(A) General. The subdivider shall cause to be prepared a preliminary plat by a surveyor or engineer in accordance with this subchapter.
(B) Time for filing and copies required. The subdivider shall file eight blue or black line copies of the plat, along with all accompanying data and exhibits, with the secretary for the city at least 15 days prior to the date at which formal application for the preliminary plat review is made to the City Council. The application must be complete before any review by the city can begin.
(C) Filing fees. Such plat shall be accompanied by a filing fee set forth in the fee schedules adopted by ordinance or resolution. The filing fee is non-refundable and no review or action by the City Council shall be made until the fee is paid.
(D) (1) (a) Once formal application for preliminary plat approval has been made, any substantial
changes to the form or content of any preliminary plat submissions shall be deemed to constitute a new submission, superceding and replacing any prior filing of a preliminary plat or application for preliminary plat approval governing the same tract.
(b) If an applicant makes substantial changes to a preliminary plat solely in response to requests for such changes made in writing by the city, a checking entity, or the City Council, no new filing fee is required.
(2) Hearing dates, deadlines or filing fees applicable to earlier preliminary plat applications or submissions do not apply to new submission or application made pursuant to § 150.281(D)(1). A new filing fee is required for each new submission. New deadlines and hearing schedules shall be established for each new submission or application. New deadlines and hearing schedules shall be established for each new submissions or application.
(E) Form and content. The plat shall be drawn on 24-inch by 36-inch sheets or 18-inch by 24-inch sheets with a binding margin of not less than one and one-half inches on the left side of the sheet and margins on the other three sides of not less than one-half inch. The plat shall be drawn to scale of 100 feet to one inch. When more than one sheet is necessary to accommodate the entire area, an index sheet showing the entire subdivision at an appropriate scale shall be attached to the plat. The plat shall show the following:
(1) Names and addresses of the subdivider, record owner, engineer and/or surveyor.
(2) A copy of the deed shall be attached.
(3) Proposed name of the subdivision, which shall not have the same spelling or be pronounced similar to the name of any other subdivision located within the city.
(4) Names of contiguous subdivisions and the owners of contiguous parcels of unsubdivided land, and an indication of whether or not contiguous properties are platted.
(5) Description, by metes and bounds, of the subdivision.
(6) Primary control points or descriptions, and ties to such control points to which all dimensions, angles, bearings, block numbers and similar dates shall be referred.
(7) Subdivision boundary lines, indicated by heavy lines, and the computed acreage of the subdivision.
(8) Existing features as follows:
(a) The exact location, scaled dimensions, name and description of all existing or recorded streets, alleys, reservations, easements or other public rights-of-way within the subdivision, intersecting or contiguous with its boundaries or forming such boundaries.
(b) The exact location, scaled dimensions, description and name of all existing or recorded residential lots, parks, public areas, permanent structures and other sites within or contiguous with the subdivision.
(c) Location of all trees having a diameter of four inches measured four and one- half feet above the natural grade.
(9) A topographic map, with two-foot contour intervals, meeting national map accuracy standards, showing:
(a) Each location of each major, intermediate and minor waterway, as defined herein; and each type of waterway shall be distinguished from others;
(b) The 100-year and 25-year flood elevations and food plain boundaries;
(c) The two-year floodplain where needed to determine the critical water quality zone required by the provisions of this Code;
(d) Critical water quality zones as required by the provisions of this Code;
(e) Existing topographical features including but not limited to existing faults and fractures along waterways, and sinkholes;
(10) A map or maps showing soil map units, surficial and bedrock geology, faults, sinkholes and other geologic units. Maps may be based on compiled data available from the Soil Conservation Service, U.T. Bureau of Economic Geology, City of Austin Environmental Resource Management Office and U.S. Geological Survey, and shall be complemented by an onsite geological survey conducted by a professional geologist.
(11) A report that includes the following items:
(a) A description of existing topography;
(b) Geologic, soil, and vegetation characteristics;
(c) General description of the proposed changes to the site;
(d) A general description of the temporary measures which shall be utilized for the control of erosion;
(e) General sequencing of construction;
(f) A description and calculation of all impervious cover on the site and for each commercial lot.
(12) General plans for wastewater lines or onsite sewage treatment systems' installation shall be submitted with the preliminary plan and shall include:
(a) The use of minimum construction corridor widths that might disturb subsurface faults and fractures; and
(b) The use of environmental protection measures and vegetative restorations as provided for in the watershed provisions of this Code.
(13) The exact location, scaled dimensions, description and name of all proposed streets, alleys, parks, other public areas, reservations, easements or other rights-of-way, blocks, lots, and other sites within the subdivision.
(14) A preliminary plan of the proposed drainage systems with grade, pipe size, and location of outlet.
(15) A preliminary plan of proposed fills or other structure-elevating techniques, levees, channel modifications, floodwalls, and other methods to overcome flood or erosion-related hazards.
(16) Date of preparation, scale of plat, and north arrow.
(17) A number or letter to identify each lot or site and each block.
(18) Front building setback lines on all lots and sites; side yard building setback lines at street intersections and crosswalk ways.
(19) Landscaping setbacks and buffer zones on all lots except single family residential.
(20) Location of the city limits line, the outer border of the city's extraterritorial jurisdiction, and zoning district boundaries, if they traverse the subdivision, form part of the boundary of the subdivision, or are contiguous to such boundary.
(21) Vicinity sketch or map at a scale of not more than 500 feet to an inch which shall show existing subdivisions, streets, easements, rights-of-way, parks and public facilities in the vicinity, the general drainage plan and ultimate destination of water, and possible storm sewer, water, gas, electric and sanitary sewer connection by arrows.
(22) The certification of a registered professional engineer that the plans and specifications included with the preliminary plat are accurate and of adequate design, and that the preliminary plat is complete.
(23) Special notes or attachments as may be required by other section of this Code.
(24) Description of permanent water quality controls to be established pursuant to § 150.336 or other applicable law. This description would include, but not be limited to, an identification of the location of any controls, the capture depth and volumes to be attained, and the construction material and treatment technology to be used.
(F) Processing of preliminary plat.
(1) The City Council shall appoint an entity to check the preliminary plat as to its conformity with the prevailing master plan, major street plan, land use plan, zoning districts, the standards and specifications set forth by ordinance and Code, and the result of the conceptual presentation between the subdivider and the city pertaining to said plat. The appointed person shall determine whether the proposed plat and all required supporting materials are complete and fees paid.
(2) Within 30 days after a complete preliminary subdivision application has been filed and the required fees paid, the City Council shall consider and take action on the application.
(3) If the City Council disapproves a proposed preliminary plat, it shall reference, in writing, any and all deficiencies of the proposed preliminary plat which were cause for disapproval. The subdivider shall be allowed to submit a revised preliminary plat which resolves the deficiencies on or before 180 days after the disapproval of the preliminary plat. The City Council shall approve or disapprove the revised preliminary plat within thirty days after the complete revised preliminary plat is formally filed. If the subdivider fails to file a revised preliminary plat on or before 180 days after the disapproval of the proposed preliminary plat, the application for review shall be conclusively presumed to have been withdrawn by the applicant.
(4) Approval of a preliminary plat by the City Council shall be deemed an expression of approval of the layout submitted on the preliminary plat as a guide to the installation of streets, water, sewer and other required improvements and utilities and to the preparation of the final or record plat. Approval of a preliminary plat shall not constitute automatic approval of the final plat.
(5) Approval of a preliminary plat by the City Council shall be effective for six months. Any portion or all of the preliminary plat may be subject to modification or revision in light of information previously not brought to the attention of the City Council. If in the light of new or significant information, the City Council should require revisions to a previously approved preliminary plat, it shall so inform the subdivider in writing.
(6) If no development has occurred which would affect the proposed plat, after six months of effective approval, the City Council may, upon the application of the subdivider, extend the approval for an additional six months.
(7) In no case shall any development commence prior to City Council approval of the preliminary plat.
(8) Notice.
(a) Written notice of a proposed subdivision or confirming plat shall be given to owners of real property lying within 500 feet of the boundaries of the property to be subdivided. Such notice shall be given not less than ten days prior to the date set for City Council review to all owners who have rendered their said property for city taxes as the ownership appears on the last approved city tax rolls.
(b) Every notice required by this chapter may be served by delivering a copy of the notice to the person to be served, or his duly authorized agent either in person or by registered or certified mail to his last known address, or it may be given in such other manner reasonably calculated to give notice, if approved by the City Council. Whenever the notice is served by mail, three days shall be added to the prescribed period.
(c) The notice, document, or paper shall consist of:
1. A written statement in plain and concise language sufficient to give fair notice of the proposed subdivision and any variance requested;
2. Information as to where the plat or variance of such subdivision may be inspected; and
3. The date, time, and location of the City Council review on such application.
(d) Should the City Council deem it necessary, ten days prior to the hearing of any application for a subdivision, the applicant shall place a sign(s) on the property easily visible to the public for the purposes of advising the public of the subdivision proposed. All required signs shall remain on the property until after final disposition of the application.