(A) Application for preliminary site plan approval. Application for preliminary development plan approval shall be made to the Planning Commission no less than 30 days prior to the next regularly scheduled Planning Commission meeting and shall be accompanied by 12 copies of the following information prepared by a civil engineer registered in the State of Ohio:
(1) An area map showing the applicant's entire holding, that portion of the applicant's property under consideration, and all properties, subdivisions, streets and easements within 200 feet of applicant's property.
(2) A topographic map showing contour intervals of not more than five feet of elevation shall be provided.
(3) A preliminary development plan including the following information:
(a) Title of drawing, including name and address of applicant;
(b) North point, scale and date;
(c) Boundaries of the property plotted to scale;
(d) Existing watercourses;
(e) A development plan showing location, proposed use and height of all buildings; location of all buildings; location of all parking and truck loading areas, with ingress and egress drives thereto; location and proposed development of all open spaces, including parks, playgrounds, and open reservations; location of outdoor storage, if any; location of all existing or proposed site improvements, including drains, culverts, retaining walls and fences; descriptions of method of sewage disposal and location of such facilities; location and size of all signs; location and design of street and parking lighting, and the amount of building area proposed for residential and non-residential uses, if any;
(f) A transparent overlay showing all soils, areas, and their classifications, and those areas, if any, with moderate to high susceptibility to flooding and moderate to high susceptibility to erosion. For areas with potential erosion problems, the overlay shall also include an outline and description of existing vegetation and tree coverage; and
(g) The zoning district designation for all abutting properties.
(4) A traffic impact study shall be required as provided for in § 153.166.
(5) A conceptual landscape plan shall be provided addressing any project gateways, streetscaping, buffer plantings, screening or other required landscape or buffer elements.
(6) The floor plans, elevations and cross sections for all buildings proposed for the project.
(B) Factors for consideration. The Planning Commission may call upon other public and/or private consultants necessary to provide a sound review of the plan. The Planning Commission review of a preliminary development plan shall include but is not limited to, the following considerations:
(1) Adequacy and arrangement of vehicular traffic access and circulation, including intersections, road widths, channelization structures and traffic controls;
(2) Adequacy and arrangement of pedestrian traffic access and circulation including: separation of pedestrian from vehicular traffic and pedestrian convenience;
(3) Location, arrangement, appearance and sufficiency of off-street parking and loading;
(4) Location, arrangement, size and placement of the lot layout, buildings and lighting;
(5) Arrangement of landscape features;
(6) Adequacy of storm water and sanitary waste disposal facilities;
(7) Adequacy of structures, roadways in areas with moderate to high susceptibility to flooding and ponding and/or erosion;
(8) Conference with other specific changes of the Council which may have been stated in the zoning resolution; and
(9) In its review, the Planning Commission may consult with representatives of county, federal and state agencies (including the Soil Conservation Service and the Department of Conservation). The Planning Commission may also require such additional provisions and conditions that appear necessary for the public health, safety and general welfare.
(C) Planning Commission action. Within 60 days of the receipt of the application for preliminary development plan approval, the Planning Commission shall act on it by holding a public hearing pursuant to the procedure set forth in § 153.034. If no public hearing has been set within the 60-day period, the preliminary development plan shall be considered conditionally approved. After a public hearing has been held, the Planning Commission shall issue a formal recommendation to the City Council regarding the planned unit development application. Planning Commission shall either issue one of the following recommendations: recommend approval, recommend approval with conditions and recommend denial.
(D) City Council action. Within 60 days of the issuance of the Planning Commission recommendation, the City Council shall act on the application by holding a public hearing pursuant to the procedure set forth in the City Charter. Following the public hearing, Council shall either approve, disapprove or modify the preliminary development plan in conformity with regulations, standards, criteria and purpose prescribed by this Zoning Code. Council may affirm the recommendation of the Planning Commission or disapprove a favorable recommendation of the Planning Commission by a majority vote of its members. If Council reverses a decision of the Commission recommending disapproval of a preliminary development plan, it may only do so by the affirmative vote of two thirds of the members elected or appointed to Council.
(E) Request for changes in the preliminary development plan. If, in the site development, it becomes apparent that certain elements of the plan, as it has been approved by the Council, are not feasible and are in need of significant modification, the applicant shall then present his or her solution to the Planning Commission as his or her preliminary site development plan in accordance with the above procedures including the public hearing requirements. The Planning Commission shall then determine whether or not the modified plan is still consistent with the "intent" of this Zoning Code.
(Ord. 2732, passed 5-19-94; Am. Ord. 09-3306, passed 10-15-09)