Pursuant to the provisions of N.J.S.A. 40:55D-2 et seq., the
Township of Rochelle Park Planning Board shall be comprised of nine
members consisting of the following four classes:
B. Class II: one of the officials of the municipality, other than a
member of the governing body, to be appointed by the Mayor, provided
that if there is an Environmental Commission, the member of the Environmental
Commission who is also a member of the Planning Board as required
by N.J.S.A. 40:56A-1 shall be deemed to be the Class II Planning Board
member for purposes of this chapter in the event that there is among
the Class IV or alternate members of the Planning Board both a member
of the Zoning Board of Adjustment and a member of the Board of Education.
C. Class III: a member of the Township Committee, appointed by the Council.
D. Class IV: six other citizens of the municipality, to be appointed by the Mayor. The members of Class IV shall hold no other municipal office, except that one such member may be a member of the Zoning Board of Adjustment or Historic Preservation Commission. A member of the Environmental Commission who is also a member of the Planning Board as required by N.J.S.A. 40:56A-1 shall be a Class IV Planning Board member, unless there is among the Class IV or alternate members both a member of the Zoning Board or Historic Preservation Commission and a member of the Board of Education, in which case the member common to the Planning Board and Environmental Commission shall be deemed a Class II member. Two Class IV members shall be appointed as alternates. See §
185-9.
If a vacancy in any class shall occur otherwise than by expiration
of term, it shall be filled by appointment as above provided for the
unexpired term.
Any member other than a Class I member, after a public hearing
if he/she requests one, may be removed by the Council for cause.
The Planning Board shall elect a Chairman and Vice Chairman
from the members of Class IV and select a Secretary who may be either
a member of the Planning Board or a municipal employee designated
by it.
The Planning Board is authorized to adopt bylaws governing its
procedural operation. It shall also have the following powers and
duties:
A. To make and adopt and from time to time amend a Master Plan for the
physical development of the Township, including any areas outside
its boundaries which, in the Board's judgment, bear essential relation
to the planning of the Township, in accordance with the provisions
of N.J.S.A. 40:55D-28.
B. To approve conditional use applications as authorized by state statute.
C. To administer the provisions of the Land Use and Development Ordinance
of the Township in accordance with the provisions of this chapter
and the Municipal Land Use Law of 1975, N.J.S.A. 40:55D-1 et seq.
D. To participate in the preparation and review of programs or plans
required by state or federal law or regulations.
E. To assemble data on a continuing basis as part of a continuing planning
process.
F. To review and make recommendations to the Council on the Official
Map of the Township pursuant to N.J.S.A. 40:55D-32 and N.J.S.A. 40:55D-26.
G. To annually prepare a program of municipal capital improvement projects
over a term of six years and amendments thereto and recommend the
same to the governing body.
H. To consider and make report to the governing body within 35 days
after referral as to any proposed development regulation submitted
to it pursuant to the provisions of N.J.S.A. 40:55D-26a and also pass
upon other matters specifically referred to the Planning Board by
the Township Committee pursuant to the provisions of N.J.S.A. 40:55D-26b.
I. When reviewing applications for approval of subdivision plats, site
plans or conditional uses, to grant, to the same extent and subject
to the same restrictions as the Zoning Board of Adjustment:
(1) A variance pursuant to N.J.S.A. 40:55D-70c.
(2) Direct the issuance of a permit for a building or structure either
not related to a street (N.J.S.A. 40:55D-36) or in the bed of a mapped
street or public drainageway, flood control basin or public area reserved
on the Official Map (N.J.S.A. 40:55D-32).
(3) Whenever relief is requested pursuant to this subsection, notice
of a hearing on the application for development shall include reference
to the request for a variance or direction for issuance of a permit
as the case may be.
J. To perform such other advisory duties as are assigned to it by ordinance
or resolution of the governing body or other agencies or officers.
Whenever the Environmental Commission (if any Environmental
Commission exists) has prepared and submitted to the Planning Board
an index of the natural resources of the municipality, the Planning
Board shall make available to the Environmental Commission a copy
of every application for development to the Planning Board. Failure
of the Planning Board to make such informational copy available to
the Environmental Commission shall not invalidate any hearing or proceeding.
The Board shall adopt such rules and regulations as may be necessary
to carry into effect the provisions and purposes of this chapter.
In the issuance of subpoenas, administration of oaths and taking of
testimony, the provisions of the County and Municipal Investigations
Law of 1953 (N.J.S.A. 2A:67A-1 et seq.) shall apply.
The Planning Board may also employ or contract for and fix the
compensation of legal counsel and such experts and other staff and
services as it may deem necessary. The Board shall not authorize expenditures
which exceed, exclusive of grants, the amount appropriated by the
governing body for its use.