New Jersey Supreme Court Revises Standard for Inherently Beneficial Use Variances

On July 13, 2026, the New Jersey Supreme Court issued a significant land use decision in Monarch Communities, LLC v. Township of Montville Zoning Board of Adjustment that clarified how zoning boards must evaluate “inherently beneficial” use variances under New Jersey’s Municipal Land Use Law (“MLUL”). The Court revised the framework established in Sica v. Board of Adjustment of Wall (1992) by...... By: Montgomery McCracken