A. 
There is hereby established pursuant to P.L. 1975, c. 291,[2] in the Borough of Runnemede a Joint Planning/Zoning Board of Adjustment of nine members, consisting of the following four classes:
(1) 
Class I: the Mayor or the Mayor's designee in the absence of the Mayor. The Mayor shall name his or her designee each year. The term of the designee shall be for one year or any remaining part thereof, said term beginning January 1 of each year ending on December 31 of the same year.
[Amended 11-8-1995 by Ord. No. 95-13]
(2) 
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,[3] the member of the Environmental Commission who is also a member of the Joint Planning/Zoning Board of Adjustment as required by N.J.S.A. 40:56A-1 shall be deemed to be the Class II Joint Planning/Zoning Board of Adjustment member if there is both a member of the Joint Planning/Zoning Board of Adjustment and a member of the Board of Education among the Class IV members.
[Amended 11-8-1995 by Ord. No. 95-16]
[3]
Editor's Note: See Ch. 5, Boards, Committees and Commissions, Art. II, Environmental Commission.
(3) 
Class III: a member of the governing body to be appointed by it.
(4) 
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 member may be a member of the Joint Planning/Zoning Board of Adjustment and one may be a member of the Board of Education. A member of the Environmental Commission who is also a member of the Joint Planning/Zoning Board of Adjustment as required by N.J.S.A. 40:56A-1 shall be a Class IV Joint Planning/Zoning Board of Adjustment member unless there is among the Class IV members of the Joint Planning/Zoning Board of Adjustment both a member of the Joint Planning/Zoning Board of Adjustment and a member of the Board of Education, in which case the member of the Environmental Commission shall be deemed to be the Class II member of the Joint Planning/Zoning Board of Adjustment.
[Amended 11-8-1995 by Ord. No. 95-16]
[2]
Editor's Note: See N.J.S.A 40:55D-1 et seq.
B. 
The governing body may appoint to the Joint Planning/Zoning Board of Adjustment not more than two alternate members. Alternate members shall be appointed by the appointing authority for Class IV members and shall meet the qualifications of Class IV members of nine-member Joint Planning/Zoning Boards of Adjustment. Alternate members shall be designated at the time of appointment by the Mayor as Alternate No. 1 and Alternate No. 2.
[1]
Editor’s Note: Ordinance No 15-12, adopted 5-5-2015, provided that the words “joint planning/zoning board” be included in Chapter 230 where appropriate, and further provided for the amendment of fees. (See § 230-25 and 230 Attachment 1.)
A. 
The term of the member composing Class I shall correspond with his official tenure or the designee shall serve at the pleasure of the Mayor during the Mayor's official tenure. 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 a Class IV member who is also a member of the Environmental Commission shall be for three years or shall terminate at the completion of his term of office as a member of the Environmental Commission, whichever comes first.[1]
[1]
Editor's Note: Amended at time of adoption of Code (see Ch. 1, General Provisions, Art. I).
B. 
The term of a Class IV member who is also a member of the Joint Planning/Zoning Board of Adjustment or 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 11-8-1995 by Ord. No. 95-16]
C. 
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 term shall be evenly distributed 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 member of the Joint Planning/Zoning Board of Adjustment, all of whom shall continue in office until the completion of the term for which they were appointed. Thereafter all Class IV members shall be appointed for terms of four years except as otherwise herein provided. All terms shall run from January 1 of the year in which the appointment was made.
D. 
The terms of the alternate members shall be for two years, except that the terms of the alternate members shall not expire in any one year; provided, however, that in no instance shall the terms of the alternate members first appointed exceed two years.
E. 
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.
F. 
A member of a municipal agency who was absent for one or more of the meetings at which a hearing was held shall be eligible to vote on the matter upon which the hearing was conducted, notwithstanding his absence from one or more of the meetings; provided, however, that such Board member has available to him the transcript or recording of all of the hearing from which he was absent and certifies, in writing, to the Board that he has read such transcript or listened to such recording.
If a vacancy of any class shall occur otherwise than by expiration of term, it shall be filled by appointment as above provided for the unexpired term.
The Joint Planning/Zoning Board of Adjustment 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 Joint Planning/Zoning Board of Adjustment or a municipal employee designated by it.
There is hereby created the office of Joint Planning/Zoning Board of Adjustment Attorney. The Joint Planning/Zoning Board of Adjustment may annually appoint, fix the compensation of or agree upon the rate of compensation of the Joint Planning/Zoning Board of Adjustment Attorney who shall be an attorney other than the Municipal Attorney.
The Joint Planning/Zoning Board of Adjustment 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 Joint Planning/Zoning Board of Adjustment is authorized to adopt bylaws governing its procedural operation. It shall also have the following powers and duties to:
A. 
Make and adopt and, from time to time, amend a Master Plan for the physical development of the Borough, including any areas outside its boundaries, which in the Board's judgment bear essential relation to the planning of the Borough, in accordance with the provisions of N.J.S.A. 40:55D-28.
B. 
Administer the provisions of Chapter 331, Subdivision of Land and Site Plan Review, of the Code of the Borough of Runnemede, in accordance with the provisions of said chapter and the Municipal Land Use Law of 1975, N.J.S.A. 40:55D-1 et seq.
C. 
Participate in the preparation and review of programs or plans required by state or federal law or regulations.
D. 
Assemble data on a continuing basis as part of a continuous planning process.
E. 
Annually prepare a program of municipal capital improvement projects projected over a term of six years and amendments thereto and recommend the same to the governing body.
F. 
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 Joint Planning/Zoning Board of Adjustment by the governing body pursuant to the provisions of N.J.S.A. 40:55D-26b.
G. 
Variance or direction.
(1) 
When reviewing applications for approval of subdivision plats, site plans or conditional uses, grant to the same extent and subject to the same restrictions as the Joint Planning/Zoning Board of Adjustment:
[Amended 11-8-1995 by Ord. No. 95-16]
(a) 
Variances pursuant to Subsection 57c of Chapter 291 of the Laws of New Jersey 1975.
(b) 
Direction pursuant to Section 25 of said Act for issuance of permit for 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.
(c) 
Direction pursuant to Section 27 of said Act for issuance of a permit for a building or structure not related to a street.
(2) 
Whenever relief is required 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. 
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 subdivision. Minor subdivision approvals shall be granted or denied within 45 days of the date of submission of a complete application to the Joint Planning/Zoning Board of Adjustment 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 Joint Planning/Zoning Board of Adjustment 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 Joint Planning/Zoning Board of Adjustment 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, major subdivisions. Upon submission of a complete application for a subdivision of 10 or fewer lots, the Joint Planning/Zoning Board of Adjustment 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 Joint Planning/Zoning Board of Adjustment 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 Joint Planning/Zoning Board of Adjustment shall be deemed to have granted preliminary approval for the subdivision.
C. 
Minor site plan. Minor site plan approvals shall be granted or denied within 45 days of the date of submission of a complete application to the Joint Planning/Zoning Board of Adjustment or within such further time as may be consented to by the applicant. Failure of the Joint Planning/Zoning Board of Adjustment to act within the period prescribed shall constitute minor site plan approval.
D. 
Preliminary approval major site plans. Upon submission of a complete application for a site plan of 10 acres or less or 10 dwelling units or less, the Joint Planning/Zoning Board of Adjustment 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 site plan of more than 10 acres or more than 10 dwelling units, the Joint Planning/Zoning Board of Adjustment 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 Joint Planning/Zoning Board of Adjustment shall be deemed to have granted preliminary approval for the site plan.
E. 
Ancillary powers. Whenever the Joint Planning/Zoning Board of Adjustment is called upon to exercise its ancillary powers before the granting of a variance as set forth in Article I, § 230-7G, of this chapter, the Joint Planning/Zoning Board of Adjustment 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 Joint Planning/Zoning Board of Adjustment 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 Joint Planning/Zoning Board of Adjustment to act shall be issued on request of the applicant.
F. 
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 Joint Planning/Zoning Board of Adjustment 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.
A. 
Applications for development within the jurisdiction of the Joint Planning/Zoning Board of Adjustment pursuant to the provisions of P.L. 1975, c. 291, shall be filed with the Zoning Officer. For all applications for major subdivision approval and other major applications, the applicant shall file at least 21 days before the date of the monthly meeting of the Board five copies of the application. For all applications for minor subdivision approval, or for an application for site plan review, conditional use approval or planned development, the applicant shall file at least 14 days before the date of the monthly meeting of the Board five copies of the application. It shall be the responsibility of the applicant to forward a filed copy of the application directly to the engineer for the Board. 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 Joint Planning/Zoning Board of Adjustment. The applicant shall obtain all necessary forms from the Zoning Officer. The Zoning Officer shall inform the applicant of the steps to be taken to initiate applications and of the regular meeting dates of the Board.
[Amended 7-13-2006 by Ord. No. 06-21]
B. 
At the request of the developer, the Joint Planning/Zoning Board of Adjustment shall grant an informal review of a concept plan for a development for which the developer intends to prepare and submit an application for development. The developer shall not be required to submit any fees for such an informal review. The developer shall not be bound by any concept plan for which review is requested, and the Joint Planning/Zoning Board of Adjustment shall not be bound by any such review.
The Mayor may appoint one or more persons as a Citizens' Advisory Committee to assist or collaborate with the Joint Planning/Zoning Board of Adjustment in its duties, but such person or persons shall have no power to vote or take other action required of the Board. Such person or persons shall serve at the pleasure of the Mayor.
Whenever the Environmental Commission has prepared and submitted to the Joint Planning/Zoning Board of Adjustment an index of the natural resources of the municipality, the Joint Planning/Zoning Board of Adjustment shall make available to the Environmental Commission an informational copy of every application for development to the Joint Planning/Zoning Board of Adjustment. Failure of the Joint Planning/Zoning Board of Adjustment to make such informational copy available to the Environmental Commission shall not invalidate any hearing or proceeding.
[1]
Editor's Note: See also Ch. 5, Boards, Committees and Commissions, Art. II, Environmental Commission.
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.
[Added 11-8-1995 by Ord. No. 95-16]
The Joint Planning/Zoning Board of Adjustment shall exercise, to the same extent and subject to the same restrictions, all the powers of a Board of Adjustment; but the Class I (Mayor) and the Class III (Borough Committee Person) members shall not participate in the consideration of applications for development which involve relief pursuant to N.J.S.A. 40:55D-70d.