The Town Board makes the following legislative findings:
A. Development review processes should be easily understood and well
structured, and only involve those steps and requirements that are
needed to properly review the application. Excessive procedural requirements
add unnecessary costs to development projects.
B. Enforcing the rules and regulations contained in this code is an
important function of government.
The development review requirements and procedures in this code
are intended to:
A. Provide efficient and timely review of applications and ensure fairness
and due process;
B. Ensure that applications are reviewed consistently by establishing
decision criteria in making recommendations and final decisions; and
C. Ensure complete and timely compliance.
Unless otherwise specified in this code, the owner of the property
or a person having the power of attorney for the property owner shall
sign the application submitted for review.
Submission of an application as may be required in this code
authorizes Town officials and employees or other designated agents
to enter the subject property to verify information in the application
and to conduct other site investigations as may be necessary to review
the application. This does not authorize any individual to enter any
building on the subject property in the absence of the property owner
or his or her authorized agent. Failure to allow access to the subject
property is sufficient grounds to deny the application.
If a parcel is in violation of this code, no permit or approval
of any kind shall be granted under this code that would benefit such
parcel, except to correct the violation or as may be required by state
law.
No permit or approval of any kind shall be granted under this
code that would benefit a parcel for which taxes, assessments, special
assessments, or other required payments are delinquent and unpaid.
To the extent possible, a development project requiring multiple
reviews should be done concurrently. When one approval is a condition
precedent to approval of another application, the approvals shall
be issued in the requisite order.
All written information that an applicant submits during a presubmittal
meeting or at any point in the review process is considered part of
the public record subject to state and local law.
Statements and recommendations that are made by the Planning
Administrator, Town staff and officials, and other representatives
prior to or during the application review process shall not be binding
on the decisionmaking body responsible for making the final decision.
In consultation with the appropriate reviewing authority, the
Town Clerk shall prepare application forms and may amend them from
time to time.
It is the responsibility of those undertaking development projects
within the Town to obtain all applicable permits and other approvals
as may be required by the Town of Algoma, Winnebago County, and federal
and state authorities as may be required.