(A) Pre-application meeting and sketch plan. The applicant shall schedule a pre-application meeting with the UDO Administrator to review a sketch plan of the proposed site plan. The UDO Administrator will determine if the plan constitutes a minor or major site plan, in accordance with the definitions in Appendix A, and advise the applicant of all applicable town regulations and policies, applications procedures and fees.
(B) Minor site plans. Minor site plans follow the administrative development approval process and are not subject to Planning Board review. Minor site plans shall be submitted with a full set of engineering drawings. Engineering drawing approval is required prior to the issuance of a zoning permit. Refer to § 91.65, Engineering Drawing Requirements.
(C) Major site plans. Major site plans follow the Planning Board development approval process. The major site plan shall be reviewed by the UDO Administrator for completeness, compliance with this Unified Development Ordinance, and soundness of design. The plan shall then be reviewed for recommendation and approval by the Planning Board. Following Planning Board approval, engineering drawings may be submitted and reviewed in accordance with § 91.65. Engineering drawing approval is required prior to the issuance of a zoning permit.
(D) Site plan requirements.
(1) Information to be shown on site plan. The site plan shall be prepared by a professional engineer, registered land surveyor or architect and shall be drawn to scale of not less than one inch equals 30 feet. The site plan shall be based on the latest tax map information and shall be of a size as required by each individual site plan. The site plan shall contain the following information:
(a) A key map of the site with reference to surrounding areas and existing street locations;
(b) The name and address of the owner and site plan applicant, together with the names of the owners of all contiguous land and of property directly across the street as shown by the most recent tax records;
(c) Lot line dimensions;
(d) Location of all structures, streets, entrances and exits on the site and on contiguous property directly across the street;
(e) Location of all existing and proposed structures, including their outside dimensions and elevations;
(f) Building setback, side line and rear yard distances;
(g) Location of flood zones;
(h) All existing physical features, including watercourses, existing trees greater than eight inches in diameter measured four and one-half feet above ground level, and significant soil conditions;
(i) Topography showing existing and proposed contours at two-foot intervals. All reference benchmarks shall be clearly designated;
(k) Improvements such as roads, curbs, bumpers and sidewalks shall be indicated with cross-sections, design details and dimensions;
(l) Location and design of existing and proposed stormwater systems, sanitary waste disposal systems, water mains and appurtenances, and method of refuse disposal and storage;
(p) North arrow; and
(q) Location of all 404 wetland areas.
(2) Performance standards. In reviewing any site plan, the Planning Board shall consider:
(a) Pedestrian and vehicular traffic movement within and adjacent to the site with particular emphasis on the provision and layout of parking areas, off-street loading and unloading, movement of people, goods and vehicles from access roads, within the site, between buildings, and between buildings and vehicles. The Planning Board shall ensure that all parking spaces comply with §§ 91.120 through 91.129. Access to the site from adjacent roads shall be designed so as to interfere as little as possible with traffic flow on these roads and to permit vehicles a rapid and safe ingress and egress to the site;
(b) The design and layout of buildings and parking areas shall be reviewed so as to provide an aesthetically pleasing design and efficient arrangement. Particular attention shall be given to safety and fire protection, impact of surrounding development, and contiguous and adjacent buildings and lands;
(g) Storm drainage, sanitary waste disposal, water supply and garbage disposal shall be reviewed for compliance with applicable federal, state and local requirements. Particular emphasis shall be given to the adequacy of existing systems, and the need for improvements, both on-site and off-site, to adequately carry run-off and sewage, and to maintain an adequate supply of water at sufficient pressure; and
(h) Environmental elements relating to soil erosion, preservation of trees, protection of watercourses, and resources, noise, topography, soil and animal life shall be reviewed, and the design of the plan shall minimize any adverse impact on these elements.
(E) Certificate of zoning compliance/building permit. An application for a certificate of zoning compliance may be requested in advance of or concurrently with an application for a building permit in accordance with §§ 91.63(G) and (H).
(F) Inspections and certificates of occupancy.
(1) No new building, or part thereof, shall be occupied, and no addition or enlargement of any existing building shall be occupied, and no existing building after being altered or moved shall be occupied, and no change of use shall be made in any existing building or part thereof, until the Building Inspector has issued a certificate of occupancy.
(2) A certificate of occupancy shall be applied for subsequent to or concurrent with the application for a certificate of zoning compliance and shall be issued within five business days after the erection or structural alteration of such building or part shall have been completed in conformity with the provisions of this Unified Development Ordinance. A temporary certificate of occupancy for a portion of a structure may be issued for a portion or portions of a building which may safely be occupied prior to final completion and occupancy of the entire building or for other temporary uses. A certificate of occupancy shall not be issued unless the proposed use of a building or land conforms to the applicable provisions of this Unified Development Ordinance. If the certificate of occupancy is denied, the Building Inspector shall state in writing the reasons for refusal and the applicant shall be notified of the refusal. A record of all certificates shall be kept on file in the office of the Building Inspector for a period of time in accordance with the State Department of Cultural Resources requirements (G.S. § 132-8) and copies shall be furnished on request to any persons having a proprietary or tenancy interest in the building or land involved.
(3) For all developments, excluding single-family residential uses, prior to the issuance of a certificate of occupancy by the Building Inspector, a final zoning inspection shall be conducted to ensure that the approved plan has been followed and all required improvements have been installed to town standards. The Board of Commissioners must have accepted all publicly dedicated improvements contingent upon the recordation of the final plat or provision of performance guarantees approved by the Board of Commissioners as specified in § 91.67(E)(4).
(4) For major sites plan development approvals, an as-built survey and as-built construction drawings shall be submitted to the UDO Administrator by the developer upon completion of the building foundation to ensure that setbacks and building orientation match the approved site plan. If the survey shows that the placement of the building is incorrect, then the UDO Administrator shall issue a stop-work order and all construction shall be halted until the problem is remedied.
(Ord. eff. 9-6-2012, § 5.6; Am. Ord. 21-1, passed 9-17-2020)