The Administrative Officer shall review the application and shall certify its completeness to the approving authority.

The approving authority shall review applications for preliminary major site plan approval involving 10 acres of land or less and 10 dwelling units or less and/or preliminary major subdivision approval involving 10 lots or less and shall grant or deny said application within 45 days after the application is certified complete or within such further time as may be consented to by the applicant. Failure of the approving authority to act within the prescribed time period shall constitute approval of the application, provided that any preliminary major site plan or preliminary major subdivision application which includes any requested variance relief pursuant to N.J.S.A. 40:55D-60 or N.J.S.A. 40-55D-70d shall be acted upon within 120 days or within such further time as may be consented to by the applicant.

The approving authority shall review applications for preliminary major site plan approval involving more than 10 acres of land or more than 10 dwellings and/or a preliminary major subdivision approval involving more than 10 lots and shall grant or deny said application within 95 days after the application has been certified complete or within such further time as may be consented to by the applicant. Failure of the approving authority to act within the prescribed time period shall constitute approval of the application, provided that any preliminary major site plan or preliminary major subdivision application which includes any requested variance relief pursuant to N.J.S.A. 40:55D-60 or N.J.S.A. 40-55D-70d shall be acted upon within 120 days or within such further time as may be consented to by the applicant.

Prior to any action by the approving authority, all reports and comments submitted by the Application Review Committee, Township Planner, Township Engineer, other Township agencies, officials and consultants, and other governmental agencies shall be entered into the record of the proceedings on the subject application. Questions and comments from the public shall also be considered prior to any action by the approving authority.

All hearings held on applications for preliminary major site plan approval and/or preliminary major subdivision approval shall require public notice of the hearing. The approving authority shall set the date, time and place for the public hearing and shall inform the applicant of this at least 14 days prior to said hearing date. Notice of the hearing shall be given by the applicant at least 10 days prior to the date of the hearing.

If the approving authority acts favorably on the preliminary plat or plan, the Township Engineer and the Chairman and Secretary of the approving authority shall affix their signatures to at least five copies of the plan or plat with the notification that it has been approved. The applicant shall furnish said copies to the approving authority.

Should minor revisions to the plan or plat be deemed necessary, the approving authority may grant preliminary approval subject to specified conditions and receipt of revised plans within 30 days from the date of said approval. Should substantial revisions be deemed necessary, the approving authority shall require that an amended plat or plan be submitted and acted upon as in the case of the original application.

If the approving authority, after consideration and discussion of the preliminary plan or plat, determines that it is unacceptable, a notation shall be made by the Chairman to that effect on the plan or plat and a resolution adopted setting forth the reasons for such rejection. One copy of the plat or plan and said resolution shall be returned to the applicant within 10 days of the adoption of said resolution.