A. Submission Required; Waiver:
1. After conferring with the department of neighborhood and development services on the concept plan, the owner or owner's representative shall submit to the same department a preliminary plat and supporting materials on application forms as provided by the City for consideration. This submission must include accurate and complete information as set forth in subsection B of this section.
2. The city manager or designee(s) will check the application for accuracy and completeness. A "complete application" shall mean the following:
a. A plat with accurate measurements and dimensions and easements identified; and
b. All information as specified in subsection B of this section, has been submitted.
3. The applicant will be notified of deficiencies and/or discrepancies or if an application is incomplete. If an application is found to be incomplete, the city will inform the applicant and reserves the right to discontinue staff review until a complete and accurate application is filed. The start date for any applicable time limitations for the application under review will be the date when a complete application is submitted.
4. The city may waive submission of the preliminary plat if the final plat includes all the requirements of the preliminary plat.
B. Plat Specifications And Accompanying Information:
1. The preliminary plat shall be drawn to the scale of one inch to fifty feet (1" = 50'); however, if the resultant drawing would be larger than twenty four inches by thirty six inches (24" x 36"), the plat shall be submitted at a scale of one inch to one hundred feet (1" = 100'). In addition, a digital version of the plat must be submitted as per city specifications. Each plat must include the following information:
a. Legal description, acreage and name of proposed subdivision.
b. Name(s) and address(es) of owner(s) and subdivider.
c. Names of the persons who prepared the plat, owner's attorney, representative or agent, if any, and date of preparation.
d. North point and graphic scale.
e. Contours at five foot (5') intervals or less.
f. Locations of existing lot lines, streets, public utilities, water mains, sanitary sewers, storm sewers, drainpipes, culverts, watercourses, bridges, railroads, buildings, stormwater detention facilities and any other public improvements in the proposed subdivision.
g. The existing streets and city utilities on adjoining properties.
h. Layout of proposed blocks (if used) and lots, including the dimensions of each, and the lot and block number in numerical order. For lots where the lot width is different from the lot frontage, the lot width must be indicated on the plat.
i. Location of any proposed outlot(s), identified with progressive letter designations, and the purpose of said outlot(s) clearly specified on the plat.
j. Proposed location of clustered mailboxes.
k. Location and widths, other dimensions and names of the proposed streets, alleys, roads, utility and other easements, parks and other open spaces or reserved areas.
l. Grades of proposed streets and alleys.
m. A cross section of the proposed streets showing the roadway locations, the type of curb and gutter, the paving and sidewalks to be installed.
n. The proposed layout and size of water mains and sanitary sewers.
o. Proposal for drainage of the land, including proposed storm sewers, ditches, swales, bioswales, rain gardens, culverts, bridges, stormwater management facilities and other structures.
p. A signature block for endorsement by the city clerk certifying the city council's approval of the plat.
q. Where the area is subject to Article 14-2H (Form-Based Zones And Standards), the following shall be identified on the preliminary plat:
(1) Proposed design sites (if used), including the dimensions of each. For design sites where the design site width is different from the design site frontage, the design site width must be indicated on the plat.
(2) Proposed thoroughfare types (14-2H-9) and the dimensions for each street, sidewalk, alley, or passage.
(3) Proposed civic space types (14-2H-5) for each public or private civic space.
(4) Proposed building types (14-2H-6) for each lot and design site.
(5) Notation that all stubs are to connect with future thoroughfares on adjoining property and shall be designed to appropriately transition, and that that specified civic space and building types may be substituted with other civic space and building types in compliance with Article 14-2H (Form-Based Zones And Standards) during the site plan or building permit process.
2. The preliminary plat shall be accompanied by the following information:
a. A location map with north point showing an outline of the area to be subdivided.
b. A grading plan, including proposed methods for the prevention and control of soil erosion, pursuant to the grading ordinance, title 17, chapter 8 of this code.
c. If access to state routes is proposed, the plat must be submitted to the Iowa department of transportation for review. Comments from the Iowa department of transportation must be submitted with the proposed plat.
d. For properties containing regulated sensitive features as specified in title 14, chapter 5, article I of this code, a sensitive areas development plan as set forth in title 14, chapter 5, article I of this code.
C. Fees: A fee shall be paid at the time of preliminary plat application or any combination of preliminary plats and/or plans are applied for, in the amount established by resolution of the city council.
D. Review Of Plat; Approval Or Disapproval:
1. The department of neighborhood and development services shall distribute said copies to the appropriate city departments for review as designated by the city manager.
2. Said designee(s) shall examine the plat and application to ensure compliance with the requirements of this title, other relevant provisions of this code, comprehensive plan policies and with state law. Upon completion of examination, the department of neighborhood and development services shall forward a written report, including recommendations, to the planning and zoning commission. No plat shall be forwarded to the planning and zoning commission with more than six (6) deficiencies.
3. The commission shall study the revised preliminary plat, review the application of the owner and review the report from the department of neighborhood and development services.
4. The commission shall recommend approval or disapproval of the plat within forty five (45) calendar days of the date the city receives a complete application, or the preliminary plat shall be deemed to be approved by the commission. The owner or owner's representative may, however, agree to an extension of time.
5. Following staff evaluation, the owner or owner’s representative shall submit copies of the revised preliminary plat as requested by the city with the signatures of the surveyor and the respective utility companies to the city clerk.
6. After receipt of the recommendation of the commission or after the time of any extension has passed, the city council shall, by resolution, approve or disapprove the preliminary plat.
E. Effect Of Approval: Approval of a preliminary plat by the city council does not constitute approval of the subdivision but merely authorizes the subdivider to proceed with the preparation of the final plat. In the event the city council approves the preliminary plat and the final plat submitted does not materially and substantially deviate from the preliminary plat and if inspection by the city reveals that all plans and specifications for construction of improvements, as required by the city, have been met, the final plat shall be approved by the city council. Approval of the preliminary plat shall be effective for a period of twenty four (24) months unless, upon written request of the owner or subdivider, the city council, by resolution, grants an extension of time. If the final plat is not filed within twenty four (24) months, all previous actions of the city council with respect to the plat shall be deemed null and void. (Ord. 08-4313, 8-26-2008; amd. Ord. 21-4866, 11-16-2021)