The Planning Board consists of volunteer residents appointed by the Mayor and Council who are responsible for preparing the Borough Master Plan in compliance with provisions of the New Jersey Municipal Land Use Law (MLUL) and who are reponsible for reviewing zoning ordinances referred to them by the Mayor and Council.
The Planing Board reviews and acts on the following:
The Planning Board consists of nine members and two alternate members. The Board is assisted by a professional staff consisting of an attorney, a professional planner, Borough engineer and a Administrative Officer/Board secretary. The Planning Board meets for Public Hearing once a month on the third Thursday at 8:00 p.m. in the second floor meeting room at the Borough Hall. A work session is held at 8:00 p.m. on the Monday before the Public Hearing.
Applicants who are contemplating a future proposal if thier property to be submitted to the Planning Board, may take a one time only, no fee opportunity to describe their project on an informal basis with the Planning Board at a meeting. Five to ten minutes are allotted and suggestions are obtained from the Board. The Planning Board secretary should be contacted first in order to be placed on the Work Session agenda.
Welcome to the work session and public hearing of the Allendale Planning Board.
We are glad that you are here and we hope to benefit from you attendance and your input. This bulletin outlines the procedures which the Municipal Land Use Law requires the Planning Board to follow.
Our printed agenda is available before all our meetings. It is posted in the Borough Hall in the foyer at least 48 hours before the meeting and can also be found on the Allendale website. The applications will first be reviewed for completeness at a work session meeting. This session does not contemplate public comment.
Full review of applications and all official business of the Planning Board is conducted at the Public Hearing. the Chairperson conducts the meeting as a Judge might and the Board is comparable to a jury who will vote on a final decision.
When an application is announced by the Chairperson, the applicant come forward, introduces him/herself. affirms that thier testimony will be truthful (sworn in) and then explains the nature of the application. He/she will then give testimony. If there are witnesses they also will be sworn in and give testimony. If the applicant is represented by an attorney, the attorney presents the application and the order of witnesses.
The applicant provides testimony themselves and by other witnesses that they may wish to bring to support their application.
Following the testimony of each witness the Board will ask questions and seek clarifications needed for an informed vote. The Chairperson will then ask if there are any questions of the witness by the Board and the Board professionals. This will take place after each witness. This time is designated for questions of each witnesses testimony and comments by the Board. Once the Board has completed this process the Chairperson will open the meeting to the public.
During the public participation portion of the meeting, if the public has a question or comment, raise your hand. When the Chairperson recognizes you, please stand, walk to the microphone, and you will be sworn in the by Board Attorney. State your name and address and ask your questions. The public is generally limited to five minutes per person to ensure adequate time for all speakers for all applications that night. Circumstances to a particular application may differ and any time extensions or speaking will be adjusted by the Chairperson. The applicant also has the right to cross -examine any members of the public who speak, either for or against the application. Statements from the public should be supportable and not hearsay such as petitions and wishes.
The Chairperson has the right to close the public portion of the hearing if he feels that they audience is unruly or is making comments that are not relevant to the case.
Some applications may take more than one meeting to complete. If this occurs, the Planning Board will continue the hearing to a future meeting date that will be announced at the hearing. Because the applicant does not need to notify the public about a future meeting, please listen for the verbal announcement of future or rescheduled meetings. You can always confirm a continuation or rescheduling by calling the Planning Board Secretary at (201) 818-4400 ext 202 during the hours of 1:00 p.m. and 4:00 p.m. Monday through Friday.
A record of the Public Hearing is tape recorded and a Recording Secretary is also present. So when you speak, please speak slowly and clearly. All witnesses must state their names and spell them and their addresses. Only the Chairperson may decide who speaks at a given time. Comments from the audience are not allowed.
When you follow the above procedure your input will have maximum impact for the Boards deliberations. Please be reminded that all applications are judged on their individual merits. The Board cannot predetermine the outcome of an application.
We hope your participation will be effective and satisfying. Thank you for coming out and participating in the Municipal Land Use process.
Vince Barra
Todd Fliegel
George Scherb
Kevin Quinn (Chairperson)
Stephen Sasso
Carol Sheehan
Michael Sirico
Jim Strauch
Michael Walters
Thomas Zambrotta
Tim Dunn, Attorney