Subd. 1. Sketch plan. In order to insure that all applicants are informed of the procedural requirements and minimum standards of this chapter, and the requirements or limitations imposed by other city ordinances or plans prior to the development of a preliminary plat, all applicants shall present a sketch plan to the Zoning Administrator prior to filing a preliminary plat.
Subd. 2. Preliminary Plat.
a. Filing. Five copies of the preliminary plat shall be submitted to the Zoning Administrator. The required filing fee as established by City Code § 1301.03 shall be paid and any necessary applications for variances from the provisions of this chapter shall be submitted with the required fee. The plan shall be considered as being officially submitted when all the information requirements have been complied with.
b. Public hearing. Upon receipt of the subdivision application, the Zoning Administrator shall set a public hearing for public review of the preliminary plat. The hearing shall be established once adequate time has been allowed for staff and advisory body review of the plat. The Planning Commission shall conduct the hearing and report its findings and make recommendations to the City Council. Notice of the hearing shall contain a legal property description, description of request detailing property location and be published in the official newspaper no more than 30 and no less than ten days prior to the hearing. Written notification of the hearing shall be mailed no more than 30 and no less than ten days prior to the hearing to all owners of land within 750 feet of the boundary of the property in question.
c. Technical assistance reports. The Zoning Administrator shall instruct the appropriate staff persons to prepare technical reports and provide general assistance in preparing a recommendation to the Planning Commission and City Council.
d. Review by other commissions or jurisdictions. The Zoning Administrator shall refer copies of the preliminary plat to the Park Commission, county, metropolitan, state or other public jurisdictions for their review and comment, where appropriate and when required.
e. Planning Commission action. The Planning Commission shall make a recommendation to the City Council immediately following the close of the public hearing. If the Planning Commission has not acted upon the preliminary plat within 60 days from the opening of the public hearing, the Council may act on the preliminary plat without the Planning Commission’s recommendation.
f. City Council action.
(1) If all requirements of this chapter and those that may be additionally imposed by the Planning Commission are complied with, the Council shall act upon the preliminary plat and may impose conditions and restrictions, which are deemed necessary, within 60 days of the date of the close of the Planning Commission’s public hearing. A request for a time extension of the City Council’s review process may be granted by the City Council, if requested in writing by the applicant.
(2) If the preliminary plat is not approved by the City Council, the reasons for the action shall be recorded in the proceedings of the Council and transmitted in writing to the applicant. If the preliminary plat is approved, the approval shall not constitute final acceptance of the layout. Subsequent approval will be required of the engineering proposals and other features and requirements as specified by this chapter to be indicated on the final plat. The City Council may require the revisions in the preliminary plat and final plat as it deems necessary for the health, safety and general welfare of those living in and near the city.
(3) If the preliminary plat is approved by the City Council, the subdivider must submit the final plat within 180 days after the approval or approval of the preliminary plat shall be considered void, unless a request for time extension is submitted in writing and approved by the City Council prior to expiration of the 180 day period. A reasonable time extension will be considered by the City Council, if circumstances requiring the extension are beyond the control of the applicant.
Subd. 3. Final Plat.
a. Filing. After the preliminary plat has been approved, the applicant must file a request, supportive information and the final plat with the Zoning Administrator at least 20 days prior to the City Council meeting at which the final request is to be considered. This must be done within 180 days from the date of preliminary plat approval. If a request for final plat is not made within this period of time, the approval of the preliminary plat is void and the applicant must reapply for preliminary plat approval, unless an extension of time has been formally approved by the City Council. The final plat may constitute only that portion of the preliminary plat which the subdivider proposes to record and develop at the time.
b. Approval of the City Council. If accepted and all fees for processing the application have been paid, the final plat shall be approved by resolution within 60 days of the date of the meeting at which the final plat was received. The resolution shall provide for the acceptance of all agreements for basic improvements, public dedication and other requirements as indicated by the City Council. If denied, the grounds for any refusal to approve a plat shall be set forth in the proceedings of the Council and reported to the person or persons applying for the approval.
c. Recording Final Plat. If the final plat is approved by the City Council, the subdivider shall record it with the Hennepin County Recorder within 30 days after the approval or approval of the final plat shall be considered void, unless a request for time extension is submitted in writing and approved by the City Council. The subdivider shall, prior to recording, furnish the Zoning Administrator with three blackline prints and a reproducible mylar of the final plat. Upon recording the plat the subdivider shall provide the Zoning Administrator with evidence of the recording. No building permits shall be issued for construction of any structure on any lot in the plat until the city has received evidence of the plat being recorded by Hennepin County.
(Am. Ord. 380, passed 2-11-2002; Am. Ord. 550, passed - -2018)