Middletown Supervisors Approve Change To Stormwater Impact Fee

The Middletown Township Stormwater Advisory Committee suggested a change to the stormwater impact fee that was approved this month.

The Middletown Township Board of Supervisors voted to approve a change to the stormwater impact fee that eliminates streets, sidewalks and residential parking areas from impervious surface calculations for properties owned by homeowners’ associations.

The change comes in response to a double-billing concern where residents in several communities were essentially paying twice: once via their individual $60 annual residential fee and again through their association’s corporate bill for common areas.

“There was a concern that was raised specifically about members who are residents who live in a homeowner’s association for paying their independence individual residential bill as well as the corporate bill for the impervious area owned by the homeowners association,” Assistant Township Manager Nick Valla said.

Under the previous regulations, HOAs were billed based on the total square footage of all hard surfaces they owned.

In some cases, the HOAs reached the township’s $6,000 annual fee cap.

While roads and sidewalks are now exempt, amenity-related surfaces remain subject to the fee. Clubhouses, sports courts, and parking lots specifically designated for those facilities will still be counted toward an association’s impervious area.

The adjustment will have a minimal effect on the township’s budget.

Valla noted the change represents “a few thousand dollars” in deferred or lost revenue.

The stormwater fee overall generates roughly $1.6 million annually to fund local drainage improvements and water quality projects, which are growing in need as neighborhoods age.

Officials noted that most large age-restricted communities will continue to pay corporate fees, as they typically feature amenity facilities that remain on the books under the new rules.

The amendment takes effect immediately.

The township engineer’s office has identified the small number of affected properties, and officials plan to contact those owners directly regarding the billing updates.