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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.
Connie Valenti, Board Secretary
Email Connie Valenti
Phone: 908-464-2700, 2124
Joe Popolo, Town Official
Term expires: December 31, 2023
- Joe Graziano, Mayor's Designee
Term expires: December 31, 2023 - Bill Robertson, Board Attorney
Term expires: December 31, 2023 - Jeanne Kingsley, Council Member
Term expires: December 31, 2023 - Dan Monaco
Term expires: December 31, 2025 - Craig Johnson, Chairman
Term expires: December 31, 2026 - Alvaro Medeiros
Term expires: December 31, 2025 - Margaret Illis
Term expires: December 31, 2023 - TBA
Term expires: December 31, 2025 - Kevin Hall
Term expires December 31, 2024
Alternates
- TBA, Alternate Number 1
Term expires: December 31, 2023 - John Leo, Jr., Alternate Number 2
Term expires: December 31, 2024
ZOOM Instructions
Residents can watch the Planning Board meetings via Zoom, but must attend in person to participate.
- If you are joining from a smartphone or tablet, install the Zoom app using the App store and join meeting number 357-574-7364 (and Password: 360071).
- If you are joining from a desktop or laptop computer with a web browser, open https://zoom.us/j/3575747364 --You may need to DOWNLOAD & RUN ZOOM first Meeting ID: 357-574-7364. Password: 360071
- If only joining audio by phone, call: 1-929-205-6099, then provide
meeting ID: 357-574-7364#
Members of the public who lack the ability to access the meeting or need assistance may contact Connie Valenti, Board Secretary, at 908-464-2700, Ext. 2124 or 908-963-3454 (cell) or by email at cvalenti@bhtwp.com.
Recorded Meetings
Planning Board meetings are recorded. Those meetings are available on the Township video archive for meetings prior to April, 2020 (pre-COVID-19). Meetings after April, 2020 can be found on the Township YouTube channel, on the 'Planning Board' playlist here.
Apply to Become a Planning Board Volunteer
Submit an application to become a volunteer on the Planning Board.
The Township welcomes and encourages residents who have specific experience applicable to each Committee, Board and Commission to apply for available positions. Please note that there are only a few volunteer opportunities available each year as there are staggered terms for members of each Committee, Board and Commission. However, many committees are always in need of extra volunteers for various events throughout the year.