This bill mandates that municipal planning boards and zoning boards of adjustment must actively review and consider recommendations from local environmental commissions regarding applications for development. While current law allows environmental commissions to submit recommendations, it does not require the boards to take these recommendations into account. The new legislation aims to ensure that these environmental insights are integrated into the decision-making process of the boards, thereby promoting environmentally conscious development practices.

Additionally, the bill modifies the requirement for the planning board and board of adjustment to provide documentation to the environmental commission. It specifies that a full copy of every application for development must be provided, rather than just an informational copy. Furthermore, the bill stipulates that failure to provide this copy will invalidate any hearing or proceeding, reversing the previous provision that such a failure would not invalidate the process. This change emphasizes the importance of environmental oversight in local development decisions.