01/27/2003 Council Packet - Laserfiche WebLink

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• Specific Highlights Premature Subdivision Standards and MUSA Allocation Criteria: These are included in the General Provisions, Sec. 1002. A proposed plat will be compared to these standards to ensure there is adequate infrastructure to support the plat. Several items refer to the City's growth management policy: this is Ordinance 01 -03, which will set out specific methods to monitor growth and keep it at the desired level. Sketch Plan Review: An informal sketch plan step has been added. It is not mandatory but is strongly recommended. We expect most developers will participate. Preliminary Plat: Requirements include a tree preservation plan and a phasing plan. Tree Plan: The tree plan requirements do not mandate preserving a specified number or percentage of trees. Rather, they require a complete inventory of all significant trees on the site. The inventory will indicate which trees will be affected by the development. City staff and the developer will discuss the potential for saving trees, and the plan will then clearly list which trees will be lost and which will be saved. If trees are lost that were designated to be saved, they must be replaced at a 2:1 ratio. Phasing Plan: The required phasing plan for each plat will specify a schedule for the final platting of portions of the development. We then can track exactly how many lots will be created in each of several years in the future. This section links the ordinance to the growth management policy. In fact, there is some overlap. Final Plat: Requirements include bringing final plats through the Planning & Zoning Board as well as the City Council. Because of the importance of the phasing plans, staff thought it a good idea to have the P & Z aware of how the growth management system is working. Both the P & Z and City Council supported a requirement that a specified amount of progress in building out the first phase before subsequent phases can be final platted. The ordinance requires, on the bottom of page 1005.5, that building permits be issued for 40% of the units in the previous phase. Minor Subdivisions: An important change from our current procedures is that the draft ordinance states that minor subdivisions would be reviewed administratively, rather than go through the P & Z and City Council. This change is intended to reduce the time and expense —for the applicant and the City —for relatively simple lot splits. With clear requirements for lot dimensions, wastewater treatment and water facilities, upland minimums, etc., it is clear whether or not a proposed lot split meets City requirements. If the application meets the requirements, it should be approved with little delay. Applicants always have the opportunity to request a variance from the requirements or • appeal the staff decision. A variance or appeal would then go through the P & Z and City Council.