18. Prior to the adoption of any amendment to the plan, the authority shall transmit a copy of the proposed plan amendment to the governing body of each host municipality. Within 45 days after referral, each governing body may transmit to the authority a report containing its recommendation concerning the proposed plan amendment. The authority, when considering the adoption of the plan amendment, and in taking into account a decision by a zoning board of an affected host municipality as to whether a request for a variance to increase the permitted density is granted, as provided in subsection e. of section 17 of this act, shall review all reports received from the host municipalities and may accept or not accept any recommendations of the host municipalities; provided, however, that the authority shall record in its minutes its reasons for not accepting any such recommendations.

L.2010, c.51, s.18.