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South River council approves ordinance consolidating planning and zoning into single land-use board
Summary
Council adopted Ordinance 2024-46 to combine the borough’s planning and zoning boards into one land‑use board after a public hearing that included criticism from long-serving zoning-board volunteers and questions about appointments and transparency.
The South River Borough Council adopted Ordinance 2024-46 on second reading Dec. 9, 2024, amending the borough code to consolidate the planning board and zoning board into a single land‑use board.
At a public hearing on the ordinance, longtime zoning-board member Robert Bodak urged the council to recognize volunteers who had served on past boards and said the boards had been nonpolitical in his experience: "The zoning board was never political," Bodak said, asking that departing members be publicly thanked. Other residents, including Joe Donato and Julie Maida, questioned whether consolidation would cause delays for applicants, how appointments to the new land‑use board would be made, and whether the council or the mayor would appoint members. Borough staff said appointments would be handled according to the ordinance and that council action would follow; Julie Maida asked when appointments would take effect if the ordinance were adopted and was told the first meeting in January would be when new members take their seats.
Councilman Cioli moved to approve Ordinance 2024-46; Councilwoman Biles seconded. The council called the question and the ordinance was adopted by the council during the meeting.
Speakers urged that transparency and resident engagement continue under the new structure. The administration said consolidation is intended to create a one‑stop process for applicants and reduce duplicated hearings. The ordinance will take effect per the borough’s rule for ordinances after adoption and any required posting.
