The Planning Board, Zoning Board of Adjustment and Historic Preservation Commission shall adopt, and shall amend, reasonable rules and regulations consistent with N.J.S.A. 40:55D-8a, or this ordinance for the administration of its functions, powers and duties and shall furnish a copy thereof to any person upon request and may charge a reasonable fee, as established by Article XIV of this ordinance. Copies of all such rules and regulations and amendments thereto shall be maintained in the office of the City Clerk and board secretary.

See N.J.S.A 40:55D-9.

All regular meetings and all special meetings shall be open to the public. Notice of all such meetings shall be given in accordance with the requirements of the Open Public Meetings Law (N.J.S.A. 10:46-6 et seq.) and this ordinance, and in accordance with N.J.S.A. 40:55D-12. An executive session for the purpose of discussing and studying matters to come before either Board shall not be deemed a regular or special meeting.

Minutes of every regular or special meeting of both Boards shall be kept in accordance with N.J.S.A. 40:55D-9. Any interested party shall be charged a fee for the reproduction of minutes as provided for in Article XIII of this ordinance.

See N.J.S.A. 40:55D-10 and N.J.S.A. 40:55D-10.2.

Whenever a hearing is required on an application for development pursuant to N.J.S.A. 40:55D-1 et seq. and this ordinance, when an appeal of an administrative officer's decision has been made, and when an interpretation of the provisions of this ordinance is requested, the applicant shall give notice in accordance with N.J.S.A 40:55D-11 and N.J.S.A. 40:55D-12. The following exceptions do not require notice:

A. Final subdivision or site plan approval pursuant to Article VIII of this ordinance;

B. Minor subdivisions that require no relief from any provisions of this ordinance.

See N.J.S.A. 40 55D-12c.

See N.J.S.A. 40:55D-13.

See N.J.S.A. 40:55D-15.

See N.J.S.A. 40:55D-16.

See N.J.S.A. 40:55D-22.

See N.J.S.A. 40:55D-21.

The administrative officer shall review all applications for development to ensure they meet the requirements of this ordinance except for those sections where another official is specifically given enforcement or administrative responsibilities. The administrative officer for the Planning Board, the Zoning Board of Adjustment and the Historic Preservation Commission shall be the City Planner / Director of the Division of Planning and Community Development.

The City Council shall enforce this ordinance and any ordinance or regulation made and adopted hereunder. To that end, the City Council may require the issuance of specified permits, certificates or authorizations as a condition precedent to:

A. The erection, construction, alteration, repair, remodeling, conversion, removal or destruction of any structure;

B. The use or occupancy of any structure or land; and,

C. The subdivision or re-subdivision of any land.

D. The City Council hereby establishes an administrative officer and offices for the purpose of issuing such permits, certificates and authorizations upon the submission of such data, plans, plats and information as is authorized hereunder and upon the express approval of the appropriate state, county, or City agencies, and may establish reasonable fees to cover administrative costs for the issuance of such permits, certificates and authorizations. In case any structure is erected, constructed, altered, repaired, converted, or maintained or any structure or land is used in violation of any section of this ordinance, the Zoning Officer of the City or an interested party, in addition to other remedies, may institute any appropriate action or proceedings to prevent such unlawful erection, construction, reconstruction, alteration, repair, conversion, maintenance or use, to restrain, correct, or abate such violation, to prevent the occupancy of said structure or land, or to prevent any illegal act, conduct, business or use in or about such premises.

The Zoning Officer is hereby given the duty, power and authority to enforce the provisions of this ordinance. The Zoning Officer shall in no case, except upon a written order of the appropriate approving authority, approve a development permit for the erection or structural alteration or occupancy of any structure or land where the proposed erection, structural alteration or use thereof would be in violation of any of the provisions of this ordinance. The Zoning Officer shall examine all applications for permits and together with the administrative officer and the Construction Official issue such permits as may be required for the construction, alteration, enlargement, and occupancy of all uses and structures which are in accordance with the requirements of this ordinance. The Zoning Officer shall also deny, and file all applications for permits, with accompanying plans and documents, that are not in accordance with this ordinance for the review of the Planning Board, Board of Adjustment or Historic Preservation Commission. The Zoning Officer, Director of Planning and Construction Official shall maintain records of all applications, plans and documents filed for permits and make such reports to the boards as may be required.

In accordance with the above enforcement powers, the Zoning Officer, upon becoming aware of a violation of this ordinance, is to forward a letter to the owner of the property upon which the violation has been found to exist and request immediate compliance with this ordinance, or the halting of the construction activity, within ten days of the date of the letter. If no, or an inadequate, response is received from the property owner within that time, the Zoning Officer is to forward a certified letter to the property owner requesting compliance within ten (10) days from the date of the receipt of the letter and advise that fines may be imposed for failure to comply with this ordinance. If the violation is not resolved within that time period, and the Zoning Officer is not satisfied with any attempts by the owner to resolve the violation, a summons is to be issued to the property owner and a complaint is to be prosecuted through the municipal court. Every ten (10) days after the initial summons is issued, and compliance is not achieved, the Zoning Officer is to issue an additional summons for the violation. Every ten (10) days day of noncompliance is deemed an additional offense subject to the re-issuance of a separate summons. This procedure does not, in any way, restrict the ability of the Zoning Officer to impose a "stop work order" upon a project at any time and seek immediate resolution of the matter if a determination is made that it is the appropriate course of action.

It shall be the duty of the Zoning Officer to maintain records of all applications for development permits together with a notation of all special terms or conditions imposed thereunder. These records shall be maintained within the confines of City owned or designated property. The Zoning Officer shall be responsible for the filing and safe keeping of all plans and specifications submitted with any applications and the same shall form a part of the records of his office and shall be available to all officials of the City. Duplicate copies of any permits or certificates shall be furnished to any person who shall have a right thereto by law, upon payment of a fee as specified in Article XV of this ordinance.

For any violation of this ordinance, or any approval by an approving authority, including, but not limited to the erection or alteration of a structure prior to obtaining a development permit, the utilization of any land prior to obtaining a development permit, the use or occupancy in whole or in part of any structure in which the nature of the use has been changed, or wherein there has been a modification of utilization, or which has been erected or altered, the use or occupancy in whole or in part of any land on which the nature of the use has been changed, or whereon there has been a modification of utilization or upon which an improvement has been made prior to obtaining a development permit, the Plainfield City Council, the Zoning Officer or other proper official, in addition to other remedies may institute any appropriate legal action or proceedings to prevent unlawful erection, repair, construction, reconstruction, alteration, conversion, maintenance or use, to restrain, correct, or abate such violation, to prevent the occupancy of said structure, or land, or to prevent any illegal act, conduct, business or use about such premises. Each day the violation shall continue after notice and reasonable opportunity to correct or remedy the violation has been given shall constitute a separate violation. Imposition of fines or imprisonment shall be at the discretion of the Municipal Court, except when the Plainfield City Council has legislated otherwise.