The purpose of this Article is to ensure that adequate open space and recreational facilities are provided within residential districts.
Each residential development greater than 10 lots or multifamily development greater than 10 units shall be required to provide 0.0105 acres per person of park/playground area within the development. The Approving Board shall determine the population density based upon the multipliers developed from the United States Department of Commerce, Bureau of the Census, United States Census of Population and Housing, 1980, and reproduced in the new Practitioners Guide for Fiscal Impact Analysis, Robert W. Burchell, David Listokin and William R. Dolphin (New Brunswick: Center for Urban Policy Research, Rutgers, The State University, 1985) and its revisions.
Within each park/playground area, active recreational facilities shall be provided. The nature and type of the active recreational facilities to be provided shall be in accordance with the Recreation, Park and Open Space Standards and Guidelines as published by the National Recreation and Park Association and by such demographic studies as may be provided by the applicant, which studies shall project the numbers and ages of children and adults likely to populate the development. Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, each park/playground area shall contain playground apparatus suitable for use for preschool children. For each park/playground area created within the development, the developer shall create a homeowners' association or some other means acceptable to the Approving Board for the development to control and maintain the park/playground area.
The applicant, subject to a showing based upon competent evidence that the inclusion of the park/playground area would be inappropriate for the proposed development, may, as an alternative, contribute the fair market value of the cost for the development of such park/playground area as determined at the time of approval. The fair market value shall be determined by the sum of the fair market value of the land on which the park/playground area would be located after subdivision or site plan approval, together with the costs of construction of said park/playground area, including grading, drainage, landscaping and cost of apparatus. Said payment shall be required prior to the grant of a final approval. Said contributions shall be made to a fund established by the Township Committee, which fund will be a separate and exclusive account specifically established for the purpose of creating open space and recreational facilities within the township. Said funds shall be administrated by the Township Committee.
The Township Committee shall be authorized to acquire such lands as it may deem necessary and appropriate to provide adequate open space and recreational facilities within the township. The Township Committee shall be required to keep books and records of all transactions and activities and shall be required to submit an annual report.