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4. a. Any application for development, as defined
pursuant to
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section 3 of
P.L.1975, c.291 (C.40:55D-3), that is pending before
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the planning
board, or on appeal before the Borough of Rockleigh
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governing body,
on the effective date of this act, is hereby
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transferred to
the appropriate body of the Borough of Northvale,
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notwithstanding
the timetable for consolidation established by
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the director
pursuant to subsection b. of section 2 of this act.
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b. An applicant may withdraw an appeal pending before the
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governing body
of Rockleigh Borough on the effective date of this
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act from an
action of the Borough of Rockleigh planning board
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and submit a new
application for development to the zoning or
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planning board
in the Borough of Northvale, as appropriate.
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c. An appeal before the Superior Court on the effective
date
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of this act of a
final determination of the planning board or
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governing body
pf the Borough of Rockleigh concerning an
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application for
development, may be, at the option of the
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applicant,
withdrawn. The applicant may then submit the
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application for
development for consideration, de novo, before
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the planning
board or zoning board of adjustment, as appropriate,
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in the Borough
of Northvale.
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5. This act shall take effect immediately.
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STATEMENT
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This bill consolidates Rockleigh Borough into Northvale
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Borough.
Rockleigh Borough was taken from Northvale Borough
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in 1923, in part
to be a tac haven for its residents. With a
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population less
than 300 persons there is no justification for
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Rockleigh
Borough to remain as a separate unit of local
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government. The
consolidation procedure under the
"Municipal
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Consolidation
Act," P.L.1977, c.435 (C.40:43-66.35 ), involving a
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public
question and the election of a consolidation commission,
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has never
been invoked in the State and is extremely burdensome
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for municipalities
with small populations such as Rockleigh
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Borough. This
bill would require the Director of teh Division of
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Local
Government Services in the Department of Community
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Affairs to
meet wit hte two mayors and other local officials and
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perform the
functions of a consolidation commission to determine
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all matters
necessary to accomplish the consolidation. The
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consolidated municipality
would retain the name Northvale
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Borough as well
as retaining that borough's elected officials.
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The bill also
immediately transfers zoning and planning matters
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on applications
for development in the territory comprising
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Rockleigh
Borough to the zoning and planning boards of Northvale
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Borough.
Rockleigh Borough's master plan, official map and
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zoning
ordinances would continue in effect until changed by the
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consolidated
borough. Appeals from actions on applications for
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development of
the Rockleigh Borough planning board could be,
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at the option of
the applicant, withdrawn and the application
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submitted to the
appropriate body in Northvale Borough.
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_________________________
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Consolidates
Rockleigh Borough into Northvale Borough.