Union City Stormwater Retention Requirement

[Jeff Ang]

We are in the process of getting a building permit to renovate a commercial property in Union City, NJ. The sewer agency (North Hudson Sewerage Authority) is requiring us to install a Stormwater Retention System.  The city needs this before issuing the permit.  The system is quite expensive. We got quotes around 30k to 40k.  We applied for an exemption because there's no space to put any system. It's a small building with 100% lot coverage.  But they denied our request.  

It seems like a relatively new requirement.  I've never heard of this before.  Has anyone else come across this situation?