A. 
Purpose. Such regulations are deemed necessary to achieve the following purposes:
(1) 
Promote orderly development. To protect the character and to maintain the stability of all areas within the community and to promote the orderly and beneficial development of such areas.
(2) 
Promulgate rules and regulations. To provide rules, regulations and procedures, where applicable and to the extent the same have not been otherwise promulgated by ordinance in the Borough of Hawthorne, which will guide the appropriate development of lands within the Borough in a manner which will promote the public health, safety, morals and general welfare.
(3) 
To protect against hazards and danger. To secure safety from fire, flood, panic and other natural and man-made disasters.
(4) 
Design standards. To encourage the design and location of streets which will promote the free flow of traffic while discouraging the location of such facilities and routes which will result in congestion.
(5) 
Creative development techniques. To promote a desirable physical environment through creative development techniques, design and arrangement.
(6) 
Open spaces. To promote the conservation of open space and to protect the natural resources and to prevent overcrowding through improper land use.
B. 
Exceptions to design and performance standards. The approving authority, when acting upon applications, shall have the power to grant such exceptions from the subdivision and site plan requirements of this chapter as may by reasonable and within the general purpose and intent of the provisions for subdivisions, plat, site plan review and approval if the literal enforcement of one or more provisions of this chapter is impracticable or will exact undue hardship because of peculiar conditions pertaining to land in question.
C. 
Submission of concept plan for informal review.
(1) 
An informal review of a concept plan is optional. At the request of the developer, the Planning Board 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 purpose will be to review concepts to assist the applicant in the preparation of subsequent plans. Other than classification, no decisions will be made, no hearings held and no formal action taken. Neither the developer nor the approving authority shall be bound by this informal review.
(2) 
Filing procedure and information for concept review.
(a) 
The developer shall file with the Administrative Officer, at least two weeks prior to the meeting of the approving authority, 16 copies of the concept plan and the completed application form.
(b) 
The concept plan is considered a sketch or general plan neither fully engineered nor surveyed. Information used to prepare the concept plan can be available from secondary source information such as the Soil Conservation Survey Map or U.S. Geodetic Survey maps, but should be sufficiently detailed to allow the Planning Board to make suggestions on general site design and layout for circulation, stormwater management, location of open space and buffers and building arrangements and to determine how the land use code affects the proposal.
A. 
Filing and completeness.
(1) 
Applications for development within the jurisdiction of the Planning Board and Zoning Board of Adjustment pursuant to the provisions of N.J.S.A. 40:55D-1 et seq. shall be filed with the Administrative Officer. The applicant shall file, at least 10 days prior to the scheduled meeting, the following items: 16 copies of the application, all plot plans, maps and other papers required by virtue of any provision of this chapter, as well as the applicable fees and certification by the Tax Collector that all taxes are paid to date. All submission details are set forth in the checklists adopted as part of this chapter (see schedule[1]). The applicant may produce other documents, records, or testimony at the hearing to substantiate or clarify or supplement the previously filed maps and documents. Revised plans shall also be on file at least 10 days prior to the date of a continued hearing.
[1]
Editor's Note: Application Checklists is included as an attachment to this chapter.
(2) 
A corporation or partnership applying for permission to subdivide a parcel of land, or for a variance to construct multiple dwellings, or for approval of a site to be used for commercial purposes, shall list the names and addresses of all stockholders or individual partners owning at least 10% of its stock of any class or at least 10% of the interest in the partnership. If a corporation or partnership owns 10% or more of the stock of a corporation, or a 10% or greater interest in a partnership, subject to the above disclosure, that corporation or partnership shall list the names and addresses of its stockholders holding 10% or more of its stock or a 10% or greater interest in the partnership, as the case may be, and this requirement shall be followed by every corporate stockholder, or partner in a partnership, until the names and addresses of the corporate stockholders and individual partners exceeding the 10% ownership criterion established in this subsection have been listed. Neither the Planning Board, Zoning Board of Adjustment nor the governing body shall approve the application of any corporation or partnership which does not comply with this requirement of N.J.S.A. 40:55D-48.1. The penalty for concealment by a corporation or a partnership shall be as outlined in N.J.S.A. 40:55D-48.1.
(3) 
The Borough Administrative Officer, in consultation with the Borough Engineer, shall review the submission for its completeness and take action on accepting or rejecting the submission as a complete application. In the event the Administrative Officer does not certify the application to be complete within 45 days of the date of its submission, the application shall be deemed complete upon the expiration of the forty-five-day period for purposes of commencing the applicable time period unless:
(a) 
The application lacks information indicated on the checklists adopted as part of this chapter; and
(b) 
The Administrative Officer has notified the applicant, in writing, of the deficiencies in the application within 45 days of submission of the application.
(4) 
The applicant may request in writing that one or more of the submission requirements be waived, in which event, the Administrative Officer shall schedule the matter for consideration of the requested waivers before the appropriate board. The application shall be deemed incomplete until that item has been satisfied.
(5) 
If an application, as filed, includes requests for waivers of any items required as conditions for completeness, the approving authority shall grant or deny the request at the first scheduled meeting, either regular or conference, following receipt of the application, provided that the application is filed no less than 14 days prior to said meeting. If any such item is not waived by the approving authority, the application shall be deemed incomplete until that item has been satisfied.
(6) 
If an application is dormant for a period of 90 days after being declared incomplete due to lack of action on the part of the applicant, said application shall automatically be deemed null and void and shall be so marked or labeled.
(7) 
Nothing herein shall be construed as diminishing the applicant's obligation to prove in the application process that he/she is entitled to approval of the application. The approving authority may subsequently require correction of any information found to be in error and submission of additional information not specified in the ordinance or any revisions in the accompanying documents, as are reasonably necessary to make an informed decision as to whether the requirements necessary for approval of the application for development have been met. The application shall not be deemed incomplete for lack of any such additional information or any revisions in the accompanying documents so required by the approving authority.
B. 
Action by approving authority.
(1) 
Public hearing. Upon determination that an application is complete, a public hearing date shall be set by the approving authority and notice given.
(2) 
Reports.
(a) 
Upon determination that an application is complete, the Administrative Officer shall forward one copy of the plans and supporting data to the following boards and experts, as directed by the approving authority, for review and action:
[1] 
The Borough Engineer;
[2] 
The Board of Health;
[3] 
The Environmental Commission;
[4] 
The Planning Consultant;
[5] 
The Chief of Police;
[6] 
The Fire Prevention Bureau;
[7] 
The Construction Code Officer.
(b) 
Upon receipt of all required reports, the applicant shall file with the approving authority a written statement responding to each report and stating how each comment of the report will be addressed or otherwise resolved. The written statement shall be filed with the Board prior to the required hearing on the application. If any required report has not been obtained by the applicant, the applicant shall notify the Board of this fact, by certified mail, in writing, at least 10 days prior to the hearing, giving the reason(s) why the report has not been received. After an agency has not responded within 30 days from date of certified mailing and the applicant has submitted the copies of letters/certified receipt indicating request for report, the applicant will be relieved from obtaining that agency's input. A copy of each report received by the applicant shall accompany the written statement. The format and content of the statement shall be as follows:
[1] 
The name of agency issuing the report.
[2] 
The date of the report.
[3] 
The date of the application drawing(s) or revision date of the application drawing(s) for which the report is issued.
[4] 
The applicant's response to each comment in the report which requires action on the part of the applicant. The response shall state clearly how each matter has been or will be addressed, corrected or otherwise resolved.
(c) 
The approving authority shall take the recommendations into account but shall have the authority to proceed in the absence of such recommendation or to disregard or modify such recommendations.
(3) 
The approving authority shall grant or deny preliminary subdivision approval within the following time periods unless some further time has been consented to by the developer. Otherwise, the approving authority shall be deemed to have granted preliminary approval of the subdivision. Failure of the approving 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 approving board to act shall be issued on request of the applicant.
(a) 
Minor subdivision: within 45 days of the date of a complete submission.
(b) 
Preliminary subdivision of 10 or fewer lots: within 45 days of the date of a complete submission.
(c) 
Preliminary subdivision with more than 10 lots: within 95 days of the date of a complete submission.
(d) 
Preliminary subdivision requiring variances: within 120 days of the date of a complete submission.
(e) 
Final subdivision: within 45 days of the date of a complete submission.
(4) 
The approving authority shall grant or deny preliminary site plan approval within the following time periods unless some further time has been consented to by the developer. Otherwise, the approving authority shall be deemed to have granted preliminary approval of the site plan. Failure of the approving 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 approving board to act shall be issued on request of the applicant.
(a) 
Minor site plan: within 45 days of the date of a complete submission.
(b) 
Preliminary site plan which involves 10 dwelling units or less: within 45 days of the date of a complete submission.
(c) 
Preliminary site plan which involves more than 10 acres or more than 10 dwelling units: within 95 days of the date of a complete submission.
(d) 
Preliminary site plan requiring variances: within 120 days of the date of a complete submission.
(e) 
Final site plan: within 45 days of the date of a complete submission.
(5) 
The approving authority may approve, disapprove or approve with conditions the application. The decision shall be in writing and shall be sent to the applicant and the newspaper as required by § 540-30B. If the approving authority grants preliminary approval, its Chairperson and Secretary, or the Vice Chairperson or Assistant Secretary, in their absence, respectively, and the Borough Engineer shall sign each page of the plat indicating the approval. If the plat is conditionally approved, it shall not be signed until all conditions are corrected on the plat. If the corrections are not completed within 90 days of the conditional approval, the conditional approval shall lapse.
(6) 
Whenever review or approval of an application by the County Planning Board is required by the County Land Development Standards, the Planning Board shall condition any approval that it grants upon timely receipt of a favorable report on the application by the County Planning Board or approval by the County Planning Board by its failure to report thereon within the required time period.
(7) 
If the approving authority required any substantial amendment in the layout of improvements in either a site plan or subdivision, and that plan had been the subject of a hearing, an amended application shall be submitted and proceeded upon as in the case of the original application for development and shall be subject to filing of additional fees as specified in § 540-38. The approving authority shall, if the proposed development complies with this chapter, grant preliminary approval.
C. 
Effect of approval.
(1) 
Preliminary approval shall confer upon the applicant the following rights for a three-year period from the date of the preliminary approval:
(a) 
That the general terms and conditions on which preliminary approval was granted shall not be changed, including but not limited to use requirements; layout and design standards for streets, curbs and sidewalks; lot size; yard dimensions; off-tract improvements; and in the case of a site plan, any requirements for preservation of existing natural resources, for safe and efficient vehicular and pedestrian circulation, parking and loading, for screening, landscaping and location of structures and for exterior lighting, except that nothing herein shall be construed to prevent the Borough from modifying, by ordinance, such general terms and conditions of preliminary approval as relate to public health and safety.
(b) 
That the applicant may submit for final approval on or before the expiration date of preliminary approval the whole or a section or sections of the preliminary plat or site plan, as the case may be.
(c) 
That the applicant may apply for, and the approving authority may grant, extensions on such preliminary approval for additional periods of at least one year but not to exceed a total extension of two years, provided that if the design standards have been revised by ordinance, such revised standards may govern.
(2) 
In the case of a development for an area of 50 acres or more, the approving authority may grant the rights referred to in Subsection C(1)(a), (b) and (c) above for such period of time longer than three years as shall be determined by the approving authority to be reasonable, taking into consideration the number of dwelling units and nonresidential floor area permissible under preliminary approval, the potential number of dwelling units and nonresidential floor area of the section(s) awaiting final approval, economic conditions and the comprehensiveness of the development, provided that if the design standards have been revised, such revised standards may govern.
(3) 
Any variance from the terms of this chapter hereafter granted by the Board of Adjustment permitting the erection or alteration of any structures or permitting a specified use of any premises shall expire by limitation unless such construction or alteration shall have actually commenced on each and every structure permitted by said variance, or unless such permitted use has actually been commenced, within one year from the date of entry of the judgment or determination of the Board of Adjustment; except, however, in the case of a use variance which also involves a subdivision or site plan, approval of the variance shall extend for the full period of preliminary approval, i.e. three years; and except, however, that the running of the period of limitation herein provided shall be tolled from the date of filing an appeal from the decision of the Board of Adjustment to the governing body, or to a court of competent jurisdiction, until the termination in any manner of such appeal or proceeding.
D. 
Issuance of building permits. No building permit shall be issued until final approval has been granted by the Planning Board and, in the case of a subdivision, until the final plat has been properly filed with the Passaic County Clerk within the time or extended time required by N.J.S.A. 40:55D-54. Proof of filing shall be submitted to the Planning Board Secretary prior to issuance of a building permit. The requirement of final approval by the Planning Board prior to the issuance of a building permit for the construction of a maximum of one home (or one building of attached residential units, as the case may be) which shall be the "model" for the development, may be approved. No certificate of occupancy will be issued for these homes until all improvements are constructed to the satisfaction of the Borough Engineer.
A. 
Procedures for minor subdivision approval.
(1) 
A minor subdivision shall be as defined in Article VII of this chapter.
(2) 
Submission details are set forth in the checklists adopted as part of this chapter (see schedule[1]).
[1]
Editor's Note: Application Checklists is included as an attachment to this chapter.
(3) 
Upon receipt of a completed application, the Board shall, within the time periods prescribed pursuant to § 540-44B(3), take action on the application as provided by law.
(4) 
The Administrative Officer may submit a minor subdivision application to the Subdivision and Site Plan Committee for report and recommendation to the full Planning Board.
(5) 
Minor subdivision approval shall be deemed to be final approval of the subdivision by the Board, provided that the Board may condition such approval on terms ensuring the provision of improvements pursuant to N.J.S.A. 40:55D-38, 39, 40 and 53. If improvements are required to be constructed as a condition of minor subdivision approval, the applicant shall complete all such improvements within one year from the date of approval of said minor subdivision. The applicant shall also post a performance guarantee in accordance with all requirements applicable thereto for a major subdivision.
(6) 
After one lot is created by minor subdivision, any subsequent application for subdivision of said resulting lot or parcel shall be accepted only as a major subdivision.
(7) 
Provided that the approved final plat of a minor subdivision has been filed with the county recording officer, the zoning requirements and general terms and conditions, whether conditional or otherwise, upon which minor subdivision approval was granted, shall not be changed for a period of two years after the date of minor subdivision approval.
(8) 
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,[2] or a deed clearly describing the approved minor subdivision, is filed by the developer with the County Recording Officer, the Borough Engineer and the Borough Tax Assessor. Any such plat or deed must be signed by the Chairperson and Secretary of the Planning Board before it will be accepted for filing by the County Recording Officer.
[2]
Editor's Note: Repealed 2011, c. 217. See now N.J.S.A. 46:26B-1 et seq.
B. 
Procedures for minor site plan approval.
(1) 
A minor site plan shall be as defined in Article VII of this chapter.
(2) 
Submission details are set forth in the checklists adopted as part of this chapter (see schedule[3]).
[3]
Editor's Note: Application Checklists is included as an attachment to this chapter.
(3) 
Upon receipt of a completed application, the Board shall, within the time periods prescribed pursuant to § 540-44B(4), take action on the application as provided by law.
(4) 
Minor site plan approval shall be deemed to be final approval of the site plan by the Board, provided that the Board may condition such approval on terms ensuring the provision of improvements pursuant to N.J.S.A. 40:55D-38, 39 and 53.
A. 
Procedures for preliminary major subdivision approval.
(1) 
Major subdivision is any subdivision of land that is not classified as a minor subdivision.
(2) 
Submission details are set forth in the checklists adopted as part of this chapter (see schedule[1]).
[1]
Editor's Note: Application Checklists is included as an attachment to this chapter.
(3) 
Upon receipt of a completed application, the Board shall, within the time periods prescribed pursuant to § 540-44B(4), take action on the application as provided by law.
(4) 
For all applications for preliminary approval of major subdivisions, the approving board shall hold a public hearing with public notice given pursuant to § 540-28. If, upon public hearing, preliminary approval is granted, the Board shall adopt a resolution with respect thereto, enumerating the plat thereby approved and establishing the terms and conditions of approval and specifying the conditions which must be satisfied prior to final approval. A copy of the resolution shall be attached to the preliminary plat, which shall be signed by the Chairperson and Secretary of the Board.
(5) 
As a condition of approval, the approving authority may require the installation and maintenance of on-tract improvements, and the regulations may require a developer to pay his/her pro rata share of the cost of off-tract improvements in accordance with N.J.S.A. 40:55D-42.
(6) 
Preliminary approval of a major subdivision pursuant to N.J.S.A. 40:55D-48 shall have the effect and shall confer upon the applicant such rights as described in § 540-44B.
B. 
Procedures for preliminary major site plan approval.
(1) 
Major site plan is any site plan that is not classified as a minor site plan.
(2) 
Submission details are set forth in the checklists adopted as part of this chapter (see schedule[2]).
[2]
Editor's Note: Application Checklists is included as an attachment to this chapter.
(3) 
Upon receipt of a completed application, the Board shall, within the time periods prescribed pursuant to § 540-44B(4), take action on the application as provided by law.
(4) 
For all applications for preliminary approval of major site plans, the approving board shall hold a public hearing with public notice given pursuant to § 540-28. If, upon public hearing, preliminary approval is granted, the Board shall adopt a resolution with respect thereto, enumerating the plans thereby approved and establishing the terms and conditions of approval and specifying the conditions which must be satisfied prior to final approval. A copy of the resolution shall be attached to the preliminary plan, which shall be signed by the Chairman and Secretary of the Board.
(5) 
As a condition of approval, the approving authority may require the installation and maintenance of on-tract improvements, and the regulations may require a developer to pay his/her pro rata share of the cost of off-tract improvements in accordance with N.J.S.A. 40:55D-42.
(6) 
Preliminary approval of a major site plan pursuant to N.J.S.A. 40:55D-46 shall have the effect and shall confer upon the applicant such rights as described in § 540-44C.
A. 
Filing procedure.
(1) 
Prior to the expiration of preliminary plat approval, the developer shall file with the Administrative Officer, at least 10 days prior to the meeting of the approving authority; the original tracing cloth or Mylar copies; 10 black-on-white paper prints of the plat; four completed copies of the application form and final plat checklist; the performance guarantee approved by the governing body, including off-tract improvements, if any; any maintenance guaranties; the applicable fee; certification by the Tax Collector that all taxes are paid to date; certification by the Soil Conservation District pursuant to the Soil Erosion and Sediment Control Act, Chapter 251 of the Laws of 1975;[1] and if common open space lot or lots are included in the application, a separate map showing the individual lot or lots that are to be designated as common open space, which map shall have shown thereon the data listed on the checklists adopted as part of this chapter (see schedule[2]).
[1]
Editor's Note: See N.J.S.A. 4:24-39 et seq.
[2]
Editor's Note: Application Checklists is included as an attachment to this chapter.
(2) 
Where utility services are to be extended to the development, the final plat shall be accompanied by letters directed to the Chairperson of the approving authority and signed by a responsible officer of the water company, sewer authority and utility which provides gas, telephone and electricity that has jurisdiction in the area. Such letters shall approve each proposed utility installation design and state who will construct the facility.
(3) 
The final plat shall be accompanied by a statement by the Borough Engineer that he/she is in receipt of a map showing all utilities and other improvements (both in the development and off-tract improvements) in exact location and elevation; that he/she has examined the street, drainage erosion, stormwater control and excavation plans and found that the interests of the Borough and of nearby properties are fully protected and identifying those portions of any improvements already installed; and that the developer has either:
(a) 
Installed all improvements in accordance with the requirements of this chapter and the preliminary plat approval, with a maintenance guarantee accompanying the final plat; or
(b) 
Posted a performance guarantee that has been approved by the governing body.
B. 
Action by approving authority of final subdivision plat.
(1) 
The approving authority shall review the submission for its completeness and take action on accepting or rejecting the submission as a complete application. If rejected, the applicant shall be notified within 45 days of submission. If accepted as a complete application, the approving authority shall grant final approval if the detailed drawings, specifications and estimates conform to the standards established by this chapter, the conditions of previous reviews, the changes and/or conditions of previous reviews, the changes and/or conditions required on the informal plat in cases where there has been no preliminary plat, and the standards prescribed by the Map Filing Law, N.J.S.A. 46:23-9.9 et seq.[3] In the case of a planned development, the approving authority may permit minimal deviations from the conditions of preliminary plat approval necessitated by a change of conditions beyond the control of the developer since the date of preliminary approval. Minimal deviations shall not require the developer to submit another application for preliminary approval.
[3]
Editor's Note: Repealed 2011, c. 217. See now N.J.S.A. 46:26B-1 et seq.
(2) 
Final approval shall be granted or denied within 45 days after submission of a complete application to the Administrative Officer or within such further time as may be consented to by the applicant, as set forth in § 540-44B(3). An approved final plat shall be signed by the Chairperson and Secretary of the approving authority, or the Vice Chairperson or Assistant Secretary, in their absence, respectively.
(3) 
Final approval of a major subdivision shall expire 95 days from the date of signing of the plat unless within such a period the plat shall have been duly filed by the developer with the County Recording Officer. The approving authority may for good cause shown extend the period for recording for an additional period not to exceed 190 days from the date of the signing of the plat. No subdivision plat shall be accepted for filing by the county recording officer until it has been approved by the approving authority as indicated on the instrument by the signature of the Chairperson and Secretary of the approving authority, or the Vice Chairperson or Assistant Secretary, in their absence, respectively, or a certificate has been issued as to the failure of the approving authority to act within the required time. The signatures of the Chairperson and Secretary shall not be affixed until the developer has posted the required guaranties. If the county recording officer records any plat without such approval, such recording shall be deemed null and void, and, upon request of the municipality, the plat shall be expunged from the official records. It shall be the duty of the county recording officer to notify the Planning Board, in writing, within seven days of the filing of any plat, identifying such instrument by its title, date of filing and official number.
(4) 
Provided that the approved final subdivision plat has been filed with the county recording officer, the zoning requirements applicable to the preliminary approval first granted to the major subdivision and all other rights conferred upon the developer pursuant to the Municipal Land Use Law,[4] whether conditionally or otherwise, shall not be changed for a period of two years after the date of final approval. If the developer has followed the standards prescribed for final approval, the approving authority may extend such period of protection for extensions of one year, but not to exceed three extensions. Upon granting of final approval, the rights conferred upon the applicant by the granting of preliminary approval shall be terminated upon final approval.
[4]
Editor's Note: See N.J.S.A. 40:55D-1 et seq.
(5) 
Upon final approval by the Planning Board and after all required signatures are placed on the original tracing, the Administrative Officer shall request the Borough Engineer to have one cloth print and Mylar reproducible and 10 copies each made of such final plat and file a copy thereof with each of the following: the Board Secretary, Administrative Officer, Board Engineer, Borough Clerk, Construction Code Officer, Tax Assessor, Board of Health, Shade Tree Commission, and any other agency or person directed by the approving authority.
A. 
Filing procedure.
(1) 
The site plan and an application for final approval shall be submitted to the proper Administrative Officer with the required fee. If there have been no changes in the approved preliminary site plan, the same plan may be used in connection with the application for final approval and no further final plan shall be required for approval. Five white prints (blue or black on white) of the site plan shall accompany the application. Four completed copies of the application form and final plat checklist must be submitted along with the prints; the performance guarantee approved by the governing body, including off-tract improvements, if any; any maintenance guaranties; the applicable fee; certification by the Tax Collector that all taxes are paid to date; certification by the Soil Conservation District pursuant to the Soil Erosion and Sediment Control Act, Chapter 251 of the Laws of 1975.[1]
[1]
Editor's Note: See N.J.S.A. 4:24-39 et seq.
(2) 
Where utility services are to be extended to the development, the final site plan shall be accompanied by letters directed to the Chairperson of the approving authority and signed by a responsible officer of the water company, sewer authority and utility which provides gas, telephone and electricity that has jurisdiction in the area. Such letters shall approve each proposed utility installation design and state who will construct the facility.
(3) 
The final site plan shall be accompanied by a statement by the Borough Engineer that he/she is in receipt of a map showing all utilities and other improvements (both in the development and off-tract improvements) in exact location and elevation; that he/she has examined the street, drainage erosion, stormwater control and excavation plans and found that the interests of the Borough and of nearby properties are fully protected and identifying those portions of any improvements already installed; and that the developer has either:
(a) 
Installed all improvements in accordance with the requirements of this chapter and the preliminary plat approval, with a maintenance guarantee accompanying the final plat; or
(b) 
Posted a performance guarantee that has been approved by the governing body.
B. 
Action by approving authority on final site plan.
(1) 
The approving authority shall review the submission for its completeness and take action on accepting or rejecting the submission as a complete application. If rejected, the applicant shall be notified within 45 days of submission. If accepted as a complete application, the approving authority shall grant final approval if the detailed drawings, specifications and estimates conform to the standards established by this chapter, the conditions of previous reviews, the changes and/or conditions of previous reviews, the changes and/or conditions required on the informal plat in cases where there has been no preliminary plat, and the standards prescribed by the Map Filing Law, N.J.S.A. 46:23-9.9 et seq. In the case of a planned development, the approving authority may permit minimal deviations from the conditions of preliminary plat approval necessitated by a change of conditions beyond the control of the developer since the date of preliminary approval. Minimal deviations shall not require the developer to submit another application for preliminary approval.
(2) 
Final approval shall be granted or denied within 45 days after submission of a complete application to the Administrative Officer or within such further time as may be consented to by the applicant, as set forth in § 540-44B(3). An approved final plat shall be signed by the Chairperson and Secretary of the approving authority, or the Vice Chairperson or Assistant Secretary, in their absence, respectively.
(3) 
The zoning requirements applicable to the preliminary approval first granted to a site plan and all other rights conferred upon the developer pursuant to the Municipal Land Use Law,[2] whether conditionally or otherwise, shall not be changed for a period of two years after the date of final approval. If the developer has followed the standards prescribed for final approval, the approving authority may extend such period of protection for extensions of one year, but not to exceed three extensions. Upon granting of final approval, the rights conferred upon the applicant by the granting of preliminary approval shall be terminated upon final approval.
[2]
Editor's Note: See N.J.S.A. 40:55D-1 et seq.
(4) 
Upon final approval by the approving board, a copy of the plat shall be filed with each of the following: the Board Secretary, Administrative Officer, Board Engineer, Borough Clerk, Construction Code Officer, Tax Assessor, and any other agency or person directed by the approving authority.