Appeals may be taken by any interested party affected by any decision of an administrative officer of the municipality based on or made in the enforcement of the zoning ordinance or development map. Each appeal shall be taken within twenty (20) days by filing a notice of appeal with the officer from whom the appeal was taken, together with twelve (12) copies of the notice at the office of the Planning Board/Zoning Board of Adjustment. The notice of appeal shall specify the grounds for the appeal. The officer from whom the appeal is taken shall immediately transmit to the board all the papers constituting the record upon which the action appealed from was taken.

Applications addressed to the original jurisdiction of the board without prior application to an administrative officer, shall be filed at the office of the board. Twelve (12) copies of the application shall be filed.

At the time of filing the appeal, the applicant shall pay the filing fee established by this chapter and file all plot plans, maps, or other papers required by virtue of any provision of this chapter or any rule of the board.

The applicant shall obtain all necessary forms from the secretary of the board. The secretary of the board shall inform the applicant of the steps to be taken to initiate proceedings and of the regular meeting dates of the board.

If the appeal or application for development is found to be incomplete, the applicant shall be notified in writing of the deficiencies therein by the board or the board's designee for the determination of completeness within forty-five (45) days of submission of such appeal or application or same shall be deemed to be properly submitted.

An appeal shall stay all proceedings in furtherance of the action appeal from, unless the officer from whom the appeal is taken certifies to the board, after notice of appeal shall have been filed with him/her, that by reason of facts stated in the certificate, a stay would, in his/her opinion, cause imminent peril to life or property. In such cases, proceedings shall not be stayed otherwise than by order of the board or the Superior Court of New Jersey on application or notice to the officer from whom the appeal is taken and for good cause shown.