A.
Responsibility for design. Within the criteria established
by and subject to the review and approval of the Planning Board, all
design of a subdivision is the responsibility of the subdivider, and
he shall be responsible for and bear the entire cost of any and all
investigations, tests, reports, surveys, samples, calculations, environmental
assessments, designs, researches or any other activity necessary to
the completion of the subdivision design. The standards set in this
Article shall be taken to be the minimum necessary to meet its purposes
as set forth elsewhere herein. The responsibility of the Planning
Board shall be to see that these minimum standards are followed and,
in those cases not covered by these standards, that sufficient precautions
are taken to assure that the eventual subdivision design is conducive
to the implementation of the purposes of this chapter. The Planning
Board may employ professionals in various disciplines to advise and
assist it in its determinations. Any decision of the Planning Board
regarding the suitability or sufficiency of any design proposal, taken
upon advice of its professionals and subject to the provisions of
this Article, shall be deemed conclusive.
B.
Design data. To properly execute the design of a subdivision,
it is anticipated that the subdivider will obtain or cause to be obtained
certain design data, including but not limited to soil tests and analyses,
environmental assessments, traffic studies and traffic projections,
surveys, reports and similar design data. Any and all such data obtained
by the subdivider, or by others retained by him to complete the design
of the subdivision, shall be made available to the Planning Board
and its employees and professional staff for the purposes of reviewing
the proposed subdivision design. Should the Planning Board feel the
design data submitted is not sufficient for the purpose of completing
a full review of the subdivision proposal, it may request the applicant
to provide such additional information as is deemed necessary. Until
the applicant supplies such information, no submission under the provisions
of this section shall be termed complete. Nothing contained herein
shall be interpreted to prevent the Planning Board from making or
causing to be made such independent studies, calculations or other
undertakings as it deems necessary in the review of any proposal.
C.
Design standards. When a subdivider determines that
it will be necessary to utilize design standards in addition to or
other than those minimum requirements established herein, he is advised
to consult with the Township Engineer prior to beginning his detailed
design, for review and approval of his proposed design standards.
Standards utilized should generally be nationally recognized and in
common use in this area. Design standards may not be utilized if they
do not have the approval of the Township Engineer.
D.
Waiver of requirements. It is recognized that, in
certain instances, preexisting conditions or the uniqueness of a particular
proposal may require the waiver of some of the standards presented
herein. The Planning Board may consider and, for cause shown, may
waive strict conformance to such of these detailed design standards
as it sees fit. Any subdivider desiring such action shall present
with his application for final approval a listing of all such waivers
desired together with the reasons therefor.