A development application shall be complete for purposes of commencing the applicable time period for action by the approving authority when so certified by the approving authority or its authorized committee or designee as set forth in § 60-18B. In the event that the board, committee, or designee does not certify the application to be complete within 45 days of the date of its submission, the application shall be deemed complete upon the expiration of the forty-five-day period for purposes of commencing the applicable time period unless the application lacks information indicated on the checklist of items to be submitted specified herein and provided in writing to the applicant, and the approving authority or its authorized committee or designees has notified the applicant, in writing, of the deficiencies in the application within 45 days of submission of the application. The applicant may request that one or more of the submission requirements be waived, in which event the Board or its authorized committee in accordance with the provisions of § 60-37, shall grant or deny the request within 45 days of the date of its submission. Nothing herein shall be construed as diminishing the applicant's obligation to prove in the application process that the applicant is entitled to approval of the application.

An applicant may appeal the committee or designee's decision concerning the completeness of an application to the Board which has jurisdiction to hear the application. The Board shall have 45 days after receipt of a written request to schedule a public hearing, at which time the Board will determine if the application is complete. The Board shall affirm, modify or reverse the decision of the committee or designee.