(A) Requirements.
(1) Identification and description.
(a) Proposed name of subdivision, which name shall not duplicate the name of any plat heretofore recorded in the county.
(b) Location by section, township and range, or by other legal description.
(c) Names and addresses of the owner and subdivider having control of the lands included in the preliminary plat, the designer of the plat and the surveyor.
(d) Graphic scale, not less than 1 inch to 100 feet.
(e) North point.
(f) Date of preparation.
(2) Existing conditions.
(a) Boundary line survey, including measured distances and angles, which shall close by latitude and departure with an error of closure not exceeding 1 foot in 7,500 feet.
(b) Total acreage in the preliminary plat computed to 1/10 of an acre.
(c) Location and names of existing or platted streets or other public ways, parks and other public open spaces, permanent buildings and structures, easements and section and corporate lines within the tract and to a distance of 100 feet beyond the tract.
(d) If the proposed subdivision is a rearrangement or a replat of any former plat, the lot and block arrangement of the original plat along with its original names shall be indicated by dotted or dashed lines. Also, any revised or vacated roadways of the original plat shall be so indicated.
(e) Location and size of existing paved streets, railroads, sewers, water mains, gravel pits, culverts, or other underground facilities within the tract and to a distance of 100 feet beyond the tract. Also such data as grades, invert elevations and location of catchbasins, manholes and hydrants.
(f) Boundary lines of adjoining platted or unplatted land within 100 feet of the tract.
(g) Complete topographic map with contour intervals not greater than 2 feet, water courses, marshes, rock outcrops and other significant features; all superimposed on at least one print of preliminary plat. United States Geodetic Survey datum shall be used for all topographic mapping. High water elevation and date thereof if parts of plat are wet or have been wet. In the case of a subdivision where no new street is involved, the required topographic map may be waived if it is deemed unnecessary by the City Engineer and the Planning Commission.
(3) Proposed development design features.
(a) Layout of proposed streets, showing right-of-way widths and proposed names of streets. The name of any street similar to or heretofore used in the city shall not be permitted unless the proposed street is an extension of an already named street in which event the name shall be used. All street names shall be subject to the approval of the Planning Commission.
(b) Location and widths of alleys, pedestrian ways and utility easements.
(c) Proposed center line grades of all new streets and alleys, if any, and a complete set of profiles showing both existing and proposed grade lines.
(d) Location, size and approximate gradient of sewer lines.
(e) Layout, numbers and approximate dimensions of lots and the number or letter of each block.
(f) Location and size of proposed parks, playgrounds, churches, or school sites or other special uses of land to be considered for dedication to public use, or to be reserved by deed of covenant for the use of all property owners in the subdivision and any conditions of the dedication or reservation.
(g) Vicinity sketch, at a legible scale, to show the relation of the plat to its surroundings and surrounding zoning districts.
(B) Procedure.
(1) Filing. The owner or subdivider may prepare and submit a preliminary plat, together with any necessary supplemental information. Copies of a preliminary plat of any proposed subdivision shall be filed with the City Administrator. Every preliminary plat shall contain the data set forth in this section.
(2) Consideration by the Planning Commission.
(a) A preliminary plat shall be filed at least 10 days prior to the Planning Commission meeting at which the same shall be considered. The City Engineer or City Administrator shall prepare a report thereon setting out whether or not the plat meets the requirements of law and the Comprehensive Guide Plan. He or she shall present the report, together with his or her recommendations thereon, to the next meeting of the Planning Commission.
(b) The Planning Commission shall consider the plat at regular, special or adjourned meetings as it shall determine are necessary.
(c) The Planning Commission shall have the authority to recommend approval or disapproval of the preliminary plat, to approve it with conditions attached, and to disapprove it until and unless certain conditions are first complied with.
(d) Upon the making of its determination, the Planning Commission shall make findings which shall include all conditions it requires for approval, or conditions upon which approval will be granted, and shall set forth the reasons for the approval given. A copy of the findings shall be sent forthwith to the subdivider and a copy thereof to the Council, together with the plat if it is approved, conditionally or otherwise.
(3) Consideration by the Council.
(a) Upon the adoption of the motion hereinabove provided by the Planning Commission, the plat shall come before the Council for review.
(b) The Council may hold such public hearings on the plat as it shall, in its discretion, determine and upon such notice as it shall provide.
(c) The Council shall have authority to approve, disapprove, modify and amend the motion of the Planning Commission and it may refer the same to the Planning Commission for further study. A referral to the Planning Commission shall not be deemed a final action thereon by the Council, and the Planning Commission shall report back thereon no later than 45 days following the Council meeting at which it was referred.
(d) Upon final decision by the Council, it shall make findings.
(e) Upon decision by the Council, the City Administrator shall transmit a copy of the findings, or notice of adoption without change, to the subdivider.
(f) The approval of the preliminary plat shall not constitute an acceptance of the subdivision, but it shall be deemed to be an authorization to proceed with the preparation of the final plat.
(g) The approval of the preliminary plat by the Council shall be effective for a period of 1 year from the date of the approval.
(h) The subdivider may file a final plat limited to such portion of the preliminary plat which he or she proposes to record and develop at the time, provided that the portion must conform to all requirements of this chapter. If some portion, or all, of the final plat has not been submitted to the Planning Commission for approval within the time herein provided, a preliminary plat must again be submitted to the Planning Commission and the Council for approval, unless the Commission and the Council shall waive this requirement.
(1998 Code, § 11.05)