There is hereby established pursuant to P.L. 1975, c. 291,[1] in the Town of Phillipsburg, a Planning Board of nine members, consisting of the following four classes:
A. 
Class I: the Mayor.
B. 
Class II: one of the officials of the municipality, other than a member of the governing body, to be appointed by the Mayor.
[Amended 4-1-2014 by Ord. No. O:2014-09]
C. 
Class III: a member of the Council to be appointed by it.
D. 
Class IV: six other citizens of the municipality to be appointed by the Council. The members of Class IV shall no hold no other municipal office, except that one member may be a member of the Board of Education. 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.
[Amended 4-1-2014 by Ord. No. O:2014-09]
E. 
Alternate members.
[Added 4-1-2014 by Ord. No. O:2014-09]
(1) 
There is hereby established, pursuant to N.J.S.A. 40:55D-23.1, four alternate members of the Planning Board. Alternate members shall be appointed by the Mayor, and shall meet qualifications of Class IV members. Alternate members shall be designated at the time of appointment by the Mayor as "Alternate No. 1," "Alternate No. 2," "Alternate No. 3," and "Alternate No. 4." The terms of the alternate members shall be for two years, except that the terms of the alternate members shall be such that the term of not more than two alternate members shall expire in any one year; provided, however, that in no instance shall the terms of the alternate members first appointed exceed two years. A vacancy occurring otherwise than by expiration of term shall be filled by the Mayor for the unexpired term only.
(2) 
Alternate members may participate in discussions of the proceedings but may not vote except in the absence or disqualification of a regular member of any class. A vote shall not be delayed in order that a regular member may vote instead of an alternate member. In the event that a choice must be made as to which alternate member is to vote, Alternate No. 1 shall vote.
[1]
Editor's Note: See N.J.S.A. 40:55D-1 et seq.
A. 
The term of the member composing Class I shall correspond with his official tenure.
B. 
The terms of the members composing Class II and Class III shall be for one year or terminate at the completion of their respective terms of office, whichever occurs first, except for a Class II member who is also a member of the Environmental Commission. The term of a Class II or Class IV member who is also a member of the Environmental Commission shall be for three years or terminate at the completion of his term of office as a member of the Environmental Commission, whichever occurs first.
C. 
The term of a Class IV member who is also a member of the Board of Education shall terminate whenever he is no longer a member of such other body or at the completion of his Class IV term, whichever occurs first.
[Amended 4-1-2014 by Ord. No. O:2014-09]
D. 
The terms of all Class IV members first appointed pursuant to this chapter shall be so determined that to the greatest practicable extent the expiration of such terms shall be distributed evenly over the first four years after their appointment as determined by resolution of the governing body; provided, however, that no term of any member shall exceed four years, and further provided that nothing herein shall affect the term of any present members of the Planning Board, all of whom shall continue in office until the completion of the terms for which they were appointed. Thereafter all Class IV members shall be appointed for terms of four years except as otherwise hereinabove provided. All terms shall run from January 1 of the year in which the appointment is made.
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 requests one, may be removed by the governing body 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.
There is hereby created the office of Planning Board Attorney. The Planning Board may annually appoint and fix the compensation of or agree upon the rate of compensation of the Planning Board Attorney, who shall be an attorney other than the Municipal Attorney.
In addition, the Planning Board may also employ or contract for the services of experts and other staff and services as it may deem necessary. The Board shall not, however, exceed, exclusive of gifts or grants, the amount appropriated by the governing body for its use.
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 Town, including any areas outside its boundaries which, in the Board's judgment, bear essential relation to the planning of the Town, in accordance with the provisions of N.J.S.A. 40:55D-28.
B. 
To administer the provisions of Chapter 555, Subdivision of Land, and Chapter 510, Site Plan Review, in accordance with the provisions of said ordinances and the Municipal Land Use Law of 1975 (N.J.S.A. 40:55D-1 et seq.).
C. 
To participate in the preparation and review of programs or plans required of the Planning Board by state or federal law or regulations.
D. 
To assemble data on a continuing basis as part of a continuous planning process.
E. 
To annually prepare a program of municipal capital improvement projects projected over a term of six years, and amendments thereto, and recommend same to the governing body.
F. 
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 Town Council pursuant to the provisions of N.J.S.A. 40:55D-26b.
G. 
Granting of variances; direction for issuance of permits.
(1) 
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) 
Variances, pursuant to Section 57c of Chapter 291 of the Laws of New Jersey, 1975,[2] from lot area, lot dimensional, setback and yard requirements, provided that such relief from lot area requirements shall not be granted for more than one lot.
[2]
Editor's Note: See N.J.S.A. 40:55D-70c.
(b) 
Direction, pursuant to Section 25 of said Act,[3] for issuance of a permit for a building or structure in the bed of a mapped street or public drainageway, flood control basin or public area reserved pursuant to Section 23 of said Act.[4]
[3]
Editor's Note: See N.J.S.A. 40:55D-34.
[4]
Editor's Note: See N.J.S.A. 40:55D-32.
(c) 
Direction, pursuant to Section 27 of said Act,[5] for issuance of a permit for a building or structure not related to a street.
[5]
Editor's Note: See N.J.S.A. 40:55D-36.
[1]
Editor's Note: Ordinance No. O:2014-09, adopted 4-1-2014, dissolved the Zoning Board of Adjustment and vested the Planning Board with the powers and duties and functions of the Zoning Board of Adjustment pursuant to N.J.S.A. 40:55D-25(c)(1).
(2) 
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.
H. 
To perform such other advisory duties as are assigned to it by ordinance or resolution of the governing body for the aid and assistance of the governing body or other agencies or officers.
A. 
Minor subdivisions. Minor subdivision approvals shall be granted or denied within 45 days of the date of submission of a complete application to the Planning Board or within such further time as may be consented to by the applicant. Approval of a minor subdivision shall expire 190 days from the date of Planning Board approval unless within such period a plat in conformity with such approval and the provisions of the Map Filing Law[1] or a deed clearly describing the approved minor subdivision is filed by the developer with the county recording officer, the Municipal Engineer and the Municipal Tax Assessor. Any such plat or deed must be signed by the Chairman and Secretary of the Planning Board before it will be accepted for filing by the county recording officer.
[1]
Editor's Note: See N.J.S.A. 46:23-9.9 et seq.
B. 
Preliminary approval for major subdivisions. Upon submission of a complete application for a subdivision of 10 or fewer lots, the Planning Board shall grant or deny preliminary approval within 45 days of the date of such submission or within such further time as may be consented to by the developer. Upon submission of a complete application for a subdivision of more than 10 lots, the Planning Board shall grant or deny preliminary approval within 95 days of the date of such submission or within such further time as may be consented to by the developer. Otherwise, the Planning Board shall be deemed to have granted preliminary approval for the subdivision.
C. 
Ancillary powers. Whenever the Planning Board is called upon to exercise its ancillary powers before the granting of a variance as set forth in Article I, § 360-7G, of this chapter, the Planning Board shall grant or deny approval of the application within 95 days after submission by the developer of a complete application or within such further time as may be consented to by the applicant. Failure of the Planning Board to act within the period prescribed shall constitute approval of the application, and a certificate of the administrative officer as to the failure of the Planning Board to act shall be issued on request of the applicant.
D. 
Final approval. Application for final subdivision approval shall be granted or denied within 45 days of submission of a complete application or within such further time as may be consented to by the applicant. Final approval of a major subdivision shall expire 95 days from the date of signing of the plat unless within such period the plat shall have been duly filed by the developer with the county recording officer. The Planning Board may, for good cause shown, extend the period for recording for an additional period not to exceed 190 days from the date of signing of the plat.
[Amended 8-6-1985 by Ord. No. O:85-17]
Applications for development within the jurisdiction of the Planning Board, pursuant to the provisions of P.L. 1975, c. 291, shall be filed with the Secretary of the Planning Board. The applicant shall file, at least 28 days before the date of the monthly meeting of the Board, 11 copies of a sketch plat, 11 copies of an application for minor subdivision approval, 11 copies of an application for major subdivision approval or 11 copies of an application for site plan review, conditional use approval or planned development. At the time of filing the application, but in no event less than 10 days prior to the date set for hearing, the applicant shall also file all plot plans, maps or other papers required by virtue of any provision of this chapter or any rule of the Planning Board. The applicant shall obtain all necessary forms from the Secretary of the Planning Board. The Secretary of the Board shall inform the applicant of the steps to be taken to initiate applications and of the regular meeting dates of the Board.
[Added 7-1-2014 by Ord. No. O:2014-17]
At the request of the developer, the Planning Board shall grant an informal review, limited to no more than 30 minutes, of a concept plan for a development for which the developer intends to prepare and submit an application for development. This step is optional and is recommended by the Planning Board. The concept plan is designed to enable the Planning Board and the applicant to discuss and evaluate principles and potential problems involved before the applicant has gone to the expense of completing detailed engineering drawings as required for further processing of the development application. The developer shall not be bound by any concept plan for which review is requested, and the Board shall not be bound by any such review.
[1]
Editor's Note: Former § 360-10, Citizens' Advisory Committee, was repealed 9-24-2025 by Ord. No. O:2025-16. See now Ch. 220, Advisory Board.
Whenever the Environmental Commission 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 an informational 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.