(a) Developer submittal; approval or denial. As promptly as possible after the filing of a sketch plan, but not later than 15 days prior to the Comment Review Committee meeting as required by subsection (b), the Office of Planning and Zoning shall provide the developer, the developer's representative and all reviewing agencies, with a written approval or denial of the sketch plan application, including a report of all findings, comments, and recommendations of reviewing County agencies, and if applicable a notice of the date, time and location of the Comment Review Committee meeting. The written approval or denial will resolve inconsistencies and conflicts among agency comments and will offer the applicant direction on how to proceed to final plan review, or what issues need to be addressed with a new application for sketch plan approval.
(b) Comment Review Committee meeting; meeting summary. Within 75 days after the filing of a sketch plan, the developer may request that the Office of Planning and Zoning schedule at its office, or at a mutually agreed upon location, a meeting of the Development Review Team Leader and Office of Planning and Zoning reviewers, representatives of other County reviewing agencies, and the developer and its representatives. The Committee will discuss the report provided under subsection (a), reviewing agencies' comments, and any other matters that pertain to the submittal and approval of the plan. Within 15 days of the meeting, the Office of Planning and Zoning shall confirm in writing to the developer and the developer's designated representatives a summary of the meeting including any recommendations, requirements for approval, or other unresolved matters to be addressed before approval may be granted. If the meeting summary includes findings, comments or recommendations that were not discussed during the Comment Review Committee meeting, the developer may request that the Office of Planning and Zoning schedule a follow-up meeting of the reviewing agencies to address such issues.
(c) Developer re-submittals; comments by the County. After the developer files a sketch plan re-submittal, the Office of Planning and Zoning shall provide promptly any further findings, comments, and recommendations of the County through its reviewing agencies, and shall attempt to resolve inconsistencies or conflicts among the agency comments. Within 60 days after the date the report is mailed, the developer shall file a sketch plan re-submittal that addresses the findings, comments, and recommendations. This process continues unless the application becomes void under subsection (e) or action is taken on the application under subsection (f).
(d) Authority to extend time periods.
(1) Upon receipt of a written request not less than 10 days before a re-submittal deadline in subsection (c), the Office of Planning and Zoning may grant a time extension for re-submittal not to exceed 180 days.
(2) Upon receipt of a written request not less than 10 days before a re-submittal deadline in subsection (c), and upon a determination by the Planning and Zoning Officer that good cause is shown, the Office of Planning and Zoning may grant a second time extension for re-submittal not to exceed 120 days.
(3) Upon receipt of a written request not less than 10 days before a re-submittal deadline in subsection (c), and upon a determination by the Planning and Zoning Officer that good cause is shown, the Office of Planning and Zoning may grant a third time extension for re-submittal not to exceed 60 days.
(4) After a third time extension, any further extensions require a modification.
(e) Effect of failure to meet time requirements. An application for sketch plan approval is void and a new application fee for sketch plan approval shall be paid for the next submittal if the developer fails to file any sketch plan re-submittal within the time periods required by this section.
(f) Action on the application. At any time after the filing of an application for sketch plan approval, the Office of Planning and Zoning may deny the application for failure to comply with the provisions of this Code, or other law. Otherwise, the Office shall approve the application for sketch plan approval.
(g) Notice of approval. Within 10 days after receiving notice of an approval of an application for sketch plan approval, the developer shall mail, by first class mail, notice of the approval to all lot owners within 300 feet of the property, with a copy to:
(1) the president of any community or homeowners' association of a subdivision that is both located within 300 feet of the property and on the list of community associations, persons, and organizations maintained in the Office of the County Executive;
(2) the Office of Planning and Zoning;
(3) the Councilmember of the Councilmanic District in which the property is located and, if the property abuts another Councilmanic District, to that County Councilmember;
(4) the County Executive; and
(5) individuals who attended a community meeting held pursuant to § 17-2-107(c) and who provided the developer with their name and mailing address or email address for the purpose of notice.
(Bill No. 3-05; Bill No. 90-09; Bill No. 59-10; Bill No. 7-11; Bill No. 28-18; Bill No. 59-19; Bill No. 84-23)