There is hereby established, pursuant to P.L. 1975, c. 291,[1] in the Township of Verona a Planning Board of nine members consisting of the following four classes:
A. 
Class I: the Mayor or Mayor's designee.
B. 
Class II: one of the officials of the municipality, other than a member of the governing body, to be appointed by the Township Manager, 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 if there is both a member of the Zoning Board of Adjustment and a member of the Board of Education among the Class IV members.
C. 
Class III: a member of the governing body to be appointed by it.
D. 
Class IV:
(1) 
Six other citizens of the municipality to be appointed by the Council. The members of Class IV shall hold no other municipal office, position or employment, except that one member may be a member of the Zoning Board of Adjustment or Historic Preservation Commission and one may be a member of the Board of Education. If an Environmental Commission is established by the Council, then 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 be among the Class IV members of the Planning Board both a member of the Zoning Board of Adjustment or Historic Preservation Commission 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 Planning Board. For the purpose of this section, membership on a municipal board or commission whose function is advisory in nature, and the establishment of which is discretionary and not required by statute, shall not be considered the holding of municipal office.
(2) 
In addition to the aforesaid members of Class IV, there shall be two alternate members in Class IV. They shall be designated by the Township Council as "Alternate No. 1" and "Alternate No. 2," and they shall serve in rotation during the absence or disqualification of any regular member or members of Class IV. Alternate members shall be appointed by the same appointing authority as regular members of that class and shall meet all of the same qualifications.
[Amended at time of adoption of Code (see Ch. 1, General Provisions, Art. I)]
E. 
If the Planning Board lacks a quorum because any of its regular or alternate members is prohibited by N.J.S.A. 40:55D-23 or 40:55D-23.1 from acting on a matter due to the member's personal or financial interests therein, regular members of the Board of Adjustment shall be called upon to serve, for that matter only, as temporary members of the Planning Board in order of seniority of continuous service to the Board of Adjustment until there are the minimum number of members necessary to constitute a quorum to act upon the matter without any personal or financial interest therein, whether direct or indirect. If a choice has to be made between regular members of equal seniority, the Chair of the Board of Adjustment shall make the choice.
[Added at time of adoption of Code (see Ch. 1, General Provisions, Art. I)]
[1]
Editor's Note: See N.J.S.A. 40:55D-1 et seq.
[Amended 12-21-2020 by Ord. No. 2020-26; 12-16-2024 by Ord. No. 2024-41]
A. 
The term of the member composing Class I shall correspond with his official tenure or if the member is the Mayor’s designee in the absence of the Mayor, 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 terminate at the completion of his term of office as a member of the Environmental Commission, whichever shall first occur.
B. 
The term of a Class IV member who is also a member of the 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.
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 terms 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 Planning Board, 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.
D. 
The initial terms of the alternate members of Class IV shall be one and two years, respectively. Thereafter, alternate members of Class IV shall serve for terms of two years.
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.
[Amended 12-16-2024 by Ord. No. 2024-41]
The Planning Board shall annually 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 shall organize and elect officers at the first meeting following January 1 of each year.
There is hereby created the office of Planning Board Attorney. The Planning Board may annually appoint, 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.
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 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 administer the provisions of Chapter 466, Subdivision of Land, and Chapter 430, Site Plan Review, of the Township 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 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 to recommend the 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 Township Council, pursuant to the provisions of N.J.S.A. 40:55D-26b.
G. 
Application review.
(1) 
When reviewing applications for approval of subdivision plats, site plans or conditional uses, to grant to the same extent and subject to same restrictions as the Zoning Board of Adjustment:
(a) 
Variances pursuant to Subsection 57c of Chapter 291 of the Laws of New Jersey 1975[1] 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.
[1]
Editor's Note: See N.J.S.A. 40:55D-70c.
(b) 
Direction pursuant to Section 25 of said act[2] for issuance of 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.[3]
[2]
Editor's Note: See N.J.S.A. 40:55D-34.
[3]
Editor's Note: See N.J.S.A. 40:55D-32.
(c) 
Direction pursuant to Section 27 of said act[4] for issuance of a permit for a building or structure not related to a street.
[4]
Editor's Note: See N.J.S.A. 40:55D-36.
(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. 46:23-9.3 et seq.
B. 
Preliminary approval of 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 § 55-7G 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.
(1) 
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.
(2) 
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 causes shown, extend the period for recording for an additional period not to exceed 190 days from the date of signing of the plat.
Applications for development within the jurisdiction of the Planning Board pursuant to the provisions of P.L. 1975, c. 291,[1] shall be filed with the Secretary of the Planning Board. The applicant shall file at least 14 days before the date of the monthly meeting of the Board three copies of a sketch plat; three copies of applications for minor subdivision approval; three copies of an application for major subdivision approval; or three 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.
[1]
Editor's Note: See N.J.S.A. 40:55D-1 et seq.
[Amended 8-3-1992 by Ord. No. 9-92]
Whenever the Environmental Commission, established under Chapter 18, Article II, Environmental Commission, hereof, has prepared and submitted to the Planning Board and the Board of Adjustment an index of the natural resources of the municipality, the Planning Board or the Board of Adjustment shall make available to the Environmental Commission an informational copy of every application for development submitted to either Board. Failure of the Planning Board or Board of Adjustment 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.