Planning Commission approval is required for a division of land for the following:
A. 
Six or more residential lots.
B. 
One or more nonresidential lots (e.g., commercial, industrial, mixed-use, institutional, etc.).
C. 
Planned residential developments.
D. 
Traditional neighborhood developments.
*
Please note that a separate application and fee must be submitted to Blair County in addition to the application required by the City of Altoona.
Prior to filing a formal application, the applicant is encouraged to meet with the Planning and Zoning Administrator (who shall invite representatives of other departments to be present) to discuss the concepts related to the proposed subdivision. This pre-application conference and sketch plan submission is not a land use application for the purposes of vesting, but rather an opportunity for the staff to generally understand what is being proposed. The applicant shall bring the following to the introductory meeting:
A. 
Any professional consultants or representatives engaged in the execution of the project.
B. 
Written documentation describing the proposed project.
C. 
A sketch plan depicting the project that includes the following:
(1) 
The title: "Sketch Plan of (name of subdivision)."
(2) 
Date, scale, north arrow, and a legend to explain any graphic representations or symbols on the plan.
(3) 
The names of the owner of record and the applicant.
(4) 
The name of the draftsperson (this need not be a design professional at this point in the review process).
(5) 
The outer lines of the subdivision in a heavy shaded line.
(6) 
The names, location, alignment, and width of existing streets and easements.
(7) 
Lines and names of proposed streets and easements in a general manner.
(8) 
The following information for each lot within the subdivision boundaries:
(a) 
Approximate boundary lines.
(b) 
Approximate dimensions, including area and frontage.
(c) 
A numerical designation for each lot, preferably in sequential order.
(9) 
The topography in a general manner.
(10) 
Existing landscaping and/or other site characteristics.
(11) 
A rough site plan with the location of anticipated structures, parking areas, and landscaped areas.
(12) 
A rough sketch of the proposed drainage system in a general manner.
(13) 
Identification of any existing or proposed public areas.
(14) 
The approximate size and location of new and existing utilities.
(15) 
Any additional items required for a formal proposal which may be helpful in the staff's review of the plan.
D. 
A willingness to candidly discuss the project with Planning and Engineering staff in a nonbinding manner to ascertain the goals, objectives, opportunities, and limitations of both the City and the Applicant.
Neither the pre-application conference nor the sketch plan application have standing as part of the formal review process. Approval of plans under this article requires action by the Planning and Zoning Administrator after an application for major subdivision has been received and deemed complete. The purpose of this process is to familiarize the staff with the proposed project and work out technical issues in the proposal before it enters into the formal review process. No comments made by staff during these processes are binding on the Planning and Zoning Administrator or other staff present during the review; however, staff is hereby required to act expeditiously and in good faith in its representations to the applicant.
A. 
Major subdivision plan. The major subdivision plan consists of engineering drawing(s) prepared by a licensed engineer or surveyor using spatial data that shall be drawn to scale and in accordance with the Pennsylvania Municipalities Planning Code.[1] The major subdivision plan shall be suitable for recording with the Blair County Recorder of Deeds and shall include the following:
[1]
Editor's Note: See 53 P.S. § 10101 et seq.
B. 
(1) 
Two paper copies (24" x 36" or as determined by the Planning and Zoning Administrator) and two paper copies of any supplemental or supporting reports, in addition to an electronic version of the complete submittal package.
(2) 
The title: "Major Subdivision Plan drawn for (name of owner)."
(3) 
North point, written and graphic scale (at 1" = 20' 0" or other as determined by the Planning and Zoning Administrator), date.
(4) 
A copy of the closure sheet which shall show the following:
(a) 
The courses and distance of the proposed development/subdivision boundary and the error of closure (rounded to a maximum of 0.02 or 1:10,000);
(b) 
The area of each lot in square feet and acres, property dimensions, and project perimeter.
(5) 
The name, seal, and signature of the engineer or surveyor who prepared the plan.
(6) 
Names, addresses, and telephone numbers of developer, engineer, and current and/or prospective owners.
(7) 
The inscription:
Altoona Planning and Zoning Administrator
____________________ Date: __________
Approval of a Minor Subdivision Plan
Reviewed by the Blair County Planning Commission
____________________ Date: __________
(8) 
Metes and bounds must be shown with bearings to the nearest second and distances to the nearest 0.01 foot.
(9) 
Include a notarized ownership certification block on the plat.
(10) 
Location of entire development in relation to surrounding neighborhoods and developments; Location of entire development in relation to surrounding neighborhoods and developments and its zoning designation (include names of adjacent subdivisions and developments, adjacent property owners' names and addresses, adjacent land uses and buildings, and deed book with page number and tax map parcel information).
(11) 
Existing topography with a contour interval of two feet.
(12) 
Existing and proposed lot lines, easements, walkways, including widths on subject and surrounding areas, and proposed curb, gutter, and sidewalk.
(13) 
Existing waterways (including irrigation), significant vegetation, and natural features of the land.
(14) 
Location and conceptual elevation drawings of existing and proposed buildings, signs, dumpster and utility enclosures, fences and other structures.
(15) 
Location of on-site drainage and stormwater management features/infrastructure.
(16) 
All trails, open space, public space, and roadways, if applicable.
(17) 
Existing and proposed lot lines, easements, walkways, roads and rights-of-way (public and private), including widths, names, and numbers, on subject and surrounding areas; proposed dedications of public use areas; existing and proposed curb, gutter, and sidewalk.
(18) 
Sensitive lands in the proposed development shall be identified on a plan prepared and stamped by a licensed geotechnical engineer or licensed geologist.
(19) 
Soils testing and geotechnical analysis as required by the City of Altoona.
(20) 
Existing and proposed infrastructure including all fire hydrants, water and sewer lines, storm sewer system, and all utilities, including but not limited to electricity, natural gas, telephone service, and infrastructure to support high speed internet service.
(21) 
Proposed layout of all public and private roads, if any, including profiles (same scale as site plan) and cross-sections (same as City standards, at an interval of 100 feet (or as determined by the City Engineer).
(22) 
Location and conceptual elevation drawings of existing and proposed buildings, signs, dumpster and utility enclosures, fences and other structures.
(23) 
A title report dated within 90 days of the submittal application.
(24) 
Building footprints and general site plan features.
(25) 
If the plan submitted has been relieved of certain zoning requirements by a decision of the Zoning Hearing Board, the following shall appear on the plan: "Subject to an action taken by the Altoona Zoning Hearing Board on (Date)."
(26) 
The Planning and Zoning Administrator may require additional submittals based upon his/her review of the unique characteristics of the site.
A. 
Submittal and review of subdivisions shall be in accordance with this chapter.
B. 
Upon completion of the review of the application, the Altoona City Planning Commission shall take action on the proposal. Such action may be taken at a subsequent meeting so long as the timelines established under state law are met. Such action shall be:
(1) 
Request further information for a second review. This is done when the submittal and substantive requirements for the plan are not met or when an issue arises during the review which needs to be addressed.
(2) 
Issue a certificate of approval without condition.
(3) 
Issue a certificate of approval with conditions.
(4) 
Issue a certificate of denial which clearly states the reasons for denial.
C. 
All approvals under this chapter shall be accompanied by a performance contract, which shall be recorded in the chain of title with the plan.
D. 
The applicant is required to obtain all other approvals which may be required for the proposal. Approval under this chapter does not automatically grant other approvals, except those noted in the certificate of approval.