Submit to the Secretary 10 copies of the sketch plat of the proposed subdivision for the purposes of classification, preliminary discussion and appropriate action; three copies of the application; and a fee (see Section 17-15). The Secretary shall issue an application number. Once an application has been assigned a number, such number shall appear on all papers, maps, plats and other documents submitted for processing in conjunction with the subdivision.

At least two weeks prior to the next regular meeting of the Planning Board, the Secretary of the Planning Board shall forward one copy of the sketch plat to the Borough Engineer.

The Board shall take action on sketch plat applications within 45 days after the submission of a complete application or within such further time as may be consented to by the applicant.

Classification and approval shall be deemed to be final approval of minor subdivisions by the Planning Board. Prior to such classification and approval, the Board should review the proposed minor subdivision to insure that the sketch plat is in accordance with the definition of minor subdivision as stipulated in Section 17-7 of this chapter and that the details and specifications indicated in subsection 17-13.4 have been met.

No lot(s) shall be created which is (are) determined by the Board to be unsuitable for the intended use for reason of flooding, inadequate drainage, soil formations with severe limitations for development, susceptibility to severe erosion potential, unfavorable topography, or any other feature harmful to the health, safety and welfare of the future residents or property owners of the proposed subdivision or the Borough at large.

Any subdivision determined by the Board to be creating, imposing, aggravating or leading to the possibility of an adverse effect upon either the original property being subdivided or upon any adjacent properties may be required to be revised by the subdivider to remove such adverse effect(s) prior to further review, classification of approval by the Board; or where the remaining portion of the original tract is of sufficient size to be subdivided further, the subdivider may be required to submit a sketch plat of the entire remaining portion of the tract to indicate a feasible plan whereby the applied for subdivision, together with subsequent subdivision(s), will not create, impose or aggravate or lead to any such adverse effect.

The Subdivision Committee, if appointed, shall review sketch plat for classification purposes and discuss the proposed plan as it relates to the master plan, development regulations ordinance and the design standards and improvement requirements of this chapter. The Subdivision Committee shall offer its comments and recommendations to the Board at a regularly scheduled meeting of the Board within 45 days of the submission of the application to the Secretary. Should the application be determined by the Board either to be incomplete or require substantial revisions, the applicant shall be notified within the 45 day time period and may thereafter submit an appropriately revised application to the Administrative Officer as in the first instance.

If the sketch plat is considered for classification as a minor subdivision, the Board shall act on the proposed plat within 45 days of its complete and proper submission to the Secretary or within such further time as may be consented to by the applicant. Failure of the Planning Board to act within the prescribed time period shall constitute minor subdivision approval. If classified as a minor subdivision by majority action of the Board, a notation to that effect, including the date of classification, shall be made on the master copy. All prints of the plat shall be signed by the Chairman and Secretary of the Board (or the acting Chairman or Secretary where either or both may be absent) and returned to the subdivider within one week thereof. No further approval of the subdivision shall be required. In the event the same is disapproved by the Board, the Secretary of the Board shall, within three days of such action, notify the subdivider of such disapproval and reasons therefor. In acting on the application, the Borough shall consider a report received, in writing, from the County Planning Board within 30 days after their receipt of the plat. If a reply is not received from the County Planning Board within 30 days, the sketch plat shall be deemed to have been approved by them.

A plat map drawn in compliance with such approval and the Map Filing Act, P.L. 190C. 141 (C. 46:23-9.9 et seq.) or deed clearly describing such subdivision shall be filed by the subdivider with the County Recording Officer within 190 days from the date of approval by the Board of the minor subdivision sketch plat. Unless filed within the 190 days, the approval shall expire and will require Board approval as in the first instance. The zoning requirements and general terms and conditions, whether conditional or otherwise, upon which minor subdivision approval was granted shall not be changed for a period of two years after the date of minor subdivision approval by the Board, provided that the approved minor subdivision shall have been duly recorded as provided in this section.

The sketch plat shall be classified within 45 days of its complete and proper submission to the Secretary or within such further time as may be consented to by the applicant. When classified as a major subdivision, a notation to that effect shall be made on the plat, which shall be returned to the subdivider for compliance with the procedures in subsections 17-13.5 and 17-13.8.