(A) Preliminary plat. After a pre-application meeting, if desired, with the Department of Planning, the subdivider shall submit preliminary plats to the Department of Planning for review so that general agreement may be reached on the layout, arrangement, and design of streets and parcels before development begins and a final plat is prepared.
(1) Purpose. The purpose of the preliminary plat is:
(a) To allow the Department of Planning staff and other city staff the opportunity to make technical comments relative to the proposed development; and
(b) To examine compliance with state and city subdivision requirements.
(2) Size and quantity. The subdivider shall submit 14 preliminary plats plus one additional copy per landowner affected by the subdivision, unless otherwise determined by the Department of Planning. All plats shall be submitted on good-quality reproducible material at least 24 inches by 36 inches in size, but not greater than 30 inches by 42 inches in size. A scale of 100 feet to the inch or in equal 100 foot increments shall be used, unless a different scale is approved by the Department of Planning.
(3) Requirements. The following information shall be included in the preliminary plat submittal:
(a) A written application on forms provided by the Department of Planning;
(b) A certificate to plat as proof of ownership;
(c) Any variances to or relief sought towards subdivision improvements; and
(d) Copies of the proposed preliminary plat which shall show the following:
1. Title block;
2. Subdivision name, in accordance with the following standards:
a. Subdivision names should consider names representative of native history and reflective of the growth of our area and community;
b. Names shall not duplicate existing, approved subdivision names within the city or the Aleutian Island Recording District;
c. Subdivisions may not be named or designated so that any plat, subdivision or street within the city has a name sounding similar to or identical to the subdivision name;
d. Subdivision names beginning with the article “A”, “An” or “The” or the use of hyphens and other nonalphabetic characters shall not be permitted.
e. Subdivision names containing initials or abbreviations shall not be permitted;
f. The use of Roman numerals shall not be permitted in subdivision names;
g. When a subdivision shares a common border with a previously recorded plat and is considered a continuation of the same subdivision, the subdivision name shall appear first followed by “Phase” or “Addition”. Associated numbers after these terms shall be sequential;
h. Replats shall typically be named by the parent plat followed by “Replat #” where # is sequential numbering of replats in a plat.
3. Scale;
4. North arrow;
5. Date of survey;
6. Latest date of plat preparation;
7. Subdivider's name and address;
8. Surveyor's or other preparer's address;
9. Description of parcel being subdivided;
10. Sheet number;
11. Total area of proposed subdivision;
12. Vicinity map, showing the following:
a. Scale of one-inch equals one mile showing 20-square-mile area minimum;
b. Townships, ranges and sections; and
c. Principal road systems, major water bodies, mean high tide lines and/or watercourses, and location of proposed subdivisions;
13. Setback lines for each newly created lot;
14. Contour lines at two-foot intervals for each newly created lot;
15. The parent parcel from which the subdivision is being created;
16. Publicly dedicated right-of-ways, street names, patent reservations, road easements, section line easements and other easements or reservations of record within the proposed subdivision boundaries showing their location, dimensions, and purposes;
17. Adjacent property lines shown as dashed lines to show their general relation to the proposed plat;
18. Adjacent unsubdivided property and/or adjacent property's associated names and plat recordation numbers;
19. Location of existing facilities and structures within the proposed subdivision such as buildings, electric, sewerage and water systems, utility easements of record or in use, excavations, bridges, culverts, and wells;
20. The proposed location of streets, water, sanitary and storm sewers, drainage facilities, and other public improvements, uses, right-of-ways, and easements containing enough information and specifications to enable the Department of Planning to make a preliminary determination as to applicable city and State of Alaska standards;
21. Designation of proposed public areas;
22. Standard City of Unalaska plat notes regarding base zoning district requirements (minimum setbacks, maximum lot coverage and building height), drainage, utilities, travelway, encroachments, etc., which may be obtained from the Department of Planning.
23. If property is zoned Single-Family/Duplex, Moderate-Density Residential, or High Density Residential and if lots proposed are between 6,000 and 10,000 square feet, the following shall be included with the preliminary plat:
a. If determined by the Department of Public Works to be warranted due to the existing topography, a note shall be added to the plat that a minimum 9 foot by 20 foot approach shall be provided with a slope of 5% or less at the foot of the driveway. Anticipated locations of the approach shall be identified on the preliminary plat;
b. Parking areas shall be identified to indicate full compliance with § 8.12.170(K) Off-street parking requirements;
c. Drainage plan shall be provided if determined by the Department of Public Works to be necessary per § 8.08.100(B)(7) Drainage.
(4) Procedure.
(a) The subdivider shall submit all copies of the preliminary plat and plat application to the Department of Planning at least 60 days in advance of the preliminary plat public hearing.
(b) The Department of Planning shall solicit comments on the preliminary plat from the Department of Public Works and the Department of Public Utilities before taking action on the plat.
(c) The approval of a preliminary plat does not constitute approval of the subdivision, but only authorizes the applicant to proceed to prepare a final plat. Approval of a final plat may be given only after approval of the preliminary plat and only while the approval of the preliminary plat remains effective.
(d) Approval of a preliminary plat shall be for a period of 12 months, unless the associated final plat has been submitted to the Department of Planning for review and approval prior to the deadline. The Platting Authority may grant one extension of time not to exceed 12 months upon a finding that it is in the public interest to do so provided a written request for an extension together with the reasons why an extension is desired is submitted to the Department of Planning by the subdivider prior to the deadline. An updated Title Search/Certification to plat shall be submitted to the Department of Planning at the time an extension is requested.
(B) Final plat. After approval of the preliminary plat and compliance with any and all conditions on the approval of a preliminary plat, the subdivider shall submit a final plat for approval.
(1) Purpose. The purpose of final plat submittal is:
(a) To provide a final plat that meets the city platting requirements and Board conditions of preliminary plat approval; and
(b) To obtain final signatures of approval.
(2) Size and quality. All final plats shall be submitted on good-quality reproducible material at least 24 inches by 36 inches in size, but not greater than 30 inches by 42 inches in size. All lines and printing shall be made with non-fading black ink, using a scale of 100 feet to the inch or in equal 100 foot increments unless a different scale is approved by the Department of Planning. The use of typewritten transparent paste-on materials, such as Dulseal, is not acceptable. A good readable-quality reverse-reading direct-positive mylar photocopy at 100% scale is permissible. Reproductive mylars duplicated by ammonia process are not acceptable due to lack of definition, inferior reproductive capability, and short storage life.
(3) Requirements. The following information shall be included in the final plat submittal:
(a) The date, scale and north arrow;
(b) Basis of bearing must be shown with a direct tie to existing monumentation and area of the parcel or parcels being platted;
(c) A closure report, deed check or map check is required to be submitted to verify that the final plat closed mathematically. Acceptable Relative Positional Precision for a survey in Unalaska shall be in accordance with the precision standards as published in the current adopted “Minimum Standard Detail Requirements for ALTA/ASCM (American Land Title Association/American Congress on Surveying and Mapping) Land Title Surveys.”
(d) Within the subdivision, the final plat shall show the center lines of all streets; lengths, tangents, radii, and central angles of all curves; the total width of the portion being dedicated; and the width of existing dedications; width of portions of streets each side of the center line; and the width of right-of-way, patent reserves, flood control, and drainage channels, and any other easements appearing on the plat;
(e) The width, bearing, and other data necessary to delineate all easements to which the lots are subject. If the easement is not shown on the plat, a statement referring to the easement shall appear on the plat. Easements for storm drains, sewers, utilities, and other purposes shall be denoted by broken lines;
(f) The exact boundaries of all areas to be dedicated or reserved for public use or for the common use of property owners. The purpose of the dedication or reservation shall be set forth on the plat;
(g) The exact locations, dimensions and areas of all vacation activities;
(h) All lot and block numbers. Sufficient data shall be shown to determine readily the bearing and distance of each line;
(i) All publicly dedicated right-of-ways and names of right-of-ways;
(j) The names, plat numbers, and lot numbers of adjacent subdivisions. If the adjacent land is not subdivided, it should be so noted on the plat;
(k) All distances shall be shown in feet and to the nearest one-hundredth foot, in accordance with the definition of a foot adopted by the United States Bureau of Standards. All measurements shall refer to the horizontal plane; and
(l) The course of every boundary line shown on the plat shall be indicated by a direct bearing reference. All bearings shown shall be given to the nearest degree, minute, and second of arc; and
(m) Face details of one primary and one typical monument set.
(4) Subdivision monumentation. Two exterior corners of the subdivision shall be permanently monumented with a primary monument which shall have a minimum 2-inch- diameter metal pipe at least 30 inches long with a flanged bottom and a minimum 2-1/2-inch cap and which must have magnetic qualities. Each subdivision shall have at least one new primary monument set at the time of survey. All block and lot corners, angle points, or curves, and any other intermediate points deemed necessary by the Platting Authority shall be monumented with a 5/8 × 30 rod with identifying cap firmly set. The faces of all monuments shall be, at a minimum, stamped and have the surveyor's registration number and the year set. Where the surface of the face of the monument is sufficient, other identifying information concerning the monument should be stamped upon it.
(a) One new primary monument set at time of survey shall also be identified per city coordinate system, except when mandated to be identified by NAD83, Alaska State Plane, Zone 10, U.S. foot coordinates or other systems per state or federal regulations, or as required by the Director of Planning.
(b) One monument within the subdivision shall show a tie to one of the existing city control monuments with a bearing and distance. A list of city control monuments is available from the Department of Planning.
(c) Surveyor shall field locate with city staff the primary monument(s) set.
(5) Certificates and affidavits. The following certificates and affidavits shall be placed on the final plat when submitted by the subdivider for approval:
(a) A notarized certificate from the owners of the subdivision stating ownership, acknowledging all dedications, and describing all easements for the purpose dedicated;
(b) A certificate by the surveyor attesting to the accuracy of the survey and the installation and correct location of all monuments required;
(c) A tax certificate from the city stating that all taxes levied against the property at that date have been paid;
(d) A guarantee of improvements if required public improvements have not been completed at the date of submittal of the final plat; and
(e) A Certificate of Approval from the city to be signed by the Platting Authority and attested by the City Clerk, and notarized.
(6) Procedure.
(a) The subdivider shall submit one mylar with the surveyor's signature, and owner's signature with proper notarization to the Department of Planning for approval. A final plat public hearing may be held at the discretion of the Director of Planning.
(b) Approval of a final plat shall be for a period of twelve months, provided, however, that the Platting Authority may grant an extension of time for filing the final plat upon a finding that it is in the public interest to do so.
(c) The Platting Authority shall approve, return to the subdivider for modification, or disapprove the final plat within sixty days of its submittal. The Platting Authority shall return a written copy of its decision to modify or disapprove the final submittal to the subdivider. The subdivider may consent to an extension of a period of action by the Board.
(d) All copies of any approved final plat shall be provided to the Department of Planning which shall file the original with the Aleutian Island Recording District. When conforming copies are returned, the city shall retain one copy for its records and return one copy to the landowner and two copies to the surveyor of record.
(e) Monumentation required by the Platting Authority and as shown on the final approved plat shall be set in the ground no later than 30 days after final approval is given and shall be field verified by the Department of Planning. If a plat is not accepted for recordation by the Aleutian Islands Recording District, and subsequent attempts at recordation fail, no monuments shall be set, or monumentation that is set shall be removed from the ground no later than 30 days from the date of the last denial of recordation. Where a plat applicant elects to withdraw a plat, any monuments already set must be pulled from the ground no later than 30 days from the date of plat withdrawal.
(f) An electronic version of the final plat in a format approved by the Platting Authority shall be provided to the Department of Planning at the time of mylar submittal.
(C) Alteration of plat or replat. Alteration of plat or replat petitions shall be submitted, heard, and determined as discussed in § 8.08.070 and as follows:
(1) Alteration or replat petition. A recorded plat may not be altered or replatted except by application of the owner(s) of the land(s) or a majority of the owners of the land which would be affected by the alteration or replat. A platted street may not be vacated except on petition of owners of a majority of the land fronting the part of the street sought to be vacated. The application shall be filed with the Department of Planning.
(Ord. No. 2001-04, passed 5-8-01; Am. Ord. 2005-09, passed 4-26-05; Am. Ord. 2012-07, passed 9-11-12)