[1]
Prior legislation: Ords. 891, 1020, Section 16 of Ord. 1237, and Ord. 1256.
This chapter is intended to provide procedures for the review of site plan applications. Site plan review is intended to ensure that development projects carried out in given zoning districts are executed in a manner consistent with existing ordinances and applicable standards of the zoning code concerning public utilities, traffic, facilities and services and provide unified site design, access, landscaping, screening, building placement and parking lot layout.
(Ord. 1319 § 1 (part), 2008)
A. 
Site plan review and approval shall be required prior to issuance of a building permit when provided under this chapter. Site plan review shall be required for the following:
1. 
All new nonresidential uses for the location of any building or any multifamily development in which more than two dwelling units would be contained.
2. 
Nonresidential expansion, new, and/or change of outdoor use area including but not limited to expanded parking, storage, or outdoor seating.
3. 
The expansion of any building or development.
B. 
The following shall be exempt from this chapter:
1. 
Business licenses issued for out-of-town businesses, businesses located in an existing building or site presently in business use, or renewals of an existing business license.
2. 
Short plat, subdivision, binding site plan, or condominium approval.
(Ord. 1319 § 1 (part), 2008; Ord. 1774 § 2, 2022)
Any use that is subject to the requirements for a site plan review prior to issuance of building permits shall be processed in accordance with the procedures established under NBMC Title 20.
A. 
Application. An application for site plan approval may be filed by the property owner or authorized agent of the property owner. These shall be submitted to the planning director.
B. 
Criteria for Approval. The city shall consider approval of the site plans with specific attention to the following:
1. 
Compatibility with the city's comprehensive plan;
2. 
Compatibility with the surrounding buildings' occupancy and use factors; and
3. 
All relevant statutory codes, regulations, ordinances and compliance with the same.
(Ord. 1319 § 1 (part), 2008)
Prior to applying for site plan review, a developer may present to city staff a preliminary site plan, which shall contain in a rough and approximate manner all of the information required on the site plan application. The purpose of the conference is to enable the developer to obtain the advice of city staff as to the intent, standards and provisions of this chapter with regard to the proposed plan.
(Ord. 1319 § 1 (part), 2008)
Fees for applications made pursuant to this chapter shall be set forth in the city's taxes, rates and fee schedule as now adopted or as may be amended from time to time.
(Ord. 1341 § 2, 2008)
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Code reviser's note: Ordinance 1341, Section 2, sets out the provisions of this section as Section 18.14.030. The section has been editorially renumbered to prevent duplication of numbering.
Each application for site plan review shall contain the following information:
A. 
An environmental checklist when required;
B. 
The title and location of the proposed development, together with the names, addresses and telephone numbers of the recorded owners of the land and the applicant, and, if applicable, the name, address and telephone number of any architect, planner, designer or engineer responsible for the preparation of the plan, and of any authorized representative of the applicant;
C. 
A written description addressing the scope of the project, the nature and size in gross floor area of each use, and the total amount of square feet to be covered by impervious surfaces;
D. 
A vicinity map showing site boundaries and existing roads and accesses within and bounding the site;
E. 
A topographic map based upon a site survey delineating contours, existing and proposed, at no less than five-foot intervals and which locates existing streams, marshes and other critical areas, as well as elevations of the 10-, 50-, and 100-year floods, where such data is available;
F. 
Site plans drawn to a scale no smaller than one inch equals 50 feet showing location and size of uses, buffer areas, proposed areas of disturbance or construction outside of the building footprint, yards, open spaces and landscaped areas and any existing structures, easements and utilities;
G. 
A circulation plan drawn to a scale acceptable to the public works director illustrating all access points for the site, the size and location of all driveways, streets and roads with proposed width and outside turning radius, the location, size and design of parking and loading areas, and existing and proposed pedestrian circulation system. If a project would generate more than 10 peak hour trips, a traffic impact study prepared by a qualified transportation planner or professional engineer shall be submitted;
H. 
A preliminary drainage and stormwater runoff plan;
I. 
A utility plan including water, sewer and private;
J. 
A landscape plan of all proposed landscaping including the treatment and materials used for open spaces, and the types of plants and screening to be used;
K. 
Site and building design elements as required by Chapter 18.34 NBMC;
L. 
A listing of the names and addresses of property owners of record within 300 feet of the project property, including preprinted labels bearing the names and addresses of the property owners of record within 300 feet of the project property.
(Ord. 1319 § 1 (part), 2008; Ord. 1464 § 1 (Exh. A (part)), 2012)
Construction on the project must commence within 24 months from the date of final action by the city; otherwise, the approval of the project becomes null and void.
(Ord. 1319 § 1 (part), 2008)
A. 
Minor adjustments may be made and approved when a building permit is issued. Any such alteration must be approved by both the planning director and the public works director. Minor adjustments are those which may affect the precise dimensions or siting of building (i.e., lot coverage, height, setbacks) but which do not affect the basic character or arrangement and number of buildings approved in the plan, nor the density of the development or the amount and quality of open space and landscaping. Such dimensional adjustments shall not vary more than 10 percent from the original, but shall not exceed the standards of the applicable district.
B. 
Major Amendments. Major amendments are those which substantially change the character, basic design, density, open space or other requirements and conditions of the site plan. When a change constitutes a major amendment, no building or other permit shall be issued without prior review and approval by the planning director and the public works director.
(Ord. 1319 § 1 (part), 2008)