(A) Written consent for subdivision from the legal owner of the property to be subdivided is required before the sketch plan is submitted. In order to ensure that applicants are informed of the procedural requirements and standards of this chapter, the requirements or limitations imposed by city ordinances and the Comprehensive Plan, applicants should meet with the planning staff and prepare a sketch plan prior to preparing a preliminary plat. Prospective subdividers shall deposit with the city funds to cover anticipated costs in an amount determined by the City Administrator. The prospective subdivider shall also furnish a list of property owners within 500 feet of the property to be developed.
(B) The applicant shall provide 25 copies of the sketch plan plus at least one 11 by 17-inch reduction of same no less than 21 days before the meeting of the Planning Commission at which the sketch plan will be considered. The Administrator shall refer the sketch plan to the following parties for review: the City Attorney; the City Planner; the City Engineer; the MN/DOT District Engineer and/or County Highway Engineer; the county’s Soil and Water Conservation District; the Watershed District or WMO; the natural gas, electric and cable communications utilities; the Fire District and the School District. The sketch plan shall be drawn to scale and contain as a minimum the following information:
(1) Tract boundaries and dimensions;
(2) Significant topographic and physical features;
(3) Proposed general street and lot layout recognizing all applicable ordinance requirements of the city and indicating a minimum of two and one-half contiguous buildable acres per lot;
(4) General location of proposed public and private open space areas;
(5) General drainage plan, including proposed ponding areas, ditches and culverts;
(6) Location of proposed septic drainfield and culverts which shall be located on a slope 13% or less; and
(7) Building pad location.
(C) Upon receipt of the sketch plan, the City Administrator shall refer:
(1) The sketch plan for subdivision first to the Natural Resources and Groundwater Commission. Upon review by the Natural Resources and Groundwater Commission, the subdivision sketch plan, with its recommendations, will be sent on to Parks, Recreation and Open Spaces Commission. The Natural Resources and Groundwater Commission shall also send its recommendations to the City Council. The Parks, Recreation and Open Spaces Commission will review the subdivision sketch plan and send its recommendations to the Planning Commission. The Park, Recreation and Open Spaces Commission shall also send its recommendations to the City Council; and
(2) Upon receipt of the sketch plan and after review by the Commissions, reviewing authorities and designated consultants, the City Administrator will place the sketch plan upon the agenda of the Planning Commission. The sketch plan will be considered as the basis for discussion between the subdivider and the Planning Commission. Submission of the sketch plan shall not constitute formal filing of a Preliminary Plat. The Planning Commission will, on the basis of the sketch plan, advise the subdivider of the extent to which the proposed subdivision conforms to these regulations and the zoning ordinance and will discuss possible modifications.
(D) Agreement in concept with the sketch plan does not constitute approval of the subdivision. Acceptance of the sketch plan indicates to the subdivider that he or she may proceed toward fulfilling the necessary steps for approval of the plat in accordance with the provisions of this chapter.
(E) A sketch plan and preliminary plat are required where land has the potential to be developed in stages.
(F) The Planning Commission shall hold at least one public hearing, affording an opportunity for all parties interested to be heard, and shall give not less than ten-days’ nor more than 30 days’ notice of the time and place of the hearing, published in the designated legal newspaper for the city. The notice shall also contain a description of the land and any requested variances. This notice should specify that any variances identified during the sketch plan process will be considered at the hearing. At least ten days before the hearing, the City Administrator shall mail an identical notice to the owner and to each of the property owners of record for property within 500 feet of the outside boundaries of the land in question.
(Prior Code, § 12-1326) (Ord. 1997-22, passed 6-15-1999)
Cross-reference:
Preparing and submitting the final plat, see § 160.039