Planning / Engineering

Source: http://www.nj.gov/dep/landuse/fww.html No one can be sure if an area is wetlands without gathering detailed information about the site and inspecting the property. For a definite determination, you may need to hire an environmental consultant. Here are some clues that an area might be a wetland. If your land has any of the conditions below, you should investigate before going ahead with a project: The area often has standing water; The area is a low spot that holds water for several days after a heavy rain; The water table in the area is not far below the ground surface; Your land contains a stream or pond, with gentle banks (you may have a fringe of wetlands along the banks); or Your land is located near a river, stream, or lake. Do not assume that an area cannot be a wetland because it has a mature forest on it, or because it does not have standing water. Many wetlands in New Jersey are forested areas without visible standing water. If you think you might have wetlands on your land: Look at the mapping available online through the Department's geographic information system (GIS) NJ-GeoWeb by going to www.nj.gov/dep/gis and choosing interactive mapping on the sidebar. The wetland coverage layers are located under the land section of the layer manager.

Currently there are two forms of site plan approvals for schools. Change of Use-if a site is currently being utilized for anything other than a school and the applicant proposes to construct a school, an abbreviated change of use site plan applies. The submission requirements are less, however the applicant is required to notify all owners of property within 200 feet of the site. In this case only one meeting of the planning board is required. Formal Site Plan-If a site is currently vacant and the applicant proposes to construct a school, a formal preliminary & final site plan applies. The applicant is required to notify all owners within 200 feet of the site. In this case, two meetings of the planning board are required. (A plan review meeting and a public hearing)

A development plan which shows topography, location of all buildings (typically commercial schools/house of worship) structures, roads, rights of way boundaries, etc.

A subdivision of land for the creation of 4 lots or less.

Any subdivision of land creating more than 4 lots.

Permission to depart from the literal requirements of a zoning ordinance.

A set of regulations and requirements that govern use, placement, spacing and size of buildings and lots within a specific area.

A law adopted by a municipal body.