[1]
Editor's Note: See Ch. 38, Article VI, Land Use Board.
[Amended 11-4-1981 by Ord. No. 81-21-802; 10-9-1986 by Ord. No. 86-21-938]
A. 
There is hereby established, pursuant to N.J.S.A. 40:55D-23, in the Borough of Cresskill a Planning Board of nine members and two alternates, consisting of the following four classes:
(1) 
Class I: the Mayor, or the Mayor's designee in the absence of the Mayor.[1]
[1]
Editor's Note: Amended at time of adoption of Code (see Ch. 1, General Provisions, Art. I).
(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, the member of the Environmental Commission [2] 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.
[2]
Editor's Note: See Ch. 6, Art. I, 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, 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. 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 members or alternate 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.[3]
[3]
Editor's Note: Amended at time of adoption of Code (see Ch. 1, General Provisions, Art. I).
B. 
Alternates. There shall be two alternate members of the Planning Board, who shall be appointed by the Mayor and designated as "Alternate No. 1" and "Alternate No. 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. In the event that a choice must be made as to which alternate member is to vote, Alternate No. 1 shall vote.
A. 
The term of the Class I member shall correspond with the Mayor's 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 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 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 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 appointments 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 terms 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. 
Alternate members shall serve for terms of two years, except that the terms of the alternate members shall be such that the term of not more than one alternate shall expire in any one year.
[Added 1-14-1981 by Ord. No. 81-21-802]
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 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, 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.
[Amended 7-2-1985 by Ord. No. 85-15-905; 10-9-1986 by Ord. No. 86-21-938]
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. 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 municipality, including any areas outside its boundaries which, in the Board's judgment, bear essential relation to the planning of the municipality in accordance with the provisions of N.J.S.A. 40:55D-28.
B. 
To administer the provisions of the Land Subdivision Ordinance [1] and Site Plan Review Ordinance [2] of the municipality in accordance with the provisions of said ordinances and the Municipal Land Use Law, N.J.S.A. 40:55D-1 et seq.
[1]
Editor's Note: See Ch. 234, Subdivision of Land.
[2]
Editor's Note: See Ch. 218, Site Development Plan.
C. 
To approve conditional use applications in accordance with the provisions of the Zoning Ordinance [3]pursuant to N.J.S.A. 40:55D-67.
[3]
Editor's Note: See Ch. 275, Zoning.
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 continuous planning process.
F. 
To 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.
G. 
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 to pass upon other matters specifically referred to the Planning Board by the governing body, pursuant to the provisions of N.J.S.A. 40:55D-26b.
H. 
Whenever the proposed development requires approval, pursuant to this article, of a subdivision, site plan or conditional use, but not a variance pursuant to N.J.S.A. 40:55D-70d, to grant, to the same extent and subject to the same restrictions as the Board of Adjustment, variances pursuant to N.J.S.A. 40:55D-70. Whenever relief is requested pursuant to this subsection, notice of a hearing on the application for development shall include a reference to the request for a variance or direction for the issuance of a permit, as the case may be. The developer may elect to submit a separate application requesting approval of the variance or direction of the issuance of a permit and a subsequent application for any required approval of a subdivision site plan or conditional use. The separate approval of the variance or direction of the issuance of a permit shall be conditioned upon grant of all required subsequent approvals by the Planning Board. No such subsequent approval shall be granted unless the approval can be granted without substantial detriment to the public good and without substantial impairment of the intent and purpose of the Zoning Plan and Zoning Ordinance.
I. 
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.
J. 
To reexamine the Master Plan and developmental regulations every six years and prepare a report pursuant to the requirements of N.J.S.A. 40:55D-89 et seq.
K. 
At the request of the developer, to grant an informal review of a concept plan for a development which the developer intends to prepare and submit as an application for development. The developer shall not be bound by any concept plan for which a review is requested, and the Planning Board shall not be bound by any such review.
[Amended 7-2-1985 by Ord. No. 85-15-905]
A. 
Minor subdivisions. Minor subdivision approvals shall be granted or denied within 45 days of the date of submission of a complete application, as defined in Subsection C of this section, 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 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.
B. 
Preliminary approval of major subdivisions. Upon submission of a complete application, as defined in Subsection C of this section, 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, as defined in Subsection C of this section, 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. 
An application for development shall be complete for purposes of commencing the applicable time period for action by a municipal agency, when so certified by the municipal agency or its authorized committee or designee. In the event that the agency, committee or designee 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:
(1) 
The application lacks information indicated on a checklist adopted by ordinance and provided that the applicant; and
(2) 
The municipal agency or its authorized committee or designee has notified the applicant, in writing, of the deficiencies in the application within 45 days of submission of the application. The applicant may request that one or more requirements be waived, in which event the municipal agency or its authorized committee shall grant or deny the request within 45 days.
D. 
Nothing herein shall be construed as diminishing the applicant's obligation to prove in the application process that he is entitled to approval on the application.
E. 
The municipal agency 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 shall not be deemed incomplete for lack of any such additional information or any revisions in the accompanying documents so required by the municipal agency.
[Amended 7-2-1985 by Ord. No. 85-15-905]
Whenever the Planning Board is called upon to exercise its ancillary powers before the granting of a variance, as set forth in § 38-7H 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 (as defined in § 38-8C) 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 a decision favorable to the applicant.
[Amended 7-2-1985 by Ord. No. 85-15-905[1]]
Application for final subdivision approval shall be granted or denied within 45 days of submission of a complete application, as defined in § 38-8C, 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 the signing of the plat.
[1]
Editor's Note: Amended at time of adoption of Code (see Ch. 1, General Provisions, Art. I).
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 through the Borough Clerk's office. The applicant shall file, at least 14 days before the date of the monthly meeting of the Board, six copies of a sketch plat, six copies of applications for minor subdivision approval, six copies of an application for major subdivision approval or six 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 provisions 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.
The Mayor may appoint one or more persons as a Citizens' Advisory Committee to assist or collaborate with the Planning Board 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 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.
[1]
Editor's Note: See Ch. 6, Art, I, Environmental Commission.