(A) Generally. The City Council declares it necessary and appropriate to require site plan approval of development in certain zoning districts to preserve and promote attractive, well-planned stable urban conditions. This includes all proposed multiple-family buildings (three or more units), commercial developments, and industrial developments. Site plan approval by the Zoning Administrator and/or the City Engineer must be obtained before a zoning permit is issued. True and accurate representation of the following requirements are the responsibility of the applicant.
(B) Application for site plan approval.
(1) Applications for site plan approval shall be on a form provided by the Zoning Administrator and shall include the established processing fee established by the Council by ordinance. In all cases, the site plan shall contain:
(a) Name of project;
(b) Location of project, including a vicinity map;
(c) Name and mailing address of developer/owner;
(d) Name, telephone number, and mailing address of the project engineer and/or architect;
(e) Date of plan preparation;
(f) North point and graphic scale;
(g) Boundary line of project site with dimensions. All site plans shall be drawn at an engineering scale (such as 1 inch = 40 feet); and
(h) A registered land survey if deemed necessary by the Zoning Administrator.
(2) The site plan shall also contain the following features, both existing and proposed, drawn by a registered engineer, architect, landscape architect, and/or land surveyor:
(a) Topographic contours at a minimum interval of two feet;
(b) Adjacent and on-site streets and street rights-of-way;
(c) Utilities and utility right-of-way easements, man-hole rim elevations, and pipe elevations and sizes;
(d) Buildings, signs, and light poles;
(e) Parking and loading facilities;
(f) Surface water collection and conveyance features including arrows indicating the direction of surface water flow over the map of proposed contours;
(g) Surface water ponds, ditches, and wetlands;
(h) Sidewalks and bicycle paths;
(i) The location of tree cover, including the designation of trees of 15 inches in diameter or more;
(j) Fences and retaining walls;
(k) Shielded exterior refuse collection areas;
(l) Landscaping, including species and minimum size (refer to § 151.105 Special Provisions—Landscaping);
(m) Traffic flow on- and off-site;
(n) Height above mean sea level of buildings;
(o) Project data including square footage of buildings and number of parking spaces;
(p) A description of proposed exterior finish materials; and
(q) The current zoning of the property and a listing of all required federal, state, and city permits and the status of such applications.
(3) The Zoning Administrator may require the developer to submit the following items if he or she feels that they are important for adequate understanding of the project by the Planning Commission, City Council, and/or public:
(a) Aerial photograph(s) of the site;
(b) Cross-section drawings;
(c) Perspective sketch(es); and/or
(d) A professional analysis of traffic impact or other infrastructure impact (such as storm sewer, water, and sanitary sewer).
(C) Review and recommendation by the Planning Commission. In considering applications for site plan approval under this chapter, the Zoning Administrator shall consider the following: how the site plan relates to conditions both on and off the site, conformance with the city’s comprehensive plan, the impact of the site plan on the existing and anticipated traffic and parking conditions, building location and height, sanitary sewer, water, signage, setbacks, and related matters. Applications for site plan approval shall be either granted or denied within the time period established by M.S. § 15.99, as it may be amended from time to time.
(D) Developer’s/builder’s agreement. Prior to issuing a zoning permit, the Zoning Administrator may require the developer/builder to sign an agreement with the city which assures that particular elements of the site plan approval application, either proposed by the applicant or imposed by the Zoning Administrator, City Engineer, or City Planning Commission, shall be carried out. The Planning Commission may require the applicant to post a performance bond or irrevocable letter of credit to ensure that certain improvements are implemented.
(Prior Code, § 151.035) (Ord. 149, passed 3-9-1998)