(A) Generally. A final plat is required to assure that the division or development of the land subject to the plat is consistent with all standards of this chapter pertaining to the adequacy of public facilities, that public improvements to serve the subdivision or development have been installed and accepted by the city or that provision for the installation has been made, that all other requirements and conditions have been satisfied or provided for to allow the plat to be recorded, and to assure that the subdivision or development meets all other standards of this chapter to enable initiation of site preparation activities for any lot or tract subject to the plat. Approval of a final plat shall be required prior to any non-exempt division of land and prior to any site preparation activities, for a lot or tract of land that requires installation of public improvements on or adjacent thereto. A final plat may be submitted for any phase of development consistent with an approved preliminary plat.
(B) Procedure.
(1) A final plat, which is a recordable plat, and engineering plans, if required, shall be prepared in accordance with the approved preliminary plat, if any, and with §§ 154.092 and 154.093 below. Seven prints of the plat and two copies of the engineering plans, if applicable, along with a written application, shall be submitted to the City Planner for staff review. Upon receipt of staff comments, the applicant shall make any requested corrections or other changes and submit 12 prints of the revised plat (two prints of revised minor plats) and engineering plans to the City Planner. The plat shall be considered filed with the city on the date that the revisions are submitted, along with the application fee as provided herein. The revised plat will be accepted only if the engineering plans, if any, have been approved by the City Engineer. All plat prints shall be pre-folded to a size no larger than nine inches by 12 inches at the time of submittal.
(2) Within 30 days after the final plat is filed with the City Planner, the Commission shall approve or disapprove the plat. Within ten days of the Commission's decision, the city shall issue to the applicant a certificate stating the date that the final plat was approved or denied, and state the reasons for denial, if applicable. If the plat complies with all standards and requirements of this chapter, it shall be approved. A final plat that is denied may be resubmitted as a continuance of the same application if the necessary changes are made to address the reasons for the Commission's denial. If a revised final plat is not resubmitted within 90 days of the Commission's denial, it shall be considered withdrawn.
(3) After approval of the final plat, the applicant shall submit one set of digital drawing files of the plat on compact disc in the ASCII version of a DXF file, projected within the parameters of the State Plane Coordinate System, in survey feet, and shall also submit two photographic Mylar reproducible sets of the plat containing the notarized signature of the owner(s), and the signatures and seals of the surveyor and engineer, as applicable. The Chairperson of the Commission, or designee, will sign the approval certificate on the Mylar reproducible sets. In the case of amending plats and minor plats not requiring a variance, the Mayor will sign the approval certificate. The City Planner shall cause the final plat to be recorded with the County Clerk within five days after acceptance by the city of all improvements, as provided in § 154.107 below. After recording, one Mylar reproducible set shall be retained by the City Planner.
(4) Changes made to a final plat subsequent to being recorded and not eligible for an amending plat as set forth in § 154.028 below, shall be submitted as a replat in accordance with § 154.027 below. Other connections or changes made to a final plat subsequent to being recorded, shall be submitted as an amending plat in accordance with § 154.028 below. Upon approval of the replat or amending plat, it shall be recorded with the County Clerk, who shall mark the previously recorded plat as "void".
(5) Construction by the applicant of any required public improvements shall commence within 12 months of the Commission's approval of a final plat. Upon written request by the applicant, the City Planner may extend approval for one additional six-month period. At the end of this extension period, the approval is automatically revoked. A final plat that has expired can be reactivated only by resubmittal in accordance with all normal procedures for the original submission, including payment of applicable fees.
(6) Approval of the final plat as referred to herein shall amount to authorization for the developer to proceed with construction of public improvements in accordance with the final plat and engineering plans, as approved, but the final plat shall not be recorded until final acceptance in accordance with § 154.107 below. The issuance of a certificate pursuant to § 154.110 below shall not constitute authorization for recording of the final plat, but shall only be utilized by the developer or subdivider in connection with the construction of public improvements, obtaining financing and public utility connections and other legitimate purposes relating to preparation of the subdivision for final inspection and acceptance.
(Ord. 08-358, passed 11-18-2008)