Spring Lake Heights
City Zoning Code

In Holmdel Builder's Association V. Holmdel Township, 121 N.J. 550 (1990), the New Jersey Supreme Court determined that mandatory development fees are authorized by the Fair Housing Act of 1985 (the Act), N.J.S.A. 52:27d-301 et seq., and the State Constitution, subject to the Council on Affordable Housing's (COAH's) adoption of rules.

Pursuant to P.L. 2008, c.46 section 8 (C. 52:27D-329.2) and the Statewide Non-Residential Development Fee Act (C. 40:55D-8.1 through 8.7), COAH is authorized to adopt and promulgate regulations necessary for the establishment, implementation, review, monitoring and enforcement of municipal affordable housing trust funds and corresponding spending plans. Municipalities that are under the jurisdiction of the Council or court of competent jurisdiction and have a COAH or court approved spending plan may retain fees collected from non-residential development.

In Re: Adoption of N.J.A.C. 5:96 and 5:97 by the New Jersey Council on Affordable Housing, 221 N.J. 1 (2015), also known as the Mount Laurel IV decision, the Supreme Court remanded COAH's duties to the Superior Court. As a result, affordable housing development fee collections and expenditures from the municipal affordable housing trust funds to implement municipal Third Round Fair Share Plans through July 1, 2025, are under the Court's jurisdiction and are subject to approval by the Court.

This subsection establishes standards for the collection, maintenance, and expenditure of development fees pursuant to COAH's regulations and in accordance P.L. 2008, c.46, Sections 8 and 32-38. Fees collected pursuant to this ordinance shall be used for the sole purpose of providing low- and moderate-income housing. This subsection shall be interpreted within the framework of COAH's rules on development fees, codified at N.J.A.C. 5:97-8.

The following terms, as used in this subsection, shall have the following meanings:

Imposed Fees.

Eligible exactions, ineligible exactions and exemptions for residential development.

Imposed fees.

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

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 or Zoning Officer whomever is responsible for the issuance of a building permit.

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 as per the instructions provided. The developer of a non-residential development shall complete Form N-RDF as per the instructions provided. The construction official shall verify the information submitted by the non-residential developer as per the instructions provided in the Form N-RDF. The Tax assessor shall verify exemptions and prepare estimated and final assessments as per the instructions provided in Form N-RDF.

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

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

The construction official responsible for the issuance of a final certificate of occupancy notifies the local assessor of any and all requests for the scheduling of a final inspection of property which is subject to a development fee.

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

Should Spring Lake Heights fail to determine or notify the developer of the amount of the development fee within ten (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 (C.40:55D-8.6).

Fifty percent (50%) of the development fee shall be collected at the time of issuance of the building permit. The remaining portion shall be collected at the issuance of the certificate of occupancy. The developer shall be responsible for paying the difference between the fee calculated at building permit and that determined at issuance of certificate of occupancy.

Appeal of development fees.

There is hereby created a separate, interest-bearing housing trust fund to be maintained by the chief financial officer for the purpose of depositing development fees collected from residential and non-residential developers and proceeds from the sale of units with extinguished controls.

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

In the event of a failure by the Borough to comply with trust fund monitoring and reporting requirements or to submit accurate monitoring reports; or a failure to comply with the conditions of the judgment of compliance or a revocation of the judgment of compliance; or a failure to implement the approved Spending Plan and to expend funds within the applicable required time period as set forth in In re Tp. of Monroe, 442 N.J. Super. 565 (Law Div. 2015) (aft. d 442 N.J. Super. 563); or the expenditure of funds on activities not approved by the Court; or for other good cause demonstrating the unapproved use(s) of funds, the Court may authorize the State of New Jersey, Department of Community Affairs, Division of Local Government Services (LGS), to direct the manner in which the funds in the Affordable Housing Trust Fund shall be expended, provided that all such funds shall, to the extent practicable, be utilized for affordable housing programs within Spring Lake Heights, or, if not practicable, then within the County or the Housing Region.

Any party may bring a motion before the Superior Court presenting evidence of such condition(s), and the Court may, after considering the evidence and providing the municipality a reasonable opportunity to respond and/or to remedy the non-compliant condition(s), and upon a finding of continuing and deliberate non-compliance, determine to authorize LGS to direct the expenditure of funds in the Trust Fund. The Court may also impose such other remedies as may be reasonable and appropriate to the circumstances.

All interest accrued in the housing trust fund shall only be used on eligible affordable housing activities approved by COAH or court of competent jurisdiction.

The expenditure of all funds shall conform to a spending plan approved by COAH or court of competent jurisdiction. Funds deposited in the housing trust fund may be used for any activity approved by COAH or court of competent jurisdiction, to address Spring Lake Heights's 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, rehabilitation, new construction of affordable housing units and related costs, accessory apartment, market to affordable, or regional housing partnership programs, 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, or any other activity as permitted pursuant to N.J.A.C. 5:97-8.7 through 8.9 and specified in the approved spending plan.

Funds shall not be expended to reimburse Spring Lake Heights for past housing activities.

At least thirty (30%) of all development fees collected, and interest earned shall be used to provide affordability assistance to low- and moderate-income households in affordable units included in the municipal Fair Share Plan. One-third of the affordability assistance portion of development fees collected shall be used to provide affordability assistance to those households earning 30 percent or less of median income by region.

The Borough may contract with a private or public entity to administer any part of its Housing Element and Fair Share Plan, including the requirement for affordability assistance, in accordance with N.J.A.C. 5:96-18.

No more than twenty percent (20%) of all revenues collected from development fees, may be expended on administration, including, but not limited to, salaries and benefits for municipal employees or consultant fees necessary to develop or implement a new construction program, a Housing Element and Fair Share Plan, and/or an affirmative marketing program. In the case of a rehabilitation program, no more than twenty percent (20%) of the revenues collected from development fees shall be expended for such administrative expenses. Administrative funds may be used for income qualification of households, monitoring the turnover of sale and rental units, and compliance with COAH or court of competent jurisdiction's monitoring requirements. Legal or other fees related to litigation opposing affordable housing sites or objecting to COAH's regulations and/or action are not eligible uses of the affordable housing trust fund.

On December 31, 2024, and on every anniversary of that date thereafter through 2025, Spring Lake Heights shall provide annual reporting of the status of all affordable housing activity within the municipality through posting on the municipal website with a copy of such posting provided FSHC, using forms previously developed for this purpose by the Council on Affordable Housing or any other forms endorsed by the Special Master and FSHC. By December 31,2024, Spring Lake Heights shall post on its municipal website, with a copy provided to FSHC, a status as to its satisfaction of its very-low-income requirements, including requirements contained herein.

The ability for the Borough to impose, collect and expend development fees shall expire with its Judgment of Compliance and Repose. If the Borough fails to renew its ability to impose and collect development fees prior to the expiration of its Judgment of Compliance and Repose it may be subject to forfeiture of any or all funds remaining within its municipal 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 (C.52:27D-320). The Borough shall not impose a residential development fee on a development that receives preliminary or final site plan approval after the expiration of its Judgment of Compliance and Repose, nor shall the Borough retroactively impose a development fee on such a development. The Borough shall not expend development fees after the expiration of its Judgment of Compliance and Repose.