The following is declared to be the policy of the city concerning the subdivision of land.
(A) (1) Whenever the owner of land subdivides or plats any land within the planning jurisdiction of the city, said land shall be surveyed and a plat made thereof by a professional land surveyor containing information required hereinafter; all such plats shall be submitted to the city pursuant to the provisions of this chapter. No lot or tract of land shall be divided or redivided or in any manner utilized for the purpose of erecting more than one principal building or use on such lot or tract of land without subdividing in accordance with this chapter or by submitting same as a planned unit development as provided by Chapter 154 of this code. No plat of any subdivision shall be valid nor entitled to record unless and until the same has been approved by the City Council, and no such plat shall be approved without compliance with the standards and improvements required as hereinafter set forth.
(2) The requirements of the remainder of this chapter shall not apply to. those exceptions outlined in § 153.61 of this chapter, which shall be governed only by the requirements of that section.
(B) The subdivision of land and the subsequent development of the subdivided plat are subject to the control of the city pursuant to the official Comprehensive Plan of the city for the orderly, planned, efficient and economical development of the city.
(C) Land to be subdivided shall be of such character that it can be used safely for building purposes without danger to health or peril from fire, flood or other menace, and land shall not be subdivided until proper provisions have been made for drainage, water, sewerage and capital improvements such as parks, recreation facilities, transportation facilities, natural areas and open space, and related improvements.
(D) The City Council, upon recommendation of the Planning Department, may waive the requirements set forth herein in cases where the subdivision lies within the one and one-half (1½) mile extraterritorial jurisdiction but will have little effect on the future expansion of the city. In this case, the Subdivision Ordinance of Jo Daviess County shall still apply.
(Ord. O-93-01, passed 1-25-93)