(A) Submission procedure. Preliminary plats shall meet the specifications in § 154.429
. For every subdivision within the territorial jurisdiction the subdivider shall submit a preliminary plat which shall be reviewed and approved by the Planning Board before any construction or installation of improvements may begin. Eight copies of the preliminary plat (as well as any additional copies which the subdivision administrator determines are needed to be sent to other agencies) shall be submitted to the subdivision administrator at least 14 working days prior to the Planning Board meeting at which the subdivider desires the review of the preliminary plat.
(B) Agency referrals. Prior to submittal of the preliminary plat for review by the Planning Board, the Subdivision Administrator shall refer the plat to the applicable reviewing agencies listed below. In cases where the completion and development of the subdivision would require permits granted by an agency, that agency shall officially approve by certificate or permit the subdivision proposal. The review and certification process shall include, but not be limited to, the following agencies who shall submit their findings, recommendations, and certificates in writing to the Planning Board. The following agencies, as deemed applicable by the Subdivision Administrator, shall be given the opportunity to review and certify within their area of responsibility:
(1) The District Engineer of the North Carolina Department of Transportation shall review as to existing and proposed publicly dedicated streets and highways, private street, exclusive access easement, and joint driveway connections to state maintained streets and highways, and related drainage systems as they affect such streets and highways. The Subdivision Administrator, Public Works Director, and Town Engineer shall review as to existing and proposed private streets, exclusive access easements, and joint driveway easements, including their connections to existing and proposed streets maintained by the town. The Public Works Director and Town Engineer shall review private streets and their related drainage systems as they affect streets and drainage facilities managed by the town.
(2) The Robeson County Environmental Health Department shall review and certify as to proposed on-site water and sewage systems. The Public Works Director shall review and certify as to proposed public water and sewer systems.
(3) The Robeson County 911 Addressing Department shall review and certify in regards to proposed street names and property addressing.
(4) The North Carolina Department of Environment and Natural Resources, Land Quality Section, shall review and certify as to erosion and sediment control as applicable under state sedimentation control regulations.
(5) The Town's Police Department, Fire Department and Emergency Service Department shall review as to their ability to provide adequate service to the subdivision. For similar state law provisions, refer to G.S. § 160D-803(b).
(C) Procedure. The Planning Board shall review the preliminary plat at or before its next regularly scheduled meeting which follows at least 45 days after the Administrator receives the preliminary plat and the comments from the appropriate agencies. The Planning Board shall, in writing, recommend approval, conditional approval with recommended changes to bring the plat into compliance, or disapproval with reasons within 35 days of its first consideration of the plat.
(1) If the Planning Board recommends approval of the preliminary plat, it shall retain one copy of the plat for its minutes, transmit one copy of the plat to the Administrator with its recommendation, and return the final copy to the subdivider.
(a) If the Planning Board approves the preliminary plat, such approval shall be noted on two copies of the plat. One copy of the plat shall be retained by the Planning Board and one copy shall be returned to the subdivider. If the Planning Board approves the preliminary plat with conditions, approval shall by noted on two copies of the plat along with a reference to the conditions. One copy of the plat along with the conditions shall be returned to the subdivider. The other copy shall be filed with the documents for the subdivision.
(2) If the Planning Board recommends conditional approval of the preliminary plat it shall keep one copy of the plat for its minutes, transmit one copy of the plat and its recommendation to the Administrator, and return the remaining copy of the plat and its recommendation to the subdivider.
(3) If the Planning Board recommends disapproval of the preliminary plat, it shall retain one copy of the plat for its minutes, transmit one copy of the plat and its recommendation to the Administrator, and return the remaining copy of the plat and its recommendation to the subdivider. If the preliminary plat is disapproved, the subdivider may make the recommended changes and submit a revised preliminary plat, or appeal the decision to the Board of Town Commissioners.
(a) If the Planning Board disapproves the preliminary plat, the reasons for such disapproval shall be specified in writing.
(4) If the Planning Board does not make a written recommendation within 45 days after its first consideration of the plat, the subdivider may apply to the Board of Town Commissioners for approval or disapproval.
(Ord. 23-241, passed 7-18-2023)