(A) Submission procedure.
(1) For every subdivision within the territorial jurisdiction established by § 152.048, which does not qualify for the abbreviated procedure, the subdivider shall submit a preliminary plat which shall be reviewed by the Planning Board and approved by the Planning Board before any construction or installation of improvements may begin. (The "abbreviated procedure" is a reference to the minor subdivision process. There is no other abbreviated process or procedure available.)
(2) The preliminary plat shall be consistent in concept with the previously submitted and approved sketch plan. The preliminary plat may constitute a portion of the sketch plan.
(3) Twelve copies of the preliminary plat (as well as any additional copies which the Subdivision Administrator determines are needed to be sent to other agencies) shall be submitted to the administrator of this chapter at least 20 days prior to the Planning Board meeting at which the subdivider desires the Planning Board to review the preliminary plat.
(B) Review by other agencies. After having received the preliminary plat from the subdivider, the Subdivision Administrator shall submit copies of the preliminary plat and any accompanying material to other officials and agencies concerned with new development including, but not limited to:
(1) Technical Review Committee consisting of the Town Administrator and appropriate town departmental heads and, if deemed appropriate, a professional engineer or surveyor who shall confirm the accuracy of the preliminary plat and shall provide comments on technical data. The costs shall be charged to the subdivider;
(2) County Health Director, or local public utility, as appropriate, as to proposed water or sewerage systems;
(3) County Board of Education;
(4) The District Highway Engineer of the NCDOT as to proposed state streets, state highways, and related drainage systems;
(5) County Soil Conservation Service Office; and
(6) U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Wilmington, North Carolina.
(C) Review procedure.
(1) The Planning Board shall not approve the preliminary plat and final plat of the same subdivision at the same meeting. The Planning Board shall review the preliminary plat at or before its next regularly scheduled meeting which follows at least 30 days after the Subdivision Administrator receives the preliminary plat and the comments from the appropriate agencies.
(2) The Planning Board shall, in writing, recommend approval, conditional approval with recommended changes to bring the plat into compliance, or disapproval with reasons within 60 days of its first consideration of the plat.
(3) If the Planning Board recommends approval of the preliminary plat, it shall retain one copy of the plat for its minutes and return one copy of the plat to the subdivider.
(4) If the Planning Board recommends conditional approval of the preliminary plat it shall keep one copy of the plat for its minutes and return the remaining copy of the plat and its recommendation to the subdivider.
(5) If the Planning Board recommends disapproval of the preliminary plat, it shall retain one copy of the plat for its minutes and return one copy of the plat and its recommendation to the subdivider.
(6) If the preliminary plat is disapproved, the subdivider may make the recommended changes and submit a revised preliminary plat or appeal the decision to the Town Board.
(7) If the Planning Board does not make a written recommendation within 60 days after its first consideration of the plat, the subdivider may apply to the Town Board for approval.
(8) Appeals of any decisions may be made in accordance with the provisions of § 152.075 herein.
(9) The approvals and disapprovals set forth in this section shall be communicated by the officer making the determination who shall in turn give written notice to the owner of the property that is the subject of the determination and to the party who sought the determination, if different from the owner. The written notice shall be delivered by personal delivery, electronic mail, or by first-class mail. The notice shall be delivered to the last address listed for the owner of the affected property on the county tax abstract and to the address provided in the application or request for a determination if the party seeking the determination is different from the owner.
(Ord. passed 11-21-2000; Ord. 2021-03, passed 6-8-2021)