[Ord. of 8-4-2008]
(a) 
Within 12 months after sketch plan acceptance by the Board, the subdivider shall submit an application for the consideration of a preliminary plan for the subdivision. The application and all required preliminary plan documentation shall be submitted to the City at least 30 days prior to the first Planning Board meeting of the month during which the subdivider wishes to be heard. Failure to do so shall require resubmission of the sketch plan to the Board for review. The preliminary plan shall generally conform to the layout shown on the sketch plan plus any recommendations made by the Board.
(b) 
The application for conditional approval of the preliminary plan shall be accompanied by a fee as established in a City Fee Schedule revised from time to time by the City Council and payable by check to the City of Old Town, Maine, with a note indicating the specific purpose of the fee.
(c) 
In addition, the Board shall require the owner or the owner's authorized agent to deposit in escrow an amount of money sufficient to cover the costs of any professional review of the subdivision application which the Board may feel is reasonably necessary to protect the general welfare of the City. The amount for this escrow payment is established in the City Fee Schedule. This escrow payment shall be made before the Board engages any outside party to undertake this review and to make recommendations to the Board. When 75% of the escrow has been disbursed, review of the application shall cease until the applicant replenishes the escrow in an amount to be determined by the Board. Any part of this escrow payment in excess of the final costs for review shall be returned to the owner or the owner's agent.
(d) 
The subdivider, or the subdivider's duly authorized representative, shall attend the meeting of the Board to discuss the preliminary plan.
(e) 
The Secretary of the Planning Board shall review the application and give a preliminary determination of completeness of the application. If incomplete, the applicant will be notified of materials needed to complete the application. If the application is determined to be complete, the Secretary will forward the application to the Board for a public hearing. The first item at the public hearing will be to give a final determination of completeness of the application. A compete determination does not prohibit the Board from requiring further information, if needed, to complete review of the application.
(f) 
Within 30 days of the close of the public hearing, the Board shall take action to give preliminary approval, with or without modifications, or disapproval of such preliminary plan. The reason of any modification required or the grounds for disapproval shall be stated upon the records of the Board and a copy provided to the subdivider.
(g) 
No preliminary plan shall be acted on by the Board until the Board has scheduled and conducted a public hearing thereon. Notice of the time, place and date of such hearing shall be sent not less than seven days before the hearing to the subdivider and to owners of adjacent properties. Property owners shall be those listed in the most-recent tax records of the City of Old Town. Notice shall also be published in a newspaper of general circulation in the City of Old Town, and the first date of the publication shall be at least seven days prior to the public hearing. Failure to receive notice shall not invalidate the public hearing held.
(h) 
Preliminary approval of a preliminary plan shall not constitute approval of the final plan, but rather it shall be deemed as an expression of approval of the design submitted on the preliminary plan as a guide to the preparation of the final plan. The final plan shall be submitted for approval of the Board upon fulfillment of the requirements of this chapter and the conditions of the preliminary approval, if any. Prior to approval of the final subdivision plan, the Board may require additional changes as a result of further study of the subdivision in final form or as a result of new information obtained at a public hearing.
[Ord. of 8-4-2008; Ord. of 3-20-2025]
The following submissions shall be provided for all subdivisions unless the Board determines by majority vote that, based on evidence provided by the applicant, one or more submissions is not applicable due to the size, location, type or other physical feature of the proposed subdivision.
(a) 
Location map. The preliminary plan shall be accompanied by a location map, drawn at a scale of not over 400 feet to the inch, to show the relation of the proposed subdivision to the adjacent properties and to the general surrounding area. The location map shall also show an outline of the proposed subdivision together with its approximate street system and an indication of the future probable street system of the remaining portion of the tract if the preliminary plan submitted covers only part of the subdivider's entire holding.
(b) 
Preliminary plan. The preliminary subdivision plan shall be submitted, with 10 copies of each map or drawing, together with 10 copies of any attachments required for approval. All dimensions shall be shown in feet or decimals of a foot and drawn to a scale of not more than 100 feet to the inch (preferably 40 feet to the inch). The preliminary plan and accompanying materials shall show:
(1) 
All existing information provided as part of the sketch plan.
(2) 
Number of acres within the proposed subdivision and zone boundaries.
(3) 
Proposed lot lines with approximate dimensions, lot numbers (to be obtained form the Old Town Assessor), area in square feet and suggested locations of buildings.
(4) 
Proposed easements, forested areas, perennial and intermittent watercourses, and wetlands. The boundaries of any wetlands depicted on the plans shall be delineated by a wetlands scientist.
(5) 
Contour lines at intervals of not more than five feet for all portions of the property proposed to be developed.
(6) 
Typical plans and cross sections showing streets, sidewalks, storm sewers and utilities as defined in Chapter 17 (Street and Sidewalks, Article II) of the Old Town Code of Ordinances.
(7) 
If public water and sewer are to be utilized, letters from the Water District and Pollution Control Department that they will accept the utilities if constructed according to the plans.
(8) 
Letters from the Public Works Director, City Engineer and Street Commissioners that they will recommend acceptance of any proposed streets if constructed in accordance with the plans.
(9) 
A medium-intensity soils map that encompasses the area to be subdivided. The Planning Board may require submission of a high-intensity soils map in certain instances.
(10) 
If a private sewage disposal system is proposed, location and results of tests to ascertain subsurface soil groundwater conditions and depths to maximum groundwater level. A completed HHE 200 form must be submitted with the preliminary application for multifamily subdivisions.
(11) 
For subdivisions of greater than four lots that are not served by public sewer, a hydrogeologic assessment prepared in accordance with § 18-55 by a certified geologist or licensed professional engineer experienced in hydrogeology.
(12) 
Stormwater management plan.
a. 
A stormwater management plan, prepared by a licensed professional engineer, shall be designed so that the post-development stormwater runoff does not exceed the predevelopment stormwater runoff for the twenty-four-hour duration, two-, ten-, and twenty-five-year frequency storm events. The stormwater plan shall be prepared in accordance with Stormwater Management for Maine: Best Management Practices, latest edition, prepared by the Maine Department of Environmental Protection, which is incorporated herein by reference and made a part thereof. The stormwater plan shall include the following information for the pre- and post-development conditions: drainage area boundaries, hydrologic soils groups, ground cover type, time-of-concentration flow paths, modeling methodology, calculations, and background data. The Board may require review and endorsement of the stormwater plan and calculations by the Penobscot Soil and Water Conservation District.
b. 
If the subdivision requires a stormwater permit from the Department of Environmental Protection (DEP), the Board may accept the stormwater permit issued by DEP as evidence that § 18-1(a)(17) has been satisfied and that an additional submission required under this section is not required.
(13) 
Preliminary designs of any bridges or culverts which may be required, along with state approval if required.
(14) 
A standard boundary survey plan of the property to be developed, prepared by a licensed land surveyor, and the location of temporary markers adequate to enable the Board to locate readily and appraise the basic layout in the field.
(15) 
All parcels of land proposed to be dedicated to public use and the conditions of such dedication.
(16) 
The location of all natural features or site elements to be preserved.
(17) 
Erosion and sedimentation control at construction sites: refer to Chapter 16, Article XX.
(18) 
Certification by a licensed professional engineer or a licensed land surveyor that all survey, deed and supporting information accurately reflects the true conditions existing on the proposed subdivision.
(19) 
Base flood elevation data.
(20) 
A landscaping plan.
(21) 
The location of significant resources, including important deer wintering areas, other important plant or wildlife habitats, and areas with visual significance.
(22) 
The location of any trail or trail system that crosses the property.
(23) 
An owner or his authorized agent shall submit information on the location of the development to the following address:
State Historic Preservation Officer
Maine Historic Preservation Commission
55 Capitol Street
State House Station 55
Augusta, Maine 04333
Include a request that the Old Town Planning Board be notified of any comments. The applicant shall submit to the Planning Board proof of such notification, including a copy of the letter to the State Historic Preservation Officer.
(24) 
A plan for ensuring an adequate on-site water supply for fire suppression. The plan shall be prepared in consultation with and approved by the Fire Department and may include, if further than 1,000 feet from a fire hydrant, a minimum 10,000-gallon underground storage tank, together with appurtenant piping and hydrants, designed by a licensed professional engineer, or an approved building sprinkler system. The plan shall include any existing or proposed perpetual easements necessary to ensure access to firefighting water supply or hydrants.
(25) 
Vehicular traffic.
a. 
An estimate of the amount and type of vehicular traffic to be generated on a daily basis and at peak hours and the sight distances for each driveway that intersects an existing or proposed public or private road, in accordance with the provisions of § 18-47.
b. 
For subdivisions that will generate more than 200 vehicle trips per day, a traffic impact analysis prepared by a registered professional engineer with experience in traffic engineering. The analysis shall indicate the expected average daily vehicular trips, peak-hour volumes, access conditions at the site, distribution of traffic, types of vehicles expected, effect upon the level of service on the road giving access to the subdivision and neighboring roads that may be affected, and recommended improvements to maintain the desired level of service on the affected roads. Trip generation rates shall be obtained from the latest edition of Trip Generation, published by the Institute of Transportation Engineers.
(26) 
A phosphorous control plan for any portion of the subdivision within the watershed of a great pond, prepared in conformance with the provisions of § 18-56. If the subdivision requires a stormwater permit from the Department of Environmental Protection (DEP), the Board may accept the stormwater permit issued by DEP as evidence that § 18-1(a)(19) has been satisfied and that an additional submission required under this section is not required.
(27) 
Right, title or interest of the applicant in the property to be subdivided.
(28) 
A groundwater impact assessment as described in § 18-55 if commercial or industrial developments are not tied to City water.