| Medford Lakes Planning and Zoning Board | ||
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The Medford Lakes Planning Board has many roles and has quasi-judicial powers. Some if its many functions include advising zoning and master plan changes, interpretation of Zoning Code through the variance process, site plan and subdivision review, and of course, responding to individual residents and Borough Council on zoning/planning issues. The Board also has the duty of reviewing changes or development in the Historic District as it pertains to the exterior of log structures.
The Board has been in existence since 1976. In 1995 the Planning Board was combined with the Zoning Board to form a single 9 member board with no alternates. This combining of Boards was allowed under state regulations in communities with a population of less than 10,000 in an effort to reduce municipal government expenses. The members of the Board are as prescribed by New Jersey State statute as well as volunteers of all backgrounds from the community, who are appointed by Borough Council. The Medford Lakes Planning Board meets on the third Thursday of each month at 8:00 p.m. in Demby Annex. Meetings are open to the public and advertised under the provisions of the Sunshine Law.
Obtaining a Variance
The Medford Lakes Land Use Ordinance (dating from
1965 with subsequent amendments) regulates the type, density and characteristics
of construction within the Borough. It regulates "setbacks" (distances
between structures and trails), maximum lot coverage, minimum lot
sizes, fences, decks, pools, ancillary buildings and a variety of
other aspects of land use. If any proposed construction fails to meet
these requirements, the Construction Code Official will deny a building
permit for the construction.
Under some conditions, your construction may be eligible for a
waiver or "variance" from these requirements. The decision to grant
a variance or not is made by the Planning Board based on the facts
presented at a hearing during the regular monthly meeting of the
Board. If you apply for a variance, you will be required to officially
notify all property owners (including government and quasi-government
entities) within 200 feet of the property, publish a notice in one
of the Borough’s newspapers of record and present the facts of your
appeal at the Planning Board meeting. This process can take some
time and it’s a good reason why you should apply for a building
permit at least a month prior to starting any construction work.
Click here
for more information on the variance process.
Click here to download a copy of
the Medford Lakes Land Development Ordinances in Adobe Acrobat (.pdf)
format.
(Requires Adobe Acrobat)
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