All applications for development shall be initially presented to the Zoning Officer, as heretofore designated in the Department of Building and Code Enforcement.

The Zoning Officer shall refer the application to the appropriate municipal agency and shall assist the applicant in processing the application for development.

The Zoning Officer shall collect all fees in connection with said application.

All meetings of any municipal agency established under this chapter shall be held as scheduled by the municipal agency, said meetings to be scheduled in compliance with the provisions of N.J.S.A. 40:55D-9.

Except as otherwise permitted by law, all regular and special meetings of any municipal agency established under this chapter shall be open to the public, with notice of all meetings provided as required by law.

Minutes of all regular and special meetings shall be kept as required by N.J.S.A. 40:55D-9.

Municipal agencies established under this chapter shall hold hearings as required by N.J.S.A. 40:55D-10. All procedures governing said hearings shall be established by the municipal agency in compliance with N.J.S.A. 40:55D-10.

Public notice of a hearing on an application for development shall be given by an applicant pursuant to N.J.S.A. 40:55D-12. In addition, public notice of a hearing shall be required for any site plan review, for appeals of determinations of administrative officers pursuant to Subsection a of Section 57 of P.L. 1975, c. 291, as amended (N.J.S.A. 40:55D-70), and for requests for interpretations pursuant to Subsection b of Section 57 of P.L. 1975, c. 291, as amended (N.J.S.A. 40:55D-70). Upon request and upon payment of the appropriate fee, the Tax Assessor shall provide an applicant with the names and addresses of property owners who are required to receive notice pursuant to N.J.S.A. 40:55D-12.

Municipal agencies established pursuant to this chapter shall provide for verbatim recordings of all hearings and shall make such records available to any interested party at his expense. Transcripts thereof may be provided by any interested party at his expense.

Any board, agency or department of the City of Englewood, or employee thereof, may, upon written request by the municipal agency, or as the result of its own review, submit a written report concerning any application pending before the municipal agency, or any specific issue or aspect thereof, within the time requested by the municipal agency. A copy of such report shall be sent by regular mail to the applicant or the applicant's attorney prior to the date of any hearing at which the said report is to be considered by the municipal agency or shall be provided to the applicant or applicant's attorney at said hearing. The municipal agency or the applicant or any interested parties may request that the author of said report testify before the municipal agency. In the event that no such request is made, the municipal agency shall consider said report in rendering any decision. If such request is made, however, the municipal agency may consider said report only if the municipal agency, applicant or interested party has an opportunity to cross-examine the author of said report. The secretary of the municipal agency shall provide copies of any such report to any interested person who requests same upon payment to the City of Englewood of the fee established pursuant to Chapter 191, Fee Schedule, of the Code of the City of Englewood in effect.

All decisions for development shall be in writing, with a copy filed with the Zoning Officer, the administrative officer of the respective municipal agency rendering the decision, and the office of the City Clerk, and a copy mailed to the applicant.

A brief notice of each decision shall be published in a newspaper of general circulation in the City of Englewood, said notice to be arranged by and at the cost of the applicant.

A decision granting exception or variance from the provisions of this chapter shall expire if no construction, alteration, or conversion has been commenced within one year from the date of the grant. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the municipal agency granting any exception or variance from the provisions of this chapter may, by resolution, grant an extension thereto, either at the time of the decision or at any time thereafter, upon public notice thereof as provided in § 250-5 hereof.

Except as otherwise provided by the resolution of the municipal agency, a decision granting any exception or variance from the provisions of this chapter shall expire if no construction, alteration, or conversion has been commenced within one year from the date of the grant.[1]

For purposes of the administration of this chapter, the City Planner is designated as the administrative officer to the Planning Board.

For purposes of the administration of this chapter, the Zoning Officer is designated as the administrative officer to the Board of Adjustment.

For purposes of the administration of this chapter not otherwise provided for herein, the City Clerk is designated as the administrative officer.

The administrative officers designated above shall have the powers and duties set forth in the Municipal Land Use Law (N.J.S.A. 40:55D-1 et seq.) and such other duties as may hereafter be provided by ordinance.