The purpose of the preliminary plat (including a preliminary replat) is to allow the development services department to review overall platting of the tract and street patterns within the subdivision for conformance with the requirements of this article. A preliminary plan is not required for a minor plat as defined in section 10.03.202(a)(3) and (4).
(Ordinance 2021-39, sec. VII, adopted 10/12/21)
A preliminary plat is required for the subdivision of a tract of land into two (2) or more lots. Approval of a preliminary plat is required prior to the consideration of the final plat by the city council.
(1) 
Procedures.
Formal application for preliminary plat approval shall be made by the subdivider or his/her agent in the manner prescribed by development services and shall be processed and considered in accordance with division 3 of this article.
(2) 
Content.
A preliminary plat shall be signed and sealed by a surveyor and include the following items:
(A) 
Location map showing the location of the subdivision in relation to the city.
(B) 
Name, address, and telephone number of the subdivider, record title owner, engineer, and surveyor.
(C) 
Proposed name of the subdivision, subject to city approval.
(D) 
Dashed in names and approximate layouts of contiguous subdivisions and the owners of contiguous parcels of unsubdivided land, and an indication of whether or not contiguous properties within 200 feet of the proposed site are platted.
(E) 
Subdivision boundary lines, indicated by heavy lines, and the computed acreage of the subdivision.
(F) 
The words “Preliminary Plat” in the title block.
(G) 
The location and approximate dimensions, description, and name of all proposed streets, subject to city and county approval, common areas, parks, public areas, playgrounds or other similar uses, reservations, easements, visibility easements or rights-of-way, blocks, lots and watercourses.
(H) 
Date of preparation, scale of plat, and north arrow.
(I) 
Topographic information shall include contours at two (2) foot intervals.
(J) 
Location of city limits line, the outer border of the city’s ETJ land, survey and abstract lines, or independent school district boundaries where applicable, and zoning district boundaries, if they traverse the subdivision, form part of the boundary of the subdivision, or are contiguous to such boundary.
(K) 
A number to identify each lot and block, and approximate square footage or acreage of all lots.
(L) 
Identify any floodplains within the subdivision.
(M) 
All physical features of the property to be subdivided, including locations and size of all watercourses, ravines, bridges, culverts, existing structures, drainage area in acres or areas draining into subdivision, and other physical features pertinent to the proposed subdivision.
(N) 
The outline of wooded areas and the location of individual trees 18" in diameter or larger shall be shown for properties proposed to be dedicated for public purposes.
(O) 
The city signature block.
(P) 
Phasing plan if the subdivision is to be constructed in phases.
(Q) 
Location of all hardwood trees with a diameter of 24 inches or greater measured 4-1/2 feet above ground.
(3) 
When a preliminary plat is approved for a single-family residential subdivision, and the plat includes developable property for other uses (school sites, church sites, etc.), those areas shall be platted and filed for record in conjunction with the platting process for the single-family area.
(Ordinance 07-09-18F, sec. IV(b), adopted 9/18/07; Ordinance 2021-39, sec. VIII, adopted 10/12/21)
(a) 
The development services department will notify the applicant of the city council’s action approving or disapproving the preliminary plat.
(b) 
Approval of a preliminary plat by the city council shall be deemed an expression of approval of the layout submitted on the preliminary plat as a guide to the final engineering of streets, water, sewer, and other required improvements and utilities and to the preparation of the final plat.
(c) 
Approval of a preliminary plat shall not constitute automatic approval of the final plat, nor be considered authorization to begin construction.
(d) 
Approval of a preliminary plat shall not constitute a guarantee or warranty, either implied or otherwise that the requirements of other applicable codes and ordinances of the city have been met.
(e) 
It shall be the responsibility of the subdivider to ensure that all applicable requirements of the city relative to the subdividing and development of property have been met.
(Ordinance 07-09-18F, sec. IV(c), adopted 9/18/07)
(a) 
Minor revisions to approved preliminary plats.
The development services manager may administratively approve minor revisions to approved preliminary plats. A minor revision is one that:
(1) 
Changes the lot size or configuration provided that the total number of lots does not increase; or
(2) 
Changes a local street width, length or alignment; or
(3) 
Changes a utility or access easement.
(b) 
Major revisions to approved preliminary plats.
The city council may approve major revisions to approved preliminary plats. A major revision may include, but is not limited to the following:
(1) 
An increase in the number of lots;
(2) 
A change to the street layout; or
(3) 
A modification of the parkland.
(Ordinance 07-09-18F, sec. IV(d), adopted 9/18/07)
The approval of a preliminary plat shall expire one (1) year from the date of approval unless a final plat for a portion of the preliminary plat has been approved and recorded, in which case, the preliminary plat is extended one (1) additional year from the date each additional final plat is recorded.
(Ordinance 07-09-18F, sec. 4(e), adopted 9/18/07)
(a) 
Where a proposed subdivision is to be developed in phases, or where a tract of land containing forty (40) acres or more is to be subdivided and will contain an internal street system, the subdivider shall be required to submit, and receive approval by the city council of a phased preliminary plat that includes the entire tract.
(b) 
The purpose of a phased preliminary plat is to allow the city council to review the subdivision in relation to future phases of the development, existing and proposed subdivisions adjacent to the site, and future city service requirements.
(c) 
Content.
The phased preliminary plat shall be drawn at a scale of not less than one (1) inch equals two hundred (200) feet on a topographic map. The phased preliminary plat shall include all land under control of, or owned by, the developer, and contain or have attached the following:
(1) 
Names and addresses of the subdividers, owner of record, engineer and surveyor;
(2) 
Proposed name of the subdivision;
(3) 
Location in relation to the rest of the city and boundaries of the proposed subdivision;
(4) 
Schematic layout of the entire tract and its relationship to adjacent property and existing adjoining development;
(5) 
The successive order or phasing of the development of the tract;
(6) 
Proposed major categories of land use and current zoning;
(7) 
Number of dwelling units and population densities, where applicable;
(8) 
Street layout;
(9) 
Location of sites for parks, schools and other public uses as shown on the comprehensive development plan, where applicable;
(10) 
Significant natural features, including floodplains, floodways, and wooded areas and location of hardwood trees with a diameter of 24 inches and greater measured 4-1/2 feet above ground.
(11) 
Significant existing man-made features such as buildings, utilities or physical features.
(d) 
The overall layout, if approved by the city council, shall be attached to and filed in the permanent records of development services. All subsequent final plats shall be in accordance with the approved phased preliminary plat; provided, however, that the city council may authorize minor adjustments to the approved phased preliminary plat where the city council determines such adjustments are consistent with the intent and general layout of the approved phased preliminary plat. Where the final plat deviates from the approved phased preliminary plat to the extent that the city council finds such deviation to be significant and not consistent with the intent and general layout of the approved phased preliminary plat, such final plat shall not be approved until it reflects the originally approved phased preliminary plat, or a phased preliminary plat has been approved in accordance with this division. However, the city council shall not change such approved overall layout unless the subdivider agrees to such change or the city council finds that:
(1) 
Adherence to the previously approved overall layout will hinder the orderly subdivision of land in the area in accordance with the provisions of this article; and
(2) 
Changes to the previously approved overall layout will not be detrimental to the public health, safety or general welfare.
(e) 
Approval of a phased preliminary plat shall be effective for eighteen (18) months. Approval may be extended for one (1) year periods by consent of the city council, at the request of the developer.
(f) 
If the phased preliminary plat is attached as an exhibit to the amending ordinance creating a planned development zone, such plan shall be considered a condition of the zoning of the tract.
(g) 
Approval of a phased preliminary plat shall not constitute automatic approval of the final plat. The developer shall be required to submit a separate final plat, including construction plans, for each unit or phase of development.
(h) 
For the purposes of meeting platting procedure requirements, a phased preliminary plat shall be treated the same as a preliminary plat.
(Ordinance 07-09-18F, sec. 4(f), adopted 9/18/07; Ordinance 2021-39, sec. IX, adopted 10/12/21; Ordinance 2021-39, sec. X, adopted 10/12/21)