Town of Elizabeth Subdivision Process (EMC 16.2.10)

(dates are based on 2006 & 2007 calendar years; based on code in effect 7/2006)

 

TASK/ACTION:

DATE:

TIME

PERMITTED or REQUIRED:

TASK

BEGIN DATE:

TASK END DATE:

CUMULATIVE DAYS FROM

SUBMITTAL:

SKETCH PLAN PROCESS (EMC 16.3.40; steps 1-12 following)

1.   Applicant Submits Sketch Plan

       Packet

6/1

 

 

 

 

2.   Staff Reviews Packet for Completeness

6/2

20-working days

(not including

submittal day)

6/2

6/29

29

3.   Application provides complete

      Referral packets to Town

7/5

(received; factor for Holiday)

by 7/5

by 7/5

7/5

(factor for Holiday)

35

4.   Town sends comments to Referral

      Agencies

 

7/6

(mailed)

25-days

7/7

by 7/31

61

5.   Planning Commission Public Hearing

      Notice sent to Newspaper.

7/21

(sent)

Publication 15-days prior to hearing

Published in paper on 7/27

Published in paper on 7/27

51 (PC hearing notice made before Referral comments are in)

6.   Planning Commission Public Hearing

      Notice to Property Owners within

      500’ and on-property (responsibility of

      applicant except Staff prepares documents.)

7/28

 

Notice 15-days

prior to hearing.

by 7/28

by 7/28

58 (PC hearing notice made before Referral comments are in)

                                                                                                                                                                                    (continued)

7.   Planning Commission Sketch

      Plan Public Hearing

 

8/15

 

8/15

8/15

76

8.    Planning Commission Deliberation &

       written Recommendation to Board of

       Trustees. 

9/5

Not indicated.  Typically not realistic for PC to make a recommendation on night of hearing; body needs time to deliberate on public hearing comments, etc.

8/15

9/5

96

9.   Board of Trustees Sketch Plan Public

      Hearing Notice sent to Newspaper.

8/17

Publication 15-days prior to hearing

Published in paper on 8/24

Published in paper on 8/24

85 (BOT hearing notice made before PC hearing)

10.   Board of Trustees Sketch Public Hearing

      Notice to Property Owners within

      500’ and on-property (responsibility of

      applicant except Staff prepares documents.)

Sent by

8/28

 

Notice 15-days

prior to hearing.

by 8/28

by 8/28

89 (BOT hearing notice sent potentially before PC recommendation to BOT)

11.  Board of Trustees Public Hearing

9/12

Not indicated, but scheduling of Board of Trustee hearing dependent on their agenda load.

9/12

9/12

 

103

12.  Board of Trustees Decision/Ordinance

       (end of Sketch Plan)

9/26

Not indicated.  Standard procedure is not to approve a Sketch Plan the night of hearing.

9/26

9/26

End Sketch Plan = 117days

(17-weeks)

(3.8-months)

 

                                                                                                                                                                                    (continued)


PRELIMINARY PLAT PROCESS (EMC 16.3.50 steps 13-25 following; continued from Sketch Plan)

13.  Applicant Submits Preliminary Plat

       Packet

10/26

(4-weeks after Sketch Plan is approved)

 

 

 

147

14.  Staff Reviews Packet for Completeness

11/15

20-working days

(not including

submittal day)

10/27

11/15

167

15.  Application provides complete P. Plat

       Referral packets to Town

11/27

 

Bare minimum 10-days from review for completeness & notification of completeness.

By 11/27

By 11/27

(note holiday interruption)

179

16.  Town sends application to Referral

       Agencies

 

11/28

(mailed)

25-days; potential 30-day extension

by 12/27

by 12/27

(note holiday interruption)

204

(assuming 25-day receipt of comments)

17.  Planning Commission Review of Referral

       Comments

˝/2007 to 1/12/2007

9-days for PC review

By 1/12/2007

By 1/12/2007

220

18.   Planning Commission Public Hearing

        Notice sent to Newspaper.

12/22/06

Publication 15-days prior to hearing

Published in paper on 12/28/06

Published in paper on 12/28/06

205 (PC hearing notice made before Referral comments are in)

19.   Planning Commission Public Hearing

        Notice to Property Owners within

        500’ and on-property (responsibility of

        applicant except Staff prepares

        documents.)

12/29/06

 

Notice 15-days

prior to hearing.

By 12/29

by 12/29

206 (PC hearing notice made before review of Referral Comments)

                                                                                                                                                                                    (continued)

 

 

20.  Planning Commission Preliminary Plat

       Public Hearing

 

1/16/07

 

1/16/07

1/16/07

224

21. Planning Commission Deliberation &

       written Recommendation to Board of

       Trustees. 

2/6/07

Typically not realistic for PC to make a recommendation on night of hearing; body needs time to deliberate on public hearing comments, etc.

by 2/6/07

by 2/6/07

245

22. Board of Trustees Sketch Plan Public

      Hearing Notice sent to Newspaper.

by 1/18

Publication 15-days prior to hearing

Published in paper on 1/25/07

Published in paper on 1/25/07

233 (BOT hearing notice made before receiving PC recommendation)

23.  Board of Trustees Sketch Public Hearing

      Notice to Property Owners within

      500’ and on-property (responsibility of

      applicant except Staff prepares documents.)

Sent by

1/26/07

 

Notice 15-days

prior to hearing.

by 1/26/07

by 1/26/07

234 (BOT hearing notice sent before PC recommendation to BOT)

24. Board of Trustees Public Hearing

2/13/07

Scheduling of Board of Trustee hearing dependent on their agenda load.

2/13/07

2/13/07

 

252

                                                                                                                                                                                    (continued)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

25.   Board of Trustees Decision on P. Plat.

2/27/07

Typically not realistic for BOT to make a recommendation on night of hearing; body needs time to deliberate on public hearing comments, etc.

2/27/07

2/27/07

End of Preliminary Plat = 266 days

8.6 months

38-weeks

FINAL PLAT PROCESS (EMC 16.3.60; steps 26 through 30 following; continued from Preliminary Plat)

26.   Applicant Submits Final Plat 

        Packet

3/13/07

(assumes 13 working days from PP approval)

 

 

 

280

27.   Staff Reviews Packet for Completeness

3/14

15-working days

(not including

submittal day)

3/14

3/30

296

28.   Staff Sends Final Plat to Engineer &

        Public Works Departments for drainage,

        traffic, & related review.

4/2/07

Minimum 20-working days anticipated.

4/3

4/30

323

29.   Subdivision Agreement completed &

       approved by Town Attorney

5/1/07

Minimum 20-working days anticipated after Engineering Review.

5/1/07

5/29

(note Holiday)

353

                                                                                                                                                                                    (continued)

 

 

 

 

30.   Board of Trustees Final Plat Approval

        (no public hearing required)

6/12/07

 

6/12/07

6/12/07

Final Plat approval = 367 days

12-months

52.4 weeks

                                                                                                                                                                       

NOTES TO SUBDIVISION PROCESS TABLE:

1.         The 367-days indicated for the ‘sample’ Subdivision assumes that the process operates like ‘clockwork’.  Development projects rarely work like ‘clockwork’, and any number of variables can throw the time period off.   Causes for delay, often outside the control of the reviewing authority, are common.    Also note that additional time will be needed for  any projects demanding  special studies, etc.

2.         The Table provides a time-frame for subdivision of land.   It does not account for additional review time that will be necessary if structures are associated with the Subdivision (see Site Plan review process.)  The two processes (Subdivision and Site Plan) can be processed concurrently,  however, applicants should generally anticipate additional review time.    Building permit submittal, review and issuance follows the Subdivision process.

3.         Mechanisms to abbreviate the Subdivision process, for example, pre-anticipation of a Board of Trustee public hearing date when the Planning Commission has not a public hearing, nor reviewed and prepared a recommendation on the Subdivision, are not typically recommended.   Unless a Subdivision is ‘simple and straightforward’ in nature (very rare), the Planning Commission should be provided adequate time for a public hearing, and subsequent review and recommendation, before a Board of Trustee hearing date is fixed.   

4.         The Town of Elizabeth’s subdivision code is long on process and short on substantive guidelines and standards.  Staff strongly supports an update (abbreviation) of the Subdivision Code procedures, as well as an update (embellishment) of code standards.  The latter changes will facilitate securing quality development with less process.