Township of Parsippany-Troy Hills, NJ Development Fees

Within the Township of Parsippany-Troy Hills, all residential developers, except for developers of the types of development specifically exempted below, shall pay a fee of 1.5% 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.

When an increase in residential density pursuant to a "d" variance is granted under N.J.S.A. 40:55D-70d(5) (known as a "d" variance), developers shall be required to pay a "bonus" development fee of 6% 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 filing of the "d" variance application. Example: If an approval allows four units to be constructed on a site that was zoned for two units, the development fees will equal 1 1/2% of the equalized assessed value on the first two units; and 6% of the equalized assessed value for the two non-age-restricted additional units, provided zoning on the site has not changed during the two-year period preceding the filing of such a variance application.

(a)

Eligible exactions, ineligible exactions and exemptions for residential development.

[1]

Affordable housing developments and developments where the developer is providing for the construction of affordable units elsewhere in the Township, if permitted by ordinance or by agreement with the Township of Parsippany-Troy Hills, shall be exempt from development fees.

[2]

Developments that have received preliminary or final site plan approval prior to the adoption of the first development fee ordinance shall be exempt from development fees, unless the developer seeks a substantial change in the approval. Where a site plan approval is not applicable, 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 exemption. In all cases, the applicable fee percentage shall be determined based upon the development fee ordinance in effect on the date that building permit is issued.

[3]

In addition to the construction of new principal and/or accessory buildings, development fees shall be imposed and collected when an existing structure is demolished and replaced, if the expansion is not otherwise exempt from the development fee requirement. The development fee shall be calculated on the increase in the equalized assessed value of the new structure. Furthermore:

[a]

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

[b]

No development fee shall be collected for the construction of an "accessory structure" which is not a "building" as these terms are defined in the Parsippany-Troy Hills Township "Land Use Regulations" Ordinance.

[4]

Nonprofit organizations which have received tax-exempt status pursuant to Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code, providing current evidence of that status is submitted to the Municipal Clerk, together with a certification that services of the organization are provided at reduced rates to those who establish an inability to pay existing charges, shall be exempted from paying a development fee.

[5]

Federal, state, county, and local governments shall be exempted from paying a development fee.

§ 225-88 Nonresidential development fees.

Imposition of fees.

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

Within all zoning districts, nonresidential 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 nonresidential purposes.

Eligible exactions, ineligible exactions and exemptions for nonresidential development:

(a)

The nonresidential portion of a mixed-use inclusionary or market rate development shall be subject to the 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.

(c)

Nonresidential projects that have received a certificate of occupancy or general development plan approval or have entered into a developer's agreement or a redevelopment agreement, all prior to July 17, 2008 (the effective date of P.L. 2008, c. 46), shall be exempt from the payment of nonresidential development fees, provided that an affordable housing fee of at least 1% of the equalized assessed value of the improvements is included in the development plan, developer's agreement or redevelopment agreement.

(d)

Nonresidential developments shall be exempt from the payment of nonresidential development fees in accordance with the exemptions required as specified in the Form N-RDF "State of New Jersey Non-Residential Development Certification/Exemption." Any exemption claimed by a developer shall be substantiated by that developer.

(e)

A developer of a nonresidential development exempted from the nonresidential Township development fee shall be subject to the fee at such time the basis for the exemption no longer applies and shall make the payment of the nonresidential development fee, in that event, within three years after that event or after the issuance of the final certificate of occupancy of the nonresidential development, whichever is later.

(f)

If a property which was exempted from the collection of a nonresidential 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 nonresidential development fees under these circumstances may be enforceable by Parsippany-Troy Hills Township as a lien against the real property of the owner.

§ 225-89 Collection procedures.

The Township of Parsippany-Troy Hills shall collect development fees for affordable housing in accordance with the following:

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 Township Construction Code Official responsible for the issuance of a building permit of the applicable approval.

For nonresidential 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. The Township Construction Official shall verify the information submitted by the nonresidential developer as per the instructions provided in the Form N-RDF. The Township Tax Assessor shall verify exemptions and prepare estimated and final assessments as per the instructions provided in Form N-RDF.

The Township Construction Official responsible for the issuance of a building permit shall notify the Township Tax Assessor of the issuance of the first building permit for a development that is subject to a development fee.

(4)

Within 90 days of receipt of that notice, the Township Tax Assessor, based on the plans filed, shall provide an estimate 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 Township Tax Assessor of any and all requests for the scheduling of a final inspection on a property that is subject to a development fee.

(6)

Within 10 business days of a request for the scheduling of a final inspection, the Township Tax 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.

(7)

Should the Township 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)

Fifty percent of the initially calculated development fee shall be collected at the time of the issuance of the building permit. The remaining portion shall be tendered to Parsippany-Troy Hills Township at the time of the issuance of a certificate of occupancy. The developer shall be responsible for paying any difference between the fee calculated at the issuance of the building permit and the fee determined at issuance of certificate of occupancy.

(9)

Upon tender of the remaining development fee, provided the developer is in full compliance with all other applicable laws and regulations, the Township shall issue a final certificate of occupancy for the subject property.

(10)

Regardless of the time of collection of the development fee, the fee shall be based upon the percentage that applies on the date that the construction permit is issued.

(11)

The Construction Code Official shall forward all collected development fees to Parsippany-Troy Hills Township's Chief Financial Officer who shall deposit such fees into the established Housing Trust Fund.

§ 225-90 Appeal of development fees.

A developer may challenge residential development fees imposed due to a disagreement as to the equalized assessed value of the property by filing a challenge with the County Board of Taxation. Such a challenge must be made within 45 days from the issuance of the certificate of occupancy. Pending a review and determination by the Board, collected fees shall be placed in an interest bearing escrow account by Parsippany- Troy Hills Township. 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. Other challenges to the imposition of a residential development fee must be brought in the Superior Court as a prerogative writ challenge.

A developer may challenge nonresidential 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 Parsippany-Troy Hills Township. 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.

§ 225-91 Affordable Housing Trust Fund.

All collected development fees and any proceeds from the sale of units with extinguished controls shall be deposited by the Chief Financial Officer of the Township of Parsippany-Troy Hills into a separate designated interest-bearing Housing Trust Fund, which shall be maintained by the Township Chief Financial Officer.

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

Recapture funds;

Proceeds from the sale of affordable units;

Rental income from municipally operated units;

(4)

Affordable housing enforcement fines and application fees;

(5)

Developer contributed funds for barrier free affordable housing pursuant to N.J.A.C. 5:97-8.5;

(6)

Repayments from affordable housing program loans; and

(7)

Any other funds collected in connection with the Township's affordable housing program.

Interest accrued in the Affordable Housing Trust Fund shall only be used on eligible affordable housing activities approved by the Court.

§ 225-92 Use of funds.

The expenditure of all funds shall conform to a spending plan approved by the Court, COAH, or its successor agency. Funds deposited in the Affordable Housing Trust Fund may be used for any activity approved by the Court to address the Township's fair share obligation and may be set up as a grant or revolving loan program. Such activities include, but are not limited to:

A housing rehabilitation program;

New construction of affordable housing units and related costs; in the case of inclusionary developments, eligible costs shall be prorated based on the proportion of affordable housing units included in the development;

Accessory apartment, market to affordable, or regional affordable housing partnership programs;

(4)

Financial assistance designed to increase affordability;

(5)

Conversion of existing nonresidential buildings to create new affordable units;

(6)

Purchase of and/or improvement of land to be used for affordable housing;

(7)

Purchase of existing market rate or affordable housing for the purpose of maintaining or implementing affordability controls;

(8)

Extensions or improvements of roads and infrastructure directly serving affordable housing sites; in the case of inclusionary developments, costs shall be prorated based on the proportion of affordable housing units included in the development;

(9)

Green building strategies designed to be cost-saving and in accordance with accepted national or state standards;

(10)

Administration necessary for implementation of the Housing Plan Element and Fair Share Plan, or any other activity as specified in the approved spending plan and as permitted by the Court and specified in the approved spending plan.

Funds shall not be expended to reimburse the Township of Parsippany-Troy Hills for past housing activities.

At least 30% 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 Housing Element and 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% or less of median income for Housing Region 2, in which Parsippany-Troy Hills is located.

Affordability assistance programs may include down payment assistance, security deposit assistance, low interest loans, rental assistance, assistance with homeowner's association or condominium fees and special assessments, and assistance with emergency repairs. The specific programs to be used for affordability assistance shall be identified and described within the spending plan.

Affordability assistance to households earning 30% or less of median income may include 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. The specific programs to be used for very-low-income affordability assistance shall be identified and described within the spending plan.

Payments in lieu of constructing affordable units on site, if permitted by ordinance or by agreement with the Township of Parsippany-Troy Hills, and funds from the sale of units with extinguished controls shall be exempt from the affordability assistance requirement.

The Township of Parsippany-Troy Hills may contract with a private or public entity to administer any part of its Housing Plan Element and Fair Share Plan, including the requirement for affordability assistance.

No more than 20% of development fee revenues collected in any given year from the development fees may be expended on administration, including, but not limited to, the salaries and benefits for Parsippany-Troy Hills Township employees or consultant fees necessary to develop or implement a new affordable housing program, a Housing Element and Fair Share Plan, and/or an affirmative marketing program.

In the case of a rehabilitation program, the administrative costs of the rehabilitation program shall be included as part of the 20% of the collected development fees that may be expended on administration.