§ 3-7. Preliminary plat review and approval procedures.

3-7.1.

Submission requirements. A preliminary plat is required for any major subdivision, except for a major subdivision that does not require new right-of-way, new street construction, or new utilities. The preliminary plat must be reviewed by the administrator and TRC before an application is submitted for its approval by the planning commission. The preliminary plat plan shall be drawn at a scale of one inch to one hundred feet or as approved by the administrator.

The preliminary plat shall conform to the following requirements:

(A)

The applicant shall submit paper copies of the preliminary plat in sufficient number, as determined by the administrator, at least two weeks before the regularly scheduled TRC meeting date. The administrator shall establish annually the meeting date and submission deadline for each month's TRC regular meeting.

(B)

After review by the TRC, the applicant shall submit paper copies of the preliminary plat in sufficient number, as determined by the administrator, at least four weeks before the regularly scheduled planning commission meeting date. In consultation with the Chair of the planning commission, the administrator shall establish annually the meeting date and submission deadline for each month's planning commission regular meeting.

3-7.2.

Preliminary plat contents. The preliminary plat shall contain the following information:

(A)

The name of the subdivision, which name shall not duplicate the name of any existing subdivision;

(B)

The name, address, and telephone number of the subdivision owner or owners;

(C)

The township, county and state where the subdivision is located;

(D)

The name, address, and telephone number of the surveyor, surveyor's registration number, and the date of survey;

(E)

A graphic scale showing, in feet, the scale to which the plat is drawn;

(F)

A sketch vicinity map showing the location of the subdivision in relation to neighboring tracts, subdivisions, streets and waterways;

(G)

Total acreage to be subdivided, minimum lot size, street and lot layout, and acreage left in open spaces or other uses;

(H)

The name, address and telephone number of the developer;

(I)

Streets and lots of adjacent developed or platted properties;

(J)

Zoning classifications of the tract and of adjacent properties, if applicable;

(K)

Areas of environmental concern; and

(L)

All of the additional information required by NCGS § 47-30, NCGS § 39-32.3, and Appendix A.

3-7.3.

Administrator and TRC review. Upon receipt of the appropriate fees and a complete preliminary plat that meets the requirements of this ordinance, the administrator shall schedule the preliminary plat for review at the next available TRC meeting for which the submission deadline has not expired. The deadline for submission of the preliminary plat shall be two weeks before the regularly-scheduled TRC meeting date.

Following the TRC review, the Administrator shall forward the staff's findings and recommendations to the planning commission at least five days prior to the planning commission meeting. If the administrator determines that the plat is incomplete, the administrator shall notify the applicant of the deficiencies. Plats shall not be forwarded to the planning commission until all deficiencies have been corrected.

Preliminary plat review by the TRC shall be valid for a period of 12 (twelve) months from the date of review by the TRC. If a preliminary plat review by the TRC has elapsed, it cannot be used as the basis for a preliminary plat to be approved by the Planning Commission until it has been resubmitted to the TRC and rereviewed in accordance with the most current provisions of this ordinance. Preliminary plats reviewed by the TRC before the effective date of this section shall be valid for a period of 12 (twelve) months from the effective date of this section. In no case shall the total duration of all preliminary plat review validities exceed 5 (five) years, except for preliminary plats reviewed by the TRC before the effective date of this section. Preliminary plats whose review has elapsed shall be resubmitted in accordance with the provisions of this ordinance. Resubmitted preliminary plats shall conform to the current requirements of these subdivision regulations.

3-7.4.

Planning commission review and action. Upon receipt of the appropriate fees and a complete preliminary plat that meets the requirements of this ordinance, the administrator shall schedule the preliminary plat for review at the next available planning commission meeting for which the submission deadline has not expired. The deadline for submission of the preliminary plat shall be four weeks before the regularly-scheduled planning commission meeting date.

The planning commission shall review the preliminary plat and the findings and recommendations of the administrator and TRC, and any other reports or recommendations pertaining to the plat and shall approve, approve with conditions, or disapprove the preliminary plat. The planning commission shall review and take action on each preliminary plat within 45 days after first consideration by the planning commission. If the planning commission tables the preliminary plat for any length of time, that shall be considered to be taking action on the preliminary plat.

(A)

Approval of the preliminary plat is authorization for the applicant to proceed with the construction of the necessary improvements. Preliminary approval shall be valid for a period of 12 (twelve) months from the date of approval of the plat by the planning commission, unless an extension of time is applied for and granted by the planning commission or unless a longer time period is established under applicable vested rights provisions. In no case shall the total duration of preliminary plat approval exceed 5 (five) years. If a preliminary plat approval by the planning commission has elapsed, it cannot be used as the basis for a final plat until it has been resubmitted to the planning commission and rereviewed in accordance with the most current provisions of this ordinance. Preliminary plats whose approval has elapsed shall be resubmitted in accordance with the provisions of this section.

Preliminary plats approved by the planning commission before the effective date of this section shall be valid for a period of 12 (twelve) months from the effective date of this section. In no case shall the total duration of all preliminary plat approvals exceed 5 (five) years, except for preliminary plats reviewed by the planning commission before the effective date of this section. Resubmitted plats shall conform to the current requirements of these subdivision regulations.

(B)

If the planning commission conditionally approves the preliminary plat, the conditions and reasons thereof shall be stated in writing.

(C)

If the planning commission disapproves the preliminary plat, the reasons for disapproval shall be stated in writing and reference shall be made to the specific section(s) of these subdivision regulations with which the plat does not comply. The applicant may make the recommended revisions and submit a revised preliminary.

(Amd. of 2-18-08(3); Ord. of 2-18-08(7); Amend. of 11-16-15(1))