New Providence Borough Boards & Commissions

Planning Board

The Planning Board is in charge of permitted activities within the construction department. Their essential duties are to deal with policy (the master plan) and the implementation of that policy through the zoning, site plan and subdivision ordinances. These ordinances establish a series of ground rules to be met by an applicant. If the applicant meets the requirements of the particular ordinance, the board must approve the subject application. However, a site or subdivision plan can be denied if it does not fulfill a specific requirement of an ordinance.

Board of Adjustment (aka Zoning Board)

In contrast to the Planning Board, the Board of Adjustment is in charge of non-permitted activities within the construction department. The board deals with the issuance of variances, which are based on the municipality’s zoning ordinance. The purpose of the Board of Adjustment is to provide relief from zoning requirements that cannot be satisfied. Requests for relief are not based upon policy, but the ability of an applicant to prove his or her case. The zoning board must make decisions as a judge does in court.

Board of Health

The Board of Health maintains the demands of public health awareness and environmental conditions. This board is responsible for assessing the status of public health in the community, developing policies to address public health needs and assuring that these needs are met.

The Community Activities Advisory Board

The Community Activities Advisory Board sets the policies and procedures followed by the Recreation Department. The Community Activities Advisory Board maintains its own trust fund and can acquire lands for playgrounds and other recreational uses.

Library Board of Trustees

The New Providence Memorial Library Board of Trustees advocates for the library, sets policy, advises on activities, and establishes procedures to provide the best possible services and meet the evolving educational, recreational, and informational library needs of the community. The 9-member board is made up of 6 appointed citizens, one council liaison, one board of ed liaison, and the library director. Each appointed trustee serves a 5-year term and may serve successive terms. The Library Board meets regularly on the third Tuesday of each month and is open to the public.

Affordable Housing Board

The Affordable Housing Board is a volunteer board set up by the Mayor and Council to fulfill the Borough of New Providence's affordable housing program in accordance with the Fair Housing Act of 1985 and it's amendments, as well as the Substantive Rules issued by the New Jersey Council on Affordable Housing. It insures that there are affordable housing units available for rent or sale by economically qualified lower income applicants and establishes and maintains a list of "qualified applicants" for the properties that may become available.

It also insures that the money collected from developer contributions or public sources is placed in the Housing Fund, and that it is fairly and equitably disbursed for the rehabilitation of substandard housing occupied by lower income households.

Other Committees:

Volunteer Advisory Committees