[Ord. 73-1, 3/4/1973; as amended by Ord. 94-06-01, 7/26/1994; and by Ord. 11-01-2010, 11/23/2010]
Whenever any subdivision of land or land development is proposed to be made, and before any contract for the sale of, or any offer to sell any lots in such subdivision or any part thereof is made, and before any permit for the erection of a structure in such proposed subdivision or land development shall be granted, the developer shall apply in writing for approval of such proposed subdivision or land development in accordance with the requirements of this Article.
[Ord. 73-1, 3/4/1973; as amended by Ord. 94-06-01, 7/26/1994; and by Ord. 11-01-2010, 11/23/2010]
1. 
Prior to the filing of an application for review and approval of a subdivision or land development, whether major or minor, the developer is encouraged, in the strongest possible way, to submit an optional sketch plan for the purposes of classification and preliminary discussion relating to the requirements of this Chapter, and any other ordinance or regulation of the Borough, the County, or the State.
2. 
If submitted, the sketch plan shall be based on an accurate base map at a scale (preferably not less than 200 feet to the inch) to enable the entire tract to be shown on one sheet, providing the following information:
A. 
Location of that portion to be subdivided or developed in relation to the entire tract, and the distance to the nearest street intersection.
B. 
Existing structures, wooded areas, streams, and other significant physical features within the portion to be subdivided and within 200 feet thereof. Topographic conditions should be shown with contours indicated at intervals of not more than 10 feet.
C. 
Name of the owner of the subject property and of adjoining properties as disclosed by the most recent municipal tax records.
D. 
Tax map sheet and parcel numbers of the subject property and of adjoining properties.
E. 
Utilities available, and streets which are either proposed, mapped, or in existence.
F. 
Proposed pattern of lots (including lot width and depth), street layout, building layout, recreation areas, systems of drainage, sewerage and water supply.
G. 
Existing restrictions on the use of land including easements, covenants, or zoning district boundaries.
3. 
Optional sketch plans shall be submitted at least five business days prior to the next regularly scheduled Borough Planning Commission meeting to appear on the agenda for said meeting. A minimum of six copies of the optional sketch plan shall be submitted. The applicant shall, with any optional sketch plan submission, sign a waiver form provided by the Borough specifically noting that the review process for preliminary and final plan submission is not applicable to optional sketch plan submission, and that no ninety-day review period will be initiated upon optional sketch plan submission. The waiver form shall be established and periodically updated as may be necessary by Resolution of Borough Council.
4. 
The Borough Secretary shall forward copies of the optional sketch plan to the Borough Engineer, the Borough’s Building and/or Zoning Officer, the Fairfield Municipal Authority, and the Chief of the Fairfield Volunteer Fire Department for review. The applicant is also strongly encouraged to submit the optional sketch plan to the Adams County Office of Planning and Development for review.
5. 
Formal action of either the Borough Planning Commission or the Borough Council is not required for an optional sketch plan submission and will not be provided. Optional sketch plan submissions will not be subject to the ninety-day review period applicable to preliminary plan and final plan submission. The Planning Commission may determine whether the sketch plan meets the purposes of this Chapter and the Fairfield Borough Zoning Ordinance [Chapter 14], and may make specific recommendations in writing that may be incorporated by the applicant in the formal submissions required by Article 3.