require Planning Board or Board of Adjustment approval. The application fee shall be $100 for up to three regulated trees to be removed, plus $25 for each additional regulated tree to be removed; provided, however, that the application fee shall not exceed $1,000. Notwithstanding the foregoing, no application fee shall be required for the following tree removal:

(a)

On each lot, the removal of one tree per calendar year, if the removal of such tree is not prohibited by § 166-131.

(b)

Removal of any number of trees which are dead, dying, critically diseased and/or hazardous to human life or property.

§ 166-48.1 Development fees.

[Added 12-22-1993 by Ord. No. 43-93; amended 2-26-1998 by Ord. No. 5-98; 12-20-1999 by Ord. No. 33-99; 5-11-2000 by Ord. No. 6-2000; 6-27-2002 by Ord. No. 14-2002; 3-10-2005 by Ord. No. 7-2005; 11-14-2019 by Ord. No. 48-19; 3-12-2026 by Ord. No. 9-2026]

Purpose.

(1)

This section establishes standards for the collection, maintenance, and expenditure of development fees that are consistent with the amended Fair Housing Act (P.L. 2024, c. 2), N.J.A.C. 5:99, and the Statewide Non-Residential Development Fee Act (N.J.S.A. 40:55D-8.1 through 8.7). Fees collected pursuant to this section shall be used for the sole purpose of providing very-low-, low- and moderate-income housing in accordance with a Court-approved Spending Plan.

Basic requirements.

(1)

The municipality previously adopted a development fee ordinance, which established the Municipal Affordable Housing Trust Fund.

(2)

The municipality shall not spend development fees until the court has approved a plan for spending such fees.

Definitions.

(1)

The terms used in this Section shall be as defined in the Township's Affordable Housing Code at Chapter 72.

Residential development fees.

(1)

Imposed fees.

(a)

Residential developers, except for developers of the types of development specifically exempted below, shall pay a fee of 1.0% of the equalized assessed value for residential development, provided no increased density is permitted. Development fees shall also be imposed and collected when an additional dwelling unit is added to an existing residential structure; in such cases, the fee shall be calculated based on the increase in the equalized assessed value of the property due to the additional dwelling unit.

(b)

When an increase in residential density is permitted pursuant to a "d" variance granted under N.J.S.A. 40:55D-70d(5), developers shall be required to pay a "bonus" development fee of 6.0% of the equalized assessed value for each additional unit that may be realized, except that this provision shall not be applicable to a development that will include affordable housing. If the zoning on a site has changed during the two-year period preceding the filing of such a variance application, the base density for the purposes of calculating the bonus development fee shall be the highest density permitted by right during the two-year period preceding the filing of the variance application.

Example: If an approval allows four units to be constructed on a site that was zoned for two units, the fees could equal 1.0% of the equalized assessed value on the first two units; and the specified higher percentage of 6% of the equalized assessed value for the two additional units, provided zoning on the site has not changed during the two-year period preceding the filing of such a variance application.

(2)

Eligible exactions, ineligible exactions and exemptions for residential development.

(a)

Affordable housing developments, developments where the developer is providing for the construction of affordable units elsewhere in the municipality, and developments where the developer has made an eligible payment in lieu of on-site construction of affordable units, if permitted by ordinance, or by agreement with the municipality and if approved by a municipality prior to the statutory elimination of payments in-lieu on March 20, 2024, per P.L. 2024, c. 2, shall be exempt from development fees. All other forms of new construction shall be subject to development fees unless exempted below.

(b)

Developments that have received preliminary or final site plan approval prior to the adoption of this ordinance and any preceding ordinance permitting the collection of development fees shall be exempt from the payment of development fees, unless the developer seeks a substantial change in the original approval. Where a site plan approval does not apply, the issuance of a zoning and/or building permit shall be synonymous with preliminary or final site plan approval for the purpose of determining the right to an exemption. In all cases, the applicable fee percentage shall be determined based upon the development fee ordinance in effect on the date that the construction permit is issued.

(c)

Development fees shall be imposed and collected when an existing structure undergoes a change to a more intense use, is demolished and replaced, or is expanded, unless the expansion, enlargement, or improvement leads to the creation of additional dwelling unit(s). The development fee shall be calculated on the increase in the equalized assessed value of the improved structure.

(d)

No development fee shall be collected for the demolition and replacement of a residential building resulting from a fire or natural disaster.

Non-residential development fees.

(1)

Imposition of fees.

(a)

Within all zoning districts, non-residential developers, except for developers of the types of development specifically exempted, shall pay a fee equal to 2.5% of the equalized assessed value of the land and improvements, for all new non-residential construction on an unimproved lot or lots.

(b)

Within all zoning districts, non-residential developers, except for developers of the types of development specifically exempted, shall also pay a fee equal to 2.5% of the increase in equalized assessed value resulting from any additions to existing structures to be used for non-residential purposes.

(c)

Development fees shall be imposed and collected when an existing structure is demolished and replaced. The development fee of 2.5% shall be calculated on the difference between the equalized assessed value of the pre-existing land and improvements and the equalized assessed value of the newly improved structure; i.e., land and improvements; and such calculation shall be made at the time a final certificate of occupancy is issued. If the calculation required under this section results in a negative number, the non-residential development fee shall be zero.

(2)

Eligible exactions, ineligible exactions and exemptions for non-residential development.

(a)

The non-residential portion of a mixed-use inclusionary or market-rate development shall be subject to a 2.5% development fee, unless otherwise exempted below.

(b)

The 2.5% fee shall not apply to an increase in equalized assessed value resulting from alterations, change in use within existing footprint, reconstruction, renovations and repairs.

(3)

Non-residential developments shall be exempt from the payment of non-residential development fees in accordance with the exemptions required pursuant to the Statewide Non-Residential Development Fee Act (N.J.S.A. 40:55D-8.1 through 8.7), as specified in Form N-RDF, "State of New Jersey Non-Residential Development Certification/Exemption." Any exemption claimed by a developer shall be substantiated by that developer.

(4)

A developer of a non-residential development exempted from the non-residential development fee pursuant to the Statewide Non-Residential Development Fee Act shall be subject to the fee at such time as the basis for the exemption no longer applies, and shall make the payment of the non-residential development fee, in that event, within three years after that event or after the issuance of the final certificate of occupancy of the non-residential development, whichever is later.

(5)

If a property that was exempted from the collection of a non-residential development fee thereafter ceases to be exempt from property taxation, the owner of the property shall remit the fees required pursuant to this section within 45 days of the termination of the property tax exemption. Unpaid non-residential development fees under these circumstances may be enforceable by the municipality as a lien against the real property of the owner.

Collection procedures.

(1)

Upon the granting of a preliminary, final or other applicable approval for a development, the applicable approving authority shall direct its staff to notify the construction official responsible for the issuance of a building permit.

(2)

For non-residential developments only, the developer shall also be provided with a copy of Form N-RDF, "State of New Jersey Non-Residential Development Certification/Exemption," to be completed by the developer as per the instructions provided in the Form N-RDF. The construction official shall verify the information submitted by the non-residential developer as per the instructions provided on Form N-RDF. The tax assessor shall verify exemptions and prepare estimated and final assessments as per the instructions provided in Form N-RDF.

(3)

The construction official responsible for the issuance of a building permit shall notify the tax assessor of the issuance of the first construction permit for a development that is subject to a development fee.

(4)

Within 90 days of receipt of that notice, the tax assessor shall provide an estimate, based on the plans filed, of the equalized assessed value of the development.

(5)

The construction official responsible for the issuance of a final certificate of occupancy shall notify the tax assessor of any and all requests for the scheduling of a final inspection on property that is subject to a development fee.

(6)

Within 10 business days of a request for the scheduling of a final inspection, the tax assessor shall confirm or modify the previously estimated equalized assessed value of the improvements associated with the development; calculate the development fee; and thereafter notify the developer of the amount of the fee.

(7)

Should the municipality fail to determine or notify the developer of the amount of the development fee within 10 business days of the request for final inspection, the developer may estimate the amount due and pay that estimated amount consistent with the dispute process set forth in Subsection b. of section 37 of P.L. 2008, c.46 (N.J.S.A. 40:55D-8.6).

(8)

The developer shall pay 100% of the calculated development fee amount prior to the municipal issuance of a final certificate of occupancy for the subject property.

Appeal of development fees.

(1)

A developer may challenge residential development fees imposed by filing a challenge with the County Board of Taxation. Pending a review and determination by that board, collected fees shall be placed in an interest-bearing escrow account by the municipality. Appeals from a determination of the board may be made to the Tax Court in accordance with the provisions of the State Tax Uniform Procedure Law, N.J.S.A. 54:48-1 et seq., within 90 days after the date of such determination. Interest earned on amounts escrowed shall be credited to the prevailing party.

(2)

A developer may challenge non-residential development fees imposed by filing a challenge with the director of the Division of Taxation. Pending a review and determination by the director, which shall be made within 45 days of receipt of the challenge, collected fees shall be placed in an interest-bearing escrow account by the municipality. Appeals from a determination of the director may be made to the Tax Court in accordance with the provisions of the State Tax Uniform Procedure Law, N.J.S.A. 54:48-1 et seq., within 90 days after the date of such determination. Interest earned on amounts escrowed shall be credited to the prevailing party.

Affordable housing trust fund.

(1)

A separate, interest-bearing Municipal Affordable Housing Trust Fund shall be maintained by the chief financial officer of the municipality for the purpose of depositing development fees collected from residential and non-residential developers and proceeds from the sale of units with extinguished controls.

(2)

The following additional funds shall be deposited in the Municipal Affordable Housing Trust Fund and shall at all times be identifiable by source and amount:

(a)

Payments in lieu of on-site construction of an affordable unit, where previously permitted by ordinance or by agreement with the municipality and if approved by a municipality prior to the statutory elimination of payments in-lieu on March 20, 2024, per P.L. 2024, c.2;

(b)

Funds contributed by developers to make 10% of the adaptable entrances in a townhouse or other multistory attached dwelling unit development accessible;

(c)

Rental income from municipally operated units;

(d)

Repayments from affordable housing program loans;

(e)

Recapture funds;

(f)

Proceeds from the sale of affordable units; and

(g)

Any other funds collected in connection with the municipal affordable housing program, including but not limited to interest earned on fund deposits.

(3)

The municipality shall provide the Division with written authorization, in the form of a tri-party escrow agreement(s) between the municipality, the Division and the financial institution in which the municipal affordable housing trust fund has been established to permit the Division to direct the disbursement of the funds as provided for in N.J.A.C. 5:99-2.1 et seq.

(4)

Occurrence of any of the following deficiencies may result in the Division requiring the forfeiture of all or a portion of the funds in the municipal Affordable Housing Trust Fund:

(a)

Failure to meet deadlines for information required by the Division in its review of a development fee ordinance;

(b)

Failure to commit or expend development fees within four years of the date of collection in accordance with N.J.A.C. 5:99-5.5;

(c)

Failure to comply with the requirements of the Non-Residential Development Fee Act and N.J.A.C. 5:99-3;

(d)

Failure to submit accurate monitoring reports pursuant to this section within the time limits imposed by the Act, this chapter, and/or the Division;

(e)

Expenditure of funds on activities not approved by the Superior Court or otherwise permitted by law;

(f)

Revocation of compliance certification or a judgment of compliance and repose;

(g)

Failure of a municipal housing liaison or administrative agent to comply with the requirements set forth at N.J.A.C. 5:99-6, 7, and 8;

(h)

Other good cause demonstrating that municipal affordable housing funds are not being used for an approved purpose.

(5)

All interest accrued in the housing trust fund shall only be used on eligible affordable housing purposes approved by the Court.

Use of funds.

(1)

The expenditure of all funds shall conform to a Spending Plan approved by Superior Court. Funds deposited in the municipal Affordable Housing Trust Fund may be used for any activity approved by the Court to address the fair share obligation and may be set up as a grant or revolving loan program. Such activities include, but are not limited to: preservation or purchase of housing for the purpose of maintaining or implementing affordability controls; housing rehabilitation; new construction of affordable housing units and related costs; accessory apartments; a market-to-affordable program; conversion of existing non-residential buildings to create new affordable units; green building strategies designed to be cost-saving and in accordance with accepted national or state standards; purchase of land for affordable housing; improvement of land to be used for affordable housing; extensions or improvements of roads and infrastructure to affordable housing sites; financial assistance designed to increase affordability; administration necessary for implementation of the Housing Element and Fair Share Plan; and/or any other activity permitted by Superior Court and specified in the approved Spending Plan.

(2)

Funds shall not be expended to reimburse the municipality or activities that occurred prior to the authorization of a municipality to collect development fees.

(3)

At least a portion of all development fees collected and interest earned shall be used to provide affordability assistance to very-low-, low- and moderate-income households in affordable units included in the municipal Fair Share Plan. A portion of the development fees which provide affordability assistance shall be used to provide affordability assistance to very-low-income households.

(a)

Affordability assistance programs may include down payment assistance, security deposit assistance, low-interest loans, rental assistance, assistance with homeowners association or condominium fees and special assessments, infrastructure assistance, and assistance with emergency repairs. The specific programs to be used for affordability assistance shall be identified and described within the Spending Plan.

(b)

Affordability assistance for very-low-income households may include producing very-low-income units or buying down the cost of low- or moderate-income units in the municipal Fair Share Plan to make them affordable to households earning 30% or less of median income.

(4)

No more than 20% of all affordable housing trust funds, exclusive of those collected to fund an RCA prior to July 17, 2008, shall be expended on administration, including, but not limited to, salaries and benefits for municipal employees or consultants' fees necessary to develop or implement a new construction program, prepare and implement a Housing Element and Fair Share Plan, administer an Affirmative Marketing Program and for compliance with the Superior Court and the Program including the costs to the municipality of resolving a challenge.

Monitoring.

(1)

On or before February 15 of each year, the municipality shall provide annual electronic data reporting of trust fund activity for the previous year from January 1 to December 31 through the AHMS Reporting System. This reporting shall include an accounting of all Municipal Affordable Housing Trust Fund activity, including the sources and amounts of all funds collected and the amounts and purposes for which any funds have been expended. Such reporting shall include an accounting of development fees collected from residential and non- residential developers, previously eligible payments in lieu of constructing affordable units on site (if permitted by ordinance or by agreement with the municipality prior to the March 20, 2024, statutory elimination per P.L. 2024, c.4), funds from the sale of units with extinguished controls, barrier-free escrow funds, rental income from municipally owned affordable housing units, repayments from affordable housing program loans, interest and any other funds collected in connection with municipal housing programs, as well as an accounting of the expenditures of revenues and implementation of the Spending Plan approved by the Court.

Ongoing collection of fees.

(1)

The ability to impose, collect and expend development fees shall continue so long as the municipality retains authorization from the Court in the form of Compliance Certification or the good faith effort to obtain it.

(2)

If the municipality fails to renew its ability to impose and collect development fees prior to the expiration of its Judgment of Compliance, it may be subject to forfeiture of any or all funds remaining within its Affordable Housing Trust Fund. Any funds so forfeited shall be deposited into the New Jersey Affordable Housing Trust Fund established pursuant to section 20 of P.L. 1985, c.222 (N.J.S.A. 52:27D-320).

Emergent affordable housing opportunities.

(1)

Requests to expend affordable housing trust funds on emergent affordable housing opportunities not included in the municipal fair share plan shall be made to the Division and shall be in the form of a governing body resolution. Any request shall be consistent with N.J.A.C. 5:99-4.1.

§ 166-49 Right to appeal.

Any interested party may appeal to the governing body any final decision of the Board of Adjustment approving an application for development pursuant to Section 57d of Chapter 291 of the Laws of 1975, as amended.[1]

[1]

Editor's Note: See N.J.S.A. 40:55D-70.

§ 166-50 Time period for appeal.

Any appeal listed in § 166-49 shall be made within 10 days of the date of publication of such final decision pursuant to § 166-40 of this chapter. The appeal to the Township Committee shall be made by serving the Township Clerk in person or by certified mail with a notice of appeal specifying the grounds thereof and the name and address of the appellant and the name and address of his attorney, if represented. Such appeal shall be decided by the Township Committee only upon the record established before the Planning Board or Board of Adjustment.

§ 166-51 Notice of meeting to consider appeal.

Notice of the meeting to review the record below shall be given by the Township Committee by personal service or certified mail to the appellant, to those entitled to notice of a decision pursuant to § 166-39 and to the Board from which the appeal is taken at least 10 days prior to the date of the meeting. The parties may submit oral and written argument on the record at such meeting, and the governing body shall provide for verbatim recording and transcripts of such meeting pursuant to § 166-37C.

§ 166-52 Time period for decision.

The appellant shall either, within five days of service of the notice of the appeal pursuant to § 166-49 of this article, arrange for a transcript pursuant to § 166-37C of this chapter for use by the governing body and pay a deposit of $50 or the estimated cost of such transcription, whichever is less, or, within 35 days of service of the notice of appeal, submit a transcript as otherwise arranged by the appellant to the Township Clerk; otherwise, the appeal may be dismissed for failure to prosecute.

The governing body shall conclude a review of the record below not later than 95 days from the date of the receipt of the transcript of the proceedings below unless the applicant consents, in writing, to an extension of such period. Failure of the governing body to hold a hearing and conclude a review of the record below and to render a decision within such specified period shall constitute a decision affirming the action of the Board from which the appeal has been taken.

§ 166-53 Decision of Township Committee.

The governing body may reverse, remand or affirm, with or without the imposition of conditions, the final decision of the Board of Adjustment approving a variance pursuant to Section 57d of P.L. 1975, c. 291 (N.J.S.A. 40:55D-70). The review shall be made on the record made before the Board of Adjustment. The affirmative vote of a majority of the full authorized membership of the governing body shall be necessary to reverse, remand or affirm, with or without conditions, any final action of the Board of Adjustment.

§ 166-54 Stay of proceedings.

An appeal to the Township Committee shall stay all proceedings in furtherance of the action in respect to which the decision appealed from was made unless the Board from whose action the appeal is taken certifies to the Township Committee, after the notice of appeal shall have been filed with such Board, that, by reason of facts stated in the certificate, a stay would, in its opinion, cause imminent peril to life or property. In such case, proceedings shall not be stayed other than by an order of the Superior Court, on application upon notice to the Board from which the appeal is taken and on good cause shown.

§ 166-55 Publication of decision.

The Township Committee shall mail a copy of the decision to the appellant or, if represented, then to his attorney, without separate charge, and, for a reasonable charge, to any interested party who has requested it, not later than 10 days after the date of the decision. A brief notice of the decision shall be published in the official newspaper of the municipality or in a newspaper of general circulation in the municipality. Such publication shall be arranged by the Township Clerk, provided that nothing contained herein shall be construed as preventing the applicant from arranging such publication if he so desires. The Township Committee shall charge the applicant for its publication. The 45 days in which an appeal to a court of competent jurisdiction may be made shall run from the first publication, whether arranged by the municipality or the applicant.

§ 166-56 Court review.

Nothing in this chapter shall be construed to restrict the right of any party to obtain a review by any court of competent jurisdiction according to law and at any stage of the proceedings before the municipal agency.

§ 166-57 Transcripts on appeal.

The Township shall provide the transcripts of the proceedings before any municipal agency when any action of that municipal agency is appealed to the governing body, pursuant to this article VIII. However, the person filing the appeal of any municipal agency to the governing body shall be required to pay the cost of providing said transcripts of hearings which exceed the sum of $500.

New Hanover Township
City Zoning Code

PART 3

§ 166-30 Adoption of regulations.

§ 166-31 Exclusive authority of Planning Board and Board of Adjustment.

§ 166-32 Tolling of running of period of approval.

§ 166-33 Conditional approvals.

§ 166-34 When required.

§ 166-35 Rules: filing of documents; complete application.

§ 166-36 Presiding officer at hearings.

§ 166-37 Conduct of hearing.

§ 166-38 Record of decisions.

§ 166-39 Copies of decisions.

§ 166-40 Publication of decisions.

§ 166-41 Public notice of hearing.

§ 166-42 Notice of application for development.

§ 166-43 Notice of hearing involving Master Plan.

§ 166-44 Effect of mailing notice.

§ 166-45 Notice of hearing on ordinance, capital improvement, Official Map.

§ 166-46 Vote of absentee members.

§ 166-47 Fees payable prior to approval.

§ 166-48 Schedule of fees and deposits.

§ 166-48.1 Development fees.

§ 166-49 Right to appeal.

§ 166-50 Time period for appeal.

§ 166-51 Notice of meeting to consider appeal.

§ 166-52 Time period for decision.

§ 166-53 Decision of Township Committee.

§ 166-54 Stay of proceedings.

§ 166-55 Publication of decision.

§ 166-56 Court review.

§ 166-57 Transcripts on appeal.

New Hanover TownshipCity Zoning Code

PART 3

§ 166-30 Adoption of regulations.

§ 166-31 Exclusive authority of Planning Board and Board of Adjustment.

§ 166-32 Tolling of running of period of approval.

§ 166-33 Conditional approvals.

§ 166-34 When required.

§ 166-35 Rules: filing of documents; complete application.

§ 166-36 Presiding officer at hearings.

§ 166-37 Conduct of hearing.

§ 166-38 Record of decisions.

§ 166-39 Copies of decisions.

§ 166-40 Publication of decisions.

§ 166-41 Public notice of hearing.

§ 166-42 Notice of application for development.

§ 166-43 Notice of hearing involving Master Plan.

§ 166-44 Effect of mailing notice.

§ 166-45 Notice of hearing on ordinance, capital improvement, Official Map.

§ 166-46 Vote of absentee members.

§ 166-47 Fees payable prior to approval.

§ 166-48 Schedule of fees and deposits.

§ 166-48.1 Development fees.

§ 166-49 Right to appeal.

§ 166-50 Time period for appeal.

§ 166-51 Notice of meeting to consider appeal.

§ 166-52 Time period for decision.

§ 166-53 Decision of Township Committee.

§ 166-54 Stay of proceedings.

§ 166-55 Publication of decision.

§ 166-56 Court review.

§ 166-57 Transcripts on appeal.

New Hanover Township
City Zoning Code