(1) Pre-application meeting. Prior to submitting a preliminary plat application (following a concept plan review), the property owner/applicant shall meet with the Community Development Department to discuss the preliminary plat application. Through this meeting, the Community Development Department may summarize the city's comments from review of the concept plan and offer suggestions pertaining to additional information or design changes that may assist in expediting the preliminary plat review.
(2) Neighborhood meeting. The city strongly recommends the property owner/applicant hold a neighborhood meeting for informal comment and feedback prior to preliminary plat application.
(3) Application. The person applying for preliminary plat approval shall submit to the Community Development Department a complete application and all other information required according to the deadline and meeting schedule established by the city. The application shall address the informational requirements of § 1001.041 and issues identified through the concept plan review procedure.
(4) Complete application. A complete preliminary plat application shall include:
(a) A graphic and written description of the information requirements outlined in § 1001.041; and
(b) A fee and processing escrow as established by the City Council.
(5) The preliminary plat application shall be considered to be officially submitted when the Community Development Department has received and examined the application and has determined that the application is complete. The application is complete if the fee and processing escrow and all information required by this chapter for a preliminary plat application have been submitted. The Community Development Department shall make a determination of completeness within 15 days and notify the applicant in writing if the application is incomplete. The notice shall describe the missing information. If the application is complete, the timeline for approval in division (13) below begins upon the submittal of a complete application.
(6) The Community Development Department shall refer copies of the preliminary plat to other staff, committees, consultants or agencies as appropriate. At least 30 days prior to taking final action on a preliminary plat, the proposed preliminary plat must be presented to the Commissioner of Transportation for review if the plat includes or borders on a trunk highway. Within five days after receiving a preliminary plat that includes or borders on an existing or proposed county road, the city must submit it to the county engineer for review. The Commissioner of Transportation and the county engineer must report to the city within 30 days with any comments and recommendations they may have. No preliminary plat may be approved until these comments and recommendations are received and considered or until the 30-day period has elapsed. Within ten days after approval of the preliminary plat, notice must be sent to the Commissioner or the County Board explaining how the comments and recommendations have been met.
(7) Upon receipt of a complete application, the Community Development Department shall prepare a report and refer the application to the city advisory committees, including but not limited to the Park Board, Environmental Board, the Planning and Zoning Board, as well as the City Council.
(8) The application shall be reviewed by city advisory committees. The advisory committees recommendations will be forwarded to the Planning and Zoning Board for their consideration of the application at a public hearing.
(9) The Planning and Zoning Board shall hold a public hearing on the proposed preliminary plat. Notice of the public hearing shall be published in the official newspaper designated by the City Council at least ten days prior to the hearing. The city shall mail written notification of the proposed preliminary plat to property owners located within 600 feet of the subjected site. Timing of the mailed notice shall be the same as that for the published notice. The failure to give mailed notice to individual property owners or defects in the notice shall not invalidate the proceedings, provided a bona fide attempt to comply has been made.
(10) The Planning and Zoning Board shall take public testimony at their public hearing and evaluate the requested preliminary plat against the premature subdivision criteria of § 1001.013, the performance standards of this chapter, the performance standards of the Lino Lakes Zoning Chapter and other city requirements. The Planning and Zoning Board shall make findings and offer a recommendation for either preliminary plat approval or denial. The Planning and Zoning Board may offer a recommendation of approval with conditions necessary to satisfy city regulations.
(11) The Community Development Department shall prepare a staff report for the City Council which includes the findings and recommendations of the Planning and Zoning Board. The findings may include specific conditions of approval or findings related to denial of the plat.
(12) The City Council shall not approve the application if the applicant has not received and submitted to the city a preliminary approval from the Rice Creek Watershed District or the Vadnais Lake Area Water Management Organization, as applicable.
(13) The City Council shall take action on the application within 120 days following delivery of an application completed in accordance with the regulations of this chapter, unless an extension is agreed to by the applicant. If it approves the preliminary plat, the City Council may impose conditions it considers necessary to protect the public health, safety and welfare.
(14) The City Council shall take action on the application which shall include findings of fact and shall be entered in the proceedings of the City Council and transmitted to the applicant in writing. The lack of a simple majority Council vote to affirmatively approve a preliminary plat shall be a denial of the requested application.
(15) Grading of the site included in the preliminary plat may occur after approval of the preliminary plat and the approval and recording of a development agreement for the grading work, including financial securities. The grading development agreement shall comply with the requirements of § 1001.056 and §§ 1001.140 et seq. However, grading and other site work shall not commence until the issuance of a permit from the Rice Creek Watershed District or the Vadnais Lake Area Water Management Organization, as applicable. This condition shall be included in the development agreement.
(Ord. 04-03, passed 2-24-2003; Am. Ord. 02-09, passed 2-23-2009.)