Planning Board

Pursuant to the Municipal Land Use Law (MLUL), the Planning Board exercises its power in regard to the following: Preparation and adoption of the Master Plan of the Township and the reexamination of the Master Plan every 10 years; Subdivision control and site plan review; Review and recommendation with regard to the adoption or amendment of the official map of the Township; Conditional use approval; Preparation of capital improvement program as authorized by the Township; Variances, other than variances pursuant to NJSA 40:55D-70d, and certain building permits in conjunction with subdivision, site plan and conditional use approval.

The Planning Board may also participate in the preparation and review of programs or plans required by State or federal law or regulation, assemble data on a continuing basis as part of a continuous planning process, and perform such other advisory duties as are assigned to it by ordinance or resolution of the Township for the aid and assistance of the Township or other agencies or officers.

The land use application process in New Jersey is governed by the Municipal Land Use Law, N.J.S.A. 40:55D-1, eq seq. (“MLUL”).  Under the MLUL, a developer files an application with the Township. Generally, applications for permitted uses go before the Planning Board, and applications for non-permitted uses go before the Zoning Board of Adjustment. The MLUL provides the municipality with 45 days to determine if an application is complete, and then 95 days for the appropriate Board to render a decision on the application (absent any extension from the applicant) once the application is deemed complete. The Berkeley Heights Technical Review Committee (“TRC”) must deem an application complete before it can go to the appropriate Board. A finding of completeness by the TRC does not constitute an endorsement of the application by the Township or the TRC, rather it is a finding that the required application documents have been submitted.

Once the application is before the Board, there is an opportunity for public comment. Under the MLUL, all public comments must be made in-person (or through Zoom if the Board permits virtual public participation) at the Board hearing. Boards are not permitted to accept written comments or objections into the record. The Land Use Administrator and other municipal employees cannot accept written comments or objections. Likewise, Boards are not permitted to accept petitions. If any person seeks to comment on an application, they must attend the Board meeting to do so.

Meetings

1st and 3rd Wednesday of every month; 7:30 pm, via Zoom

Upcoming Meetings

For information and supporting documentation to be addressed at the upcoming meeting, please visit the Upcoming Meetings page.

Agendas & Minutes

Agendas are available prior to the meetings. Minutes are available following approval.

View Most Recent Agendas and Minutes

Members

There are four classes of membership:  Class I (the mayor or the mayor’s designee) whose term corresponds to the mayor’s official tenure; Class II (an official of the municipality appointed by the Mayor) whose term is 1 year; Class III (a member of the Township Council) whose term is 1 year; Class IV (other citizens of the municipality appointed by the mayor) whose term is 4 years.