New Jersey Statutes Title 13. Conservation and Development Parks and Reservations 13 § 19-13

There is hereby created the Coastal Area Review Board, in but not of the Department of Environmental Protection, which shall consist of three voting members, who shall be the Commissioner of Environmental Protection or his designated representative, the Commissioner of Commerce and Economic Development or his designated representative and the Commissioner of Community Affairs or his designated representative.  No vote on a permit request shall be taken unless all voting members are present.

The Coastal Area Review Board shall have the power to hear appeals from decisions of the commissioner pursuant to section 12 of P.L.1973, c. 185 (C. 13:19-12).  The board may affirm or reverse the decision of the commissioner with respect to applicability of any provision of this act to a proposed use;  it may modify any permit granted by the commissioner, grant a permit denied by him, deny a permit granted by him, or confirm his grant of a permit.  The board shall review filed applications, including the environmental impact statement and all information presented at public hearings and any other information the commissioner makes available to the board, prior to the affirmation or reversal of a decision of the commissioner.