[Amended 6-15-1966 by Ord. No. 1-1988]
A. A preliminary site plan or subdivision plat is intended to serve
as a working document in the development of a final plan or plat and
to provide sufficiently detailed information to allow an informed
decision concerning the overall acceptability of a proposed development.
B. The preliminary site plan or subdivision plat is the basis on which
the required public hearing is held.
[Amended 6-15-1988 by Ord. No. 1-1988]
C. In order to permit the City and the applicant to proceed with some
assurance, approval of the preliminary site plan or subdivision plat
binds the applicant and the City with respect to the following basic
elements of the development to the extent they are revealed by the
approved preliminary plan or plat:
(1) Consistency of the layout or arrangement of the subdivision or land
development with the requirements of the Zoning Ordinance.
(2) Streets in the subdivision or land development of sufficient width
and suitable grade and suitably located to accommodate prospective
traffic and to provide access for fire-fighting and emergency equipment
to buildings and coordinated so as to compose a convenient system
consistent with the Official Map, if any, and the circulation element
of the Master Plan, if any, and so oriented as to permit, consistent
with the reasonable utilization of land, the buildings constructed
thereon to maximize solar gain, provided that no street of a width
greater than 50 feet within the right-of-way lines shall be required
unless said street constitutes an extension of an existing street
of the greater width or already has been shown on the Master Plan
at the greater width or already has been shown in greater width on
the Official Map.
(3) Adequate water supply, drainage, shade trees, sewerage facilities
and other utilities necessary for essential services to residents
and occupants.
(4) Suitable size, shape and location for any area reserved for public
use pursuant to N.J.S.A. 40:55D-44.
(5) Reservation pursuant to N.J.S.A. 40:55D-43 of any open space to be
set aside for use and benefit of the residents of planned development
resulting from the application of standards of density or intensity
of land used contained in the Zoning Ordinance pursuant to N.J.S.A.
40:55D-65c.
(6) Regulation of land designated as subject to flooding pursuant to
N.J.S.A. 40:55D-65e to avoid danger to life or property.
(7) Protection and conservation of soils from erosion by wind or water
or from excavation or grading.
(8) Conformity with standards promulgated by the Commissioner of Transportation,
pursuant to the Air Safety and Hazardous Zoning Act of 1983, N.J.S.A.
6:1-80 et seq., for any airport hazard areas delineated under that
act.
(9) Provisions governing the standards for grading, improvement and construction
of streets or drives and for any required walkways, curbs, gutters,
street lights, shade trees, fire hydrants and water and drainage and
sewerage facilities and other improvements as shall be found necessary
and provisions ensuring that such facilities shall be completed either
prior to or subsequent to final approval of the subdivision or site
plan by allowing the posting of performance bonds by the developer.
(10)
Provisions for off-tract water, sewer, drainage and street improvements
which are necessitated by a subdivision or land development, subject
to the provisions of N.J.S.A. 40:55D-42.
(11)
Provisions ensuring in the case of a development which proposes
construction over a period of years, the protection of the interests
of the public and of the residents, occupants and owners of the proposed
development in the total completion of the development.
(12)
Provisions that require as a condition for local municipal approval
the submission of proof that no taxes or assessments for local improvements
are due or delinquent on the property for which any subdivision, site
plan or planned development application is made.
(13)
Preservation of existing natural resources on the site.
(14)
Safe and efficient vehicular and pedestrian circulation, parking
and loading.
(15)
Screening, landscaping and location of structures.
(16)
Exterior lighting needed for safety reasons in addition to any
requirements for street lighting.
(17)
Conservation of energy and use of renewable energy sources.
[Amended 6-15-1988 by Ord. No. 1-1988]
Prior to the final date for Planning Board action pursuant to §
163-102 below, the Land Use Administrator and each City official or consultant to which the application has been referred shall file a written report thereon with the Planning Board, setting forth recommendations for changes in the plans, if any, and for conditions on approval, if any, necessary to bring such plan into compliance with any applicable federal, state, county or City law, ordinance, regulation, plan or program or to eliminate or minimize any adverse effects of the proposed development on those aspects of the public health, safety and general welfare of the community for which such official or consultant has special responsibility. One copy of each such report shall be filed with the Land Use Administrator and made available to the applicant and other interested persons pursuant to §
163-198J of this Part
5.
[Amended 6-15-1988 by Ord. No. 1-1988]
Upon a submission of a complete application, a public hearing shall be set, noticed and conducted by the Planning Board in accordance with Article
XXXIII of this Part
5.
[Amended 6-15-1988 by Ord. No. 1-1988]
A. Within the time limits established by Subsection
B below and subject to the provisions of §
163-199 of this Part
5, the Planning Board shall render its decision, in the manner and form specified by §
163-23, either granting the application for preliminary site plan/subdivision plat approval; granting it subject to conditions, as specified in §
163-104 below; or denying the application. The failure of the Board to act within the time limits established by Subsection
B below or such longer period of time as may be agreed to by the applicant shall be deemed an approval of the application. Within 10 days following such decision or the expiration of such period, the Land Use Administrator shall publish notice and mail a certificate of such decision or failure to act to all parties entitled thereto as provided by §
163-200 of this Part
5.
B. The Planning Board shall act on an application for preliminary site
plan/subdivision plat approval within the following time periods:
(1)
For developments involving 10 or fewer acres and 10 or fewer
lots, within 45 days following submission of a complete application.
(2)
For developments involving more than 10 acres or more than 10
lots, within 95 days following submission of a complete application.
(3)
For development requiring planned development, conditional use
or variance approval, within the time allowed for such approval if
longer than the time allowed pursuant to the foregoing subsections.
No application for preliminary site plan/subdivision plat approval shall be granted unless the Planning Board shall find that, based on the information presented to it, it is probable that the proposed development would, upon presentation of a final plan or plat pursuant to Article
XXIII hereof, merit approval on the basis of its compliance with each of the standards established for site plan/subdivision plat approval pursuant to §§
163-127 through
163-133 hereof.
Unless the applicant shall fail to timely file a final plan
or plat or shall fail to proceed with development in accordance with
the provisions of this chapter and the preliminary plan or plat as
approved or shall in any other manner fail to comply with any provision
of this chapter or any condition of any approval granted pursuant
to it, a preliminary site plan/subdivision plat which has been approved
or approved subject to conditions which have been accepted by the
applicant shall not be modified, revoked or otherwise impaired, pending
the application for approval of a final site plan/subdivision plat,
by any action of the City without the consent of the applicant.