Ten (10) copies of a site plan for preliminary approval prepared in accordance with subsection 17-15.5, together with five (5) copies of the completed application forms shall be submitted to the secretary of the appropriate approving board at least fourteen (14) days prior to the regularly scheduled meeting at which consideration is desired. The secretary shall forward a copy of the site plan for preliminary approval to the County Planning Board, Municipal Clerk, Planning Board Engineer, Planning Consultant, Construction Code Official, for review and comment, if deemed appropriate; however, the Planning Board Engineer and Planning Consultant shall examine the site plan to determine its conformance with requirements of this chapter and shall file a written report of their findings with the secretary of the Board. Developments meeting the most current definition of a "Major Development" must comply with the Low Impact Development Checklist from Appendix A of the BMP Manual.

The approving board shall review the submission for its completeness and, if incomplete, the material shall be returned to the developer for a resubmission at least fourteen (14) days prior to a subsequent meeting.

Before any action is taken on any preliminary site plan, the approving board shall conduct a hearing with appropriate public notice as established in this chapter. No action shall be taken until completion of the public hearing and the scheduling and notifications for the hearing shall be in accordance with this chapter and the Act.

If the approving board requires any substantial amendment in the layout of improvements as proposed by the developer and that plan had been the subject of a hearing, an amended application for development shall be submitted and proceeded upon, as in the case of the original application for development.

The approving board shall take action after considering the results of the public hearing and the recommendations made by Municipal, State, and County officials or agencies within their time period prescribed, or the application for preliminary approval shall be deemed approved.

If the approving board acts disfavorably on the application for preliminary site plan approval the applicant shall be so advised.

Upon the submission of a complete application for a site plan for ten (10) acres of land or less, the Planning Board shall grant or deny preliminary approval within forty-five (45) days of the date of such submission or within such further time as may be consented to by the developer. Upon the submission of a complete application for a site plan of more than ten (10) acres, the Planning Board shall grant or deny preliminary approval within ninety-five (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 of the site plan.

If classified and approved as a minor site plan by majority vote of members of the approving board present at the hearing, a notation to that effect and the signatures of the Chairman and secretary will be made on the plan. The Board may condition such approvals on terms insuring provision of improvements pursuant to Sections 29, 29.1 and 41 of the Act and/or favorable review of the County Planning Board or approval by County Planning Board by its failure to report thereon within the required time period. Final site plan submission may be waived for an approved minor site plan, by a majority vote of the Board.

One (1) copy of the signed and approved site plan shall be forwarded to the applicant within ten (10) days of approval of said application.

If classified as a major site plan by a majority vote of the approving board, the Chairman and secretary shall affix their signatures to the site plan with a notation that it has received preliminary approval, and a copy returned to the applicant with instructions to proceed with final site plan procedures as prescribed in this chapter.