Upon determination by a licensing authority to refuse the granting or renewal of a license, or to revoke a license, the licensee affected shall be entitled to appeal to the Commissioner of Community Affairs for a review of that determination; and the commissioner shall have authority to reverse the licensing authority's determination if it concludes that the application was improperly denied or the revocation improperly imposed. Such review by the commissioner shall be in conformity with the provisions of the "Administrative Procedure Act," P.L. 1968, c.410 (C.52:14B-1 et seq.). The decision of the commissioner in such cases shall be subject to appeal to the Appellate Division of the Superior Court. If an applicant for license renewal has made timely and sufficient application for a renewal in accordance with the provisions of this act and the rules of the licensing pursuant thereto, his license shall not expire until any appeals under this section have been finally determined and disposed of.
N.J.S. § 40:52-17