Toms River City Zoning Code
§ 348-11.6
Affirmative marketing.
A.
The administrative agent shall develop and implement an affirmative marketing program for affordable housing units that shall apply to all developments that contain low- and moderate-income housing units, including any currently unanticipated future developments that will provide affordable housing, and shall also develop and implement affirmative marketing programs for the accessory apartments program and the write-down/buy-down program. The Township shall adopt by resolution an affirmative marketing plan, subject to approval of the Superior Court, compliant with N.J.A.C. 5:80-26.15, as may be amended and supplemented.
B.
The affirmative marketing plan is a regional marketing strategy designed to attract income-eligible households of all majority and minority groups, regardless of race, creed, color, national origin, ancestry, marital or familial status, gender, affectional or sexual orientation, disability, age, or number of children to housing units, for the purpose of buying or renting affordable housing units. The Township of Toms River is in the housing region consisting of Monmouth, Mercer and Ocean Counties. The affirmative marketing plan is also intended to target those potentially eligible persons who are least likely to apply for affordable units in this region. The affirmative marketing plan is a continuing program and shall meet the following requirements:
(1)
All newspaper articles, announcements and request for applicants for low- and moderate-income housing shall appear in the following daily regional newspaper(s):
(a)
The Asbury Park Press and Ocean County Observer.
(2)
The initial advertising of affordable housing shall take the form of at least one press release and one paid display advertisement in the above newspaper(s). At a minimum, the paid display advertisement shall include the following:
(a)
Street address of units.
(b)
Directions to housing units.
(c)
Number of bedrooms per unit.
(d)
Size of units.
(e)
Prices or rents of units.
(f)
Income range for qualifying households.
(g)
Location of applications.
(h)
Telephone number and office hours for obtaining information and requesting applications.
(3)
Applications must be mailed to prospective applicants upon request.
(4)
Public service announcements shall be made through the use of the following radio and/or cable television stations broadcasting throughout the regions:
(a)
Cablevision of Monmouth, Comcast Cablevision and Adelphia Cable.
(5)
Announcements, request for applicants and newspaper articles may be placed in the following neighborhood-oriented weekly newspapers, religious publications and organizational newsletters within Monmouth, Mercer and Ocean Counties as needed:
(a)
The Co-Star.
(6)
The following is the location of applications, brochure(s), sign(s) and/or poster(s) used as part of the affirmative marketing program, including specific employment centers within the region:
(7)
The following is a listing of community contact person(s) and/or organization(s) in Monmouth, Mercer and Ocean Counties that will aid in the affirmative marketing program with particular emphasis on contacts that will reach out to groups that are least likely to apply for affordable housing within the region:
(10)
The following is a description of the random selection method that will be used to select occupants of low- and moderate-income housing: From the list of qualified applicants, names will be drawn randomly and the applicant contacted.
(11)
The affirmative marketing process for available affordable units shall begin at least 120 days prior to the expected date of occupancy; for new units it shall commence 120 days before the issuance of either temporary or permanent certificates of occupancy. Affirmative marketing shall continue until all low- and moderate-income housing units are initially occupied. Affirmative marketing for existing units shall continue on an as-needed basis for as long as affordable units are deed restricted.
C.
In implementing the affirmative marketing plan, the AH administrator shall provide a list of counseling services to low- and moderate-income applicants on subjects such as budgeting, credit issues, mortgage qualification, rental lease requirements, and landlord/tenant law.
D.
The costs of advertising and affirmative marketing of the affordable units shall be the responsibility of the developer, sponsor or owner, unless otherwise determined or agreed to by the Township.