Planning Commission approval is not required for a minor site plan for the following land development projects:
A. 
A residential project with between two and nine dwelling units.
B. 
Commercial, industrial, mixed-use, institutional and/or all other uses with a proposed structure(s) up to 5,000 square feet (gross) and site improvements or land disturbance (e.g., grubbing/grading, etc.) up to 15,000 square feet.
C. 
New or expanded areas of pavement or other impervious surfaces (such as concrete or asphalt) ranging in size from 3,500 to 7,500 square feet.
D. 
The application does not include any requests for waivers or exceptions from the requirements of this chapter.
*
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 site plan. 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 site plan)."
(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 minor site plan 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. 
Minor site plan. The minor site 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 minor site plan shall be suitable for recording with the Blair County Recorder of Deeds and shall include the following:
(1) 
Two paper copies (11" x 17" or as determined by the Planning and Zoning Administrator) in addition to an electronic version of the complete submittal package.
(2) 
The title: "Minor Site Plan drawn for (name of owner)."
(3) 
North arrow, written and graphic scale (at 1" = 20' 0" or other as determined by the Planning and Zoning Administrator), date.
(4) 
The name, seal, and signature of the engineer landscape architect, or surveyor who prepared the plan.
(5) 
Names, addresses, and telephone numbers of developer, engineer, and current and/or prospective owners.
(6) 
The inscription:
Altoona Planning and Zoning Administrator
____________________ Date: __________
Approval of a Minor Site Plan
Reviewed by the Blair County Planning Commission
____________________ Date: __________
(7) 
Location of entire development in relation to surrounding neighborhoods and developments and its zoning designation.
(8) 
Existing topography with a contour interval of two feet.
(9) 
Existing and proposed lot lines, easements, walkways, including widths on subject and surrounding areas, ADA facilities and grades, and proposed curb, gutter, and sidewalk.
(10) 
Existing waterways (including irrigation), significant vegetation, natural features of the land, and floodplain/floodway information if applicable.
(11) 
Detailed site plan with location of existing and anticipated structures, parking areas, landscaped areas, signs, dumpster and utility enclosures, fences and other structures.
(12) 
A proposed landscape plan showing the location of plant materials on site, including a plant list with proposed species and sizes.
(13) 
The site plan shall include the percentages of building coverage, pavement coverage, landscape coverage, stormwater features coverage, etc.
(14) 
Architectural elevation drawings (with materials noted) of anticipated structures, parking areas, landscaped areas, signs, dumpster and utility enclosures, fences and other structures.
(15) 
Location of on-site drainage and stormwater management features.
(16) 
All trails, open space, public space, and roadways, if applicable.
(17) 
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)."
(18) 
The Planning and Zoning Administrator may require additional submittals based upon his/her review of the unique characteristics of the site.
[1]
Editor's Note: See 53 P.S. § 10101 et seq.
A. 
Upon receiving the application package and the fee and determining it to be complete, the Planning and Zoning Administrator will distribute copies of the plan to the County Planning Commission, the City of Altoona Code Enforcement Department, the Planning and Zoning Administrator, the City of Altoona Engineering Department, the City of Altoona Public Works Department, and Altoona Water Authority, and keep the other two copies for technical review.
B. 
All agencies undertaking the technical review shall have 30 days to make written recommendations and comments on the plan. Failure of an agency to respond in writing within 30 days shall indicate that agency's approval of the plan as submitted.
C. 
If the Planning and Zoning Administrator determines that the plan does not meet the requirements of a minor site plan or is somehow deficient, he/she shall notify the applicant of such in writing within 45 days of the submittal date, giving specific reasons for the determination.
D. 
If the Planning and Zoning Administrator, in consultation with the other reviewing agencies, determines that the plan does meet the requirements of minor site plan and the applicable development standards, he/she shall endorse the plan and issue a certificate of approval within 45 days of the submittal date.