(A) Within 60 days after initial consideration of a completed preliminary plat application, the Planning Commission will indicate approval, disapproval or approval subject to conditions; otherwise, the preliminary plat shall be deemed approved and a certificate to that effect shall be issued by the Planning Commission on demand. If a plat is disapproved, reasons for such disapproval shall be stated in writing upon the minutes of the Planning Commission. A preliminary plat application shall be considered "completed" if it is accompanied by all required documents and information outlined in these regulations. A preliminary plat approval checklist shall be promulgated by the Planning Administrator and shall be distributed to applicants upon the payment of fees associated with the preliminary plat application. Applications deemed "incomplete" by the Planning Commission shall not initiate the statutory period required for formal approval or disapproval of the plat.
(B) The applicant for preliminary plat approval may, in writing or at a public meeting of the Planning Commission, waive the time requirement set in this section and consent to an extension or extensions of the applicable time period. Furthermore, the time requirement set in this section may be adjusted for holidays, or unexpected interceding events that close city offices. Any plat submitted to the Commission shall contain the name and address of a person to whom notice of hearing may be sent; and no plat shall be acted upon by the Commission without affording a hearing thereon, notice of the time and place of which shall be sent by mail to the address not less than five days before the date fixed for such hearing.
(1) Sixty days to submit revised plans. Any application that receives conditional approval from the Planning Commission shall be followed, within 60 days, by submission of revised plans, or the Commission's approval shall expire.
(2) Effective period of preliminary plat and construction drawings approval.
(a) Preliminary plats shall expire after three years from the date of Planning Commission approval unless an extension is granted consistent with division (b) below or one of the following occurs:
1. A notice to proceed has been issued by the Public Works Director and construction activity consistent with the approved construction drawings has occurred; or
2. A final plat based on the approved preliminary plan is approved and recorded.
(b) A one-time extension for one additional year may be requested to the Planning Commission if submitted no less than 60 days prior to the expiration of the original approval. The Planning Commission may grant such extension if deemed appropriate based upon progress made in developing the subdivision. If an extension is granted, expiration will be determined based on this section.
(c) On all expired preliminary plats, any construction drawings or unrecorded final plats based upon such plan, will also be considered to be expired.
(3) Revisions to approved preliminary plats. Minor revisions shall be approved by the Planning Administrator if revisions are deemed not to be significant. For all revisions determined by the Planning Director to be major, Planning Commission approval will be required. Procedures for considering a major revision to a preliminary plat shall be the same as required for an initial application for preliminary plat approval. Major revisions include, but are not limited to:
(a) Change in location and number of access points;
(b) Increase in total number of lots;
(c) Reduction in size of lots;
(d) Change in size and/or use of open space;
(e) Significant changes to lot configuration or road locations/alignments; and
(f) Environmental or other natural features' buffers.
(g) Where applicable, the threshold of a 5% change or greater will be used to distinguish between minor and major revisions.
(4) Expiration of final subdivision plat. An approved final subdivision plat shall expire if it is not recorded with the Office of the Simpson County Clerk within 180 days after the date of approval. Minor plats, as defined herein shall expire 180 days following the submittal of staff comments to the surveyor of record.
(Ord. 2022-007, passed 3-14-2022)