(A) On reaching conclusions as recommended in § 154.021, the subdivider shall have prepared a preliminary plat of the proposed subdivision for submission to the Planning and Zoning Commission.
(B) Copies of the preliminary plat (in the amount stipulated by the development review checklist) should be submitted to the Planning and Zoning Commission through the Planning and Zoning Coordinator not less than 22 days prior to the Planning and Zoning Commission meeting at which consideration is desired. Preliminary stormwater plans sufficient to document no adverse offsite impact for review by the City Engineer shall be submitted at this time.
(C) A filing fee will be paid to the Planning and Zoning Coordinator at the time of the submittal, as stipulated in the fee schedule set forth in § 154.007.
(D) The preliminary plat shall be considered officially filed after it is accepted by the Planning and Zoning Coordinator and found to be in compliance with the general provisions of these regulations, and the date of such findings shall be considered the official filing date.
(E) The following notice shall be stamped on the face of each preliminary plat: "Preliminary Plat - For review purposes only."
(F) The preliminary plat shall be distributed immediately upon receipt by the Planning and Zoning Coordinator in accordance with the development review checklist.
(G) Whenever a preliminary plat involves land in the city’s extraterritorial jurisdiction, the Planning and Zoning Commission and City Council shall act upon the plat in the same manner as a plat in the city limits.
(H) A report shall be presented at the Planning and Zoning Commission at its next regular meeting by the Planning and Zoning Coordinator, stating the results of the subdivision review. The report should include comments relative to the proposed subdivision’s compliance to these regulations, the comprehensive plan or other plans, such as utility plans. The report may include comments from municipal departments or other agencies concerned with urban development.
(I) Following review of the preliminary plat and other materials submitted for conformity thereof to these regulations, and negotiations with the subdivider on changes deemed advisable, and the kind and extent of improvements to be made by him, the Planning and Zoning Commission shall, within 30 days of the official filing date, act on the submittal, and recommend approval, approval with conditions, or disapproval of the proposed preliminary plat. If the recommendation is approval with conditions or disapproval, the Commission shall provide the subdivider with a written statement clearly articulating the specific conditions for approval or reasons for disapproval. Each condition or reason must be directly related to the requirements under this chapter. The statement shall include a citation to the requirement under this chapter, other ordinance, or statute, if applicable.
(J) Approval of a preliminary plat shall not constitute approval of the final plat. Rather, it shall be deemed an expression of approval to the layout submitted on the preliminary plat as a guide to the preparation of the final plat.
(K) In its action on the preliminary plat, the Commission shall consider the physical arrangement of the subdivision, determine the adequacy of street and thoroughfare rights-of-way and alignment, the compliance of the streets and thoroughfares with the comprehensive plan of the city, the existing street pattern in the area, and any other applicable provisions of the comprehensive plan. The Commission shall also ascertain that adequate easements for proposed or future utility service and surface stormwater are provided, and that the lot size and area comply with Chapter 155, Zoning.
(L) Within 30 days of the Commission’s approval of a preliminary plat, the City Council shall act on the submittal, and approve, approve with conditions, or disapprove the proposed preliminary plat. If approved with conditions or disapproved, the Council shall provide the subdivider a written statement clearly articulating the specific conditions for approval or reasons for disapproval. Each condition or reason must be directly related to the requirements under this chapter. The statement shall include a citation to the requirement under this chapter, other ordinance, or statute, if applicable.
(M) At any time, the developer may submit a written response to the Council that satisfies each condition or remedies each reason for disapproval. The Council shall, not later than the fifteenth day after the date the response was submitted, determine whether to approve or disapprove the preliminary plat.
(N) Validity and expiration.
(1) Approval of the preliminary plat shall be valid for a period of 24 months from the date of approval, and the general terms and conditions under which the approval was granted will not be changed.
(2) The approval of a preliminary plat shall expire no later than 24 months from approval, unless one of the following occurs:
(a) A final plat is approved on any portion of the preliminary plat. The validity of the preliminary plat is extended indefinitely after approval of a final plat of any portion of the preliminary plat;
(b) The subdivider demonstrates progress towards completion of the project as defined in Tex. Loc. Gov’t Code § 245.005. The preliminary plat will remain valid and in effect as long as the subdivider continues to demonstrate progress towards completion; or
(c) If a final plat has not been approved and progress towards completion has not occurred, and the preliminary plat has not expired, the subdivider may request an extension of preliminary plat approval.
1. If the Planning and Zoning Coordinator finds that no material revisions are necessary for the approved preliminary plat to conform to current subdivision and zoning regulations, an extension of the approval of a preliminary plat may be granted for a period of up to 12 months. The Planning and Zoning Coordinator may defer the extension request to City Council within ten days of receipt of the request.
2. Additional extensions beyond the initial 12-month extension may only be approved by City Council.
('68 Code, App. B, § 2.02) (Ord. 8-1989-34, passed 8-8-89; Am. Ord. 08-2019-47, passed 8-27-19; Am. Ord. 10-2020-62, passed 10-27-20; Am. Ord. 03-2022-29, passed 3-22-2022)