(A) Procedures.
(1) Except as provided in division (B) below, when land in the city is proposed to be subdivided, the owner of the land or the owner’s authorized representative must apply for and secure approval of the proposed subdivision in accordance with the following procedure:
(a) Sketch plat (optional);
(b) Preliminary plat; and
(c) Final plat.
(2) Subdivision review will be carried out simultaneously and coordinated with applicable flexible zoning regulations and floodplain regulations contained in Chapter 163.
(B) Procedural exceptions.
(1) (a) Combinations of adjacent complete parcels of record may be approved administratively by the director. When a combination is requested for the purpose of obtaining a building permit, or for the purpose of meeting minimum development standards imposed by this section or any other provision of this code, the city must be provided with:
1. Satisfactory evidence that the combination has been recorded with the appropriate county officer;
2. A signed, notarized affidavit stating the purpose for which the combination is requested; and
3. A certified survey of the lots to be combined as deemed necessary by the Director.
(b) When a combination is requested solely for the purpose of receiving a single tax statement for adjacent parcels, the applicant must present satisfactory evidence that the parcels involved are complete parcels of record. There is no fee for a parcel combination.
(2) (a) The division of a parcel of record that was combined for the sole purpose of receiving a single tax statement may be approved administratively by the Director. The applicant must submit:
1. Satisfactory evidence that the previous combination was made solely for the purpose of receiving a single tax statement;
2. Satisfactory evidence that the proposed manner of division corresponds to the legal descriptions of the parcels which existed prior to the combination; and
3. A certified survey of the parcels being divided as deemed necessary by the Director to show the lots in the division meet all current code requirements.
(b) The Director may require that a proposed division of tax combined real estate follow the procedures for either a lot split or a normal subdivision plat. There is no fee for a parcel division.
(3) Lot splits may be approved by submission of a certified survey and legal description indicating the proposed manner of division, provided that the division can be described in fractional or proportional parts by reference to the legal descriptions existing of record on the date of the request. A lot split will not be approved for a parcel described by metes and bounds. Lot splits require City Council approval, following review and recommendation by the Planning Commission. Pursuant to M.S. § 462.358, as it may be amended from time to time, approval of a lot split by the City Council is deemed to include waiver of the prohibitions against conveyance of property as contained in this chapter. Lot splits are approved by the City Council following the same hearing procedures required for a normal subdivision. The Director may waive the technical information requirements of a normal subdivision determined to be unnecessary. The normal preliminary plat and final plat procedures will be waived. The Director may require that a proposed lot split be processed by means of the normal subdivision plat procedure. Submission of a lot split for approval must be accompanied by the same fee required for a plat.
(4) Minor subdivision of platted lots or unplatted property may be approved by means of a certificate of survey, registered land survey or final plat, in lieu of the standard platting procedure. Some of the following provisions of this chapter may be exempted if all of the following conditions exist:
(a) The subdivision will result in no more than three lots;
(b) Conditions on and around the tract to be subdivided are well-defined;
(c) No future streets are needed or proposed to provide access to the newly created lots or to existing lots;
(d) The subdivision will not obstruct planned future streets;
(e) The subdivision will not obstruct future subdivisions on adjoining unplatted lands;
(f) The subdivision meets all lot area and lot dimension requirements and building setback requirements;
(g) No further subdivision is expected. Further subdivision of the tract from which lots were created under this minor subdivision procedure will require following the platting procedures in this chapter; and
(h) Required easements are conveyed to the city in a appropriate manner.
(3) Minor subdivisions require City Council approval, following recommendation by the Planning Commission. Pursuant to M.S. § 462.358, as it may be amended from time to time, approval of a minor subdivision by the City Council is deemed to include waiver of the prohibitions against conveyance of property.
(Ord. 2007-01, passed 2-7-2007; Ord. 20210317-01, passed 3-17-2021)