[HISTORY: Adopted by the Town Council of the Town of Coventry 11-12-1991 by Ord. No. 9-91-0181 as Ch. 14, Art. III, of the 1991 Code. Amendments noted where applicable.]
GENERAL REFERENCES
Planning Commission — See Ch. 15, Art. IV.
Comprehensive Plan — See Ch. 18.
Numbering of buildings — See Ch. 109.
Affordable housing — See Ch. 139.
Official Map — See Ch. 164.
Sewers — See Ch. 191.
Streets and sidewalks — See Ch. 209.
Zoning — See Ch. 255.
For the purpose of promoting the general welfare, safety, morals and general health of the Town, the Planning Commission is hereby granted the authority to adopt, modify and amend rules and regulations governing the platting and subdivision of land within the Town. The Planning Commission shall adopt, modify and amend such rules and regulations and shall approve, modify and approve or disapprove plats and proposed subdivisions in accordance with the provisions of such rules and regulations.
A. 
Created; membership; appointment; residency; compensation. A Subdivision Board of Review is hereby created. This Board shall consist of five members, each to hold office for a term of five years; provided, however, that the original appointments shall be made for terms of one year, two years, three years, four years and five years respectively. Members of this Board shall be appointed by the Town Council, shall be residents of the Town, and shall serve without compensation.
B. 
Powers and duties; appeals to Board.
(1) 
The Subdivision Board of Review shall have the following powers:
(a) 
To hear and decide appeals where it is alleged there is error in any order, requirement, decision or determination made by the Planning Commission in the enforcement of this chapter or of the rules and regulations adopted pursuant to this chapter.
(b) 
To authorize, upon appeal in specific cases, such variance in the application of the terms of the rules and regulations adopted pursuant to this chapter as will not be contrary to the public interest where, owing to special conditions, a literal enforcement of the provisions of such rules and regulations will result in unnecessary hardship, and so that the spirit of the rules and regulations shall be observed and substantial justice done.
(2) 
In exercising the powers set out in Subsection B(1) of this section, the Subdivision Board of Review may, in conformity with the provisions of this chapter, reverse or affirm, wholly or in part, or may modify the decision appealed from and make such order, requirement, decision or determination as ought to be made, and to that end shall have all the powers of the Planning Commission.
(3) 
The concurring vote of three members of the Subdivision Board of Review shall be necessary to reverse any decision or determination of the Planning Commission.
(4) 
The Subdivision Board of Review shall fix a reasonable time for the hearing of the appeal, give public notice thereof as well as due notice to the parties in interest, including the applicant, abutting owners and any other persons who entered appearances before the Planning Commission, and shall decide the appeal within a reasonable time. Any party in interest may appear at the hearing in person or by agent or by attorney.
Any person, whether or not previously a party of the proceedings, aggrieved by a decision of the Subdivision Board of Review, or by a decision of the Planning Commission from which no appeal lies to the Subdivision Board of Review, or by failure of the Planning Commission to take final action with respect to any plat within the required time, may appeal to the Superior Court of the county, by complaint filed within 15 days after such decision is recorded or within 15 days after the expiration of the required time for final action on the plat. Any person owning land in the Town located within 1,000 feet of the subdivision involved shall have the status of an aggrieved person if the value or use of his land may be affected by the recording of such subdivision.
The Town Clerk is hereby ordered to accept for recording only plats showing the endorsement of approval of the Planning Commission.
The Building Inspector is hereby ordered to withhold the issuance of a building permit for any lot not shown on a recorded plat or plan. Any permit issued contrary to this section shall become null and void.
Any person who transfers, sells or negotiates to sell any land within a subdivision by reference to or exhibition of or by other use of a plat of such subdivision before such plat has been approved by the Planning Commission and has been recorded shall be subject to a penalty of $100 for each lot so transferred, sold or negotiated for sale. The description of such lot by metes and bounds in the instrument of transfer or other document used in the process of transferring or selling shall not except the transaction from such penalties or from the remedies provided in this chapter. The Town may enjoin such transfer or sale or agreement by action for injunction brought in the Superior Court of the county or may recover such penalty by an action of the case in any court of competent jurisdiction, or may pursue both of such remedies.
Any sale of land subdivided in violation of the provisions of this chapter shall be voidable at the option of the purchaser thereof and shall subject the seller thereof to the forfeiture of any and all consideration received or pledged therefor together with any damages sustained by such purchaser, who may maintain an action of the case to recover any amounts due him under the provisions of this section.