(a) Presubmission. For the purpose of expediting applications and reducing subdivision design and development costs, the applicant may request a presubmission conference, also known as sketch plat. The applicant should meet in person with the Planning Commission and a representative of the Economic and Community Development Department to discuss the proposed concept for the subdivision. The intent of such a conference is to:
(1) Classify the proposed subdivision as a major or minor subdivision;
(2) Acquaint the applicant with the substantive and procedural requirements of the subdivision ordinance proposal prior to the preparation of a detailed subdivision plat;
(3) Identify policies and regulations that create opportunities or pose significant constraints for the proposed development; and
(4) Review the proposed concept plan and consider opportunities to improve the plan and mitigate undesirable project consequences.
(b) If deemed necessary by the Economic and Community Development Department or Commission, the presubmission applicant may also meet with appropriate municipal representatives. The applicant shall not be bound by the determination of the presubmission conference nor shall the Planning Commission or Economic and Community Development Department be bound by any such review. The applicant may be required to temporarily stake the property so that the Economic and Community Development Department or Commission can make a field trip to the subdivision site. The applicant shall provide the following documents as part of the presubmission conference:
(1) Application form and disclosure statement.
(2) Copies of all prior actions of the City Council, Planning Commission, and all other municipal entities concerning the property proposed to be subdivided or resubdivided.
(3) Sketch plat (see Section 1305.04 below).
(c) Submission. A subdivision plat shall be prepared by a registered architect, licensed landscape architect, licensed land surveyor, licensed engineer, or professional planner. The subdivision plat shall be submitted to the Planning Commission for approval, according to the procedure detailed below. There shall be two types of subdivision plat approval: one for major subdivisions and one for minor subdivisions.
(d) Fees. All submissions for subdivision approval shall be accompanied by a fee as established by the City Council to pay for the costs of planning, design, and engineering review. The City Council shall adopt, by resolution and from time to time may amend, but not more than once annually, a schedule of fees payable by an applicant for applications brought before the Planning Commission for determination or action. A check, draft or money order, payable to the City of Wheeling, shall accompany the application for preliminary plat approval.
(e) The Planning Commission shall establish rules, regulations, and forms for the administrative processing of subdivision applications. The Economic and Community Development Department shall administer the subdivision planning process. The subdivision application and any related information shall be submitted to the Economic and Community Development Department, which in the case of a major subdivision, shall forward the application to the Planning Commission for action when such application is complete. Within thirty days of receipt of the application, the Economic and Community Development Department shall determine whether said application is deficient. No application shall be accepted by the Planning Commission unless it is complete.
(f) Expiration of process. A subdivision application or approval will be deemed to have expired if:
(1) A preliminary plat is not submitted within six calendar months of a complete sketch plat.
(2) A final plat is not submitted within twelve calendar months of conditional approval of the preliminary plat.
(3) Final construction drawings are not submitted within six calendar months of final plat approval.
(4) Work authorized under final construction drawings is not commenced and diligently pursued within thirty months of the acceptance of the final construction drawings by the City Engineer.