If the Board processing an application finds that said application is in compliance with the general terms and conditions of the preliminary approval of said application and the development checklist for completion, it shall schedule a hearing on the application pursuant to § 21-6. If the application is found to be deficient in any respect, said Board shall so inform the applicant and shall require the filing of an amended application which shall be processed as in the case of the original application.

After the Planning Board or Board of Adjustment, as the case may be, is satisfied that the proposed application, together with any conditions as imposed by said Board, meets all the conditions of preliminary approval, it shall grant final approval.

Whenever review or approval of the application by the County Planning Board is required by § 5 of P.L. 1968, c. 285 (N.J.S.A. 40:27-6.3), in the case of a subdivision, or § 8 of P.L. 1968, c. 285 (N.J.S.A. 40:27-6.6), in the case of a site plan, the Borough Planning Board shall condition any approval that it grants upon timely receipt of a favorable report on the application by the County Planning Board or approval by the County Planning Board by its failure to report thereon within the required time period.

If final approval is granted, copies of the plat or site plan as amended per conditions of the approving resolution shall be signed by the Chairman and Secretary of the Board granting said approval and the secretary shall file the approved plans with the following:

The zoning requirements applicable to the preliminary approval first granted and all other rights conferred upon the developer pursuant to Subsection 21-9.6c., whether conditionally or otherwise, shall not be changed for a period of two years after the date of final approval; provided that in the case of major subdivision, the rights conferred by the subsection shall expire if the plat has not been duly recorded within the time period provided in paragraph f. If the developer has followed the standards prescribed for final approval, and, in the case of a subdivision, has fully recorded the plat as required in paragraph f., the Planning Board may extend such period of protection for extensions of one year but not to exceed three extensions. Notwithstanding any other provisions of this chapter, the granting of final approval terminates the time period of preliminary approval pursuant to Subsection 21-9.6c for the section granted final approval.

Final approval of a major subdivision shall expire 95 days from the date of signing of the plat unless within such period the plat shall have been duly filed by the developer with the County Recording Officer. The Planning Board may for good cause shown extend the period for recording for an additional period not to exceed 90 days from the date of signing of the plan.

No subdivision plat shall be accepted for filing by the County Recording Officer until it has been approved by the Planning Board as indicated on the instrument by the signature of the Chairman and Secretary of the Planning Board or a certificate has been issued pursuant to § 44 of Chapter 291, Laws of New Jersey 1975. The signatures of the Chairman and Secretary of the Planning Board shall not be affixed until the developer has posted the guarantees required pursuant to Subsection 21-9.7. If the County Recording Officer records any plat without such approval, such recording shall be deemed null and void.

Nothing contained in this chapter shall be construed to permit the issuance of a building permit on any lot in a subdivision or on any lot requiring site plan or waiver of site plan approval until final approval as heretofore required is granted by the Planning Board or Board of Adjustment, as the case may be, and signatures of the Chairman, Secretary and Engineer have been affixed to the appropriate map and conditions of any approving resolution have been fully satisfied and properly filed by the County Recording Officer as herein required.