Representing Zoning and Planning Boards in New Jersey

Learn everything you need to know to effectively represent and counsel zoning and planning boards in New Jersey, including:

• The appointed and organization of land use boards


• An overview of the responsibilities and differences between a planning board, zoning board and a joint board


• How to determine and advise board members on conflicts of interest


• The attorney’s role in the application process and at meetings


• Evaluating whether public notice is sufficient


• Interpretations of the ordinance and/or the issuance of a certificates of nonconforming use


• Appeals of decisions of the zoning officer


• C variance proofs and D variance proofs


• The inherently beneficial use doctrine and the Sica balancing test


• The hearing process


• The importance of resolutions of approval or denial


• The importance of creating a solid record and the arbitrary reasonable and capricious standard


• Appeals of the Board’s decision to the governing body and or the Superior Court


• Compliance with the Open Public Meetings Act


• Open Public Records Act and discovery of board emails


• The public filming of meetings and demeanor


• Deed restrictions, the recording of decisions and developing appropriate conditions of approval


• Fraud or mistake when decisions may need to be set aside


• Recent case law and other hot land use topics from a purely board perspective