Whenever any subdivision of land is proposed, and before any lot is
sold, the subdivider or his or her agent shall apply, in writing, to the Subdivision
Agent for the approval of the subdivision plat and submit two copies of the
preliminary plat, including the lot, street and utilities layout. No lot shall
be sold or contract made or deposit taken until a final plat for the subdivision
shall have been approved and as hereinafter provided.
The Subdivision Agent shall discuss the preliminary plat with the subdivider
in order to determine whether or not his or her preliminary plat generally
conforms to the requirements of this chapter. The subdivider shall then be
advised, in writing, within 45 days, which may be by formal letter or by legible
markings on his or her copy of the preliminary plat, concerning any additional
data that may be required, the character and extent of public improvements
and the amount of the performance bond. The Subdivision Agent may consult
with an engineer, who shall prepare this data for the Subdivision Agent or,
preferably, may require a bona fide estimate of the cost of improvements to
be furnished by the subdivider.
Tentative approval by the Subdivision Agent of the preliminary plat
does not constitute a guarantee of approval of the final plat.
The subdivision plats submitted for final approval by the Subdivision
Agent and subsequent recording shall be at a scale of 100 feet to the inch
on sheets having a size of not more than 24 inches by 36 inches. Two prints
will be required, plus one reduced copy for recording, having a maximum size
14 inches by 18 inches. In addition to the requirements of the preliminary
plat, the final plat shall include the following items:
A. Name of subdivision, magisterial district, County, state,
owner, true of magnetic North point, scale of drawing and number of sheets.
If shown on more than one sheet, matched lines shall clearly indicate where
the several sheets adjoin. A blank, oblong space 1 1/2 inches by 3 inches
shall be reserved for the use of the approving authority.
B. A boundary survey with an error of closure within the
limits of one in 10,000 related to the true or magnetic meridian and showing
the location of all monuments and their type of material.
C. A certificate signed by the surveyor or engineer setting
forth the source of title of the owners of the land subdivided and the place
of record of the last instrument in the chain of title.
D. A statement to the effect that the subdivision as it
appears on the plat is with the free consent and in accordance with the desires
of the owner, proprietors and trustees, if any, and shall be duly acknowledged
before an officer authorized to take acknowledgments of deeds.
E. When the subdivision consists of land acquired from more
than one source of title, the outlines of the various tracts shall be indicated
by dashlines, and identifications of the respective tracts shall be placed
on the plat.
F. The accurate location and dimensions by bearings and
distances with arc lengths on all lots and all curve data on street lines
and center lines of streets, public areas, the number and area of all building
sites, all existing streets, their names, numbers and widths, existing utilities
and those to be provided, such as water mains, watercourses and their names,
names of owners and their property lines, proposed lines and proposed or existing
easements, both within the boundary of the subdivision and said boundaries.
G. All dimensions shown in feet and decimals of a foot to
the closest 1/100 of a foot, all in degrees, minutes and seconds to the nearest
10 seconds.
H. The data of all curves along the street frontage shall
be shown in detail at the curve or in a curve data table containing the following:
delta, radius, arc, tangent, chord and chord bearings.
I. The recording in Northumberland County of any subdivision
plat, or plat that creates a new division of land or adjusts the boundary
line of any existing parcel, or any accompanying plats, such as for roads,
drainage, utility easements, septic tank/drainfields, remove drainfield sites,
force main and lateral lines or any other plats that may affect said subdivision
or division of land or adjust the boundary line of any parcel, without the
certification of the subdivision agent or his/her authorized representative,
is a violation of this chapter.
[Added 3-11-1999]
The plat shall not be approved until the subdivider has complied with
the general requirements and minimum standards of design in accordance with
this chapter and has made satisfactory arrangements for the performance bonds,
to cover the cost of necessary improvements to the satisfaction of the Subdivision
Agent. Approval of the final plat shall be written on the face of the plat
by the Agent. The final plat shall be filed for recordation after final approval
thereof, and unless such plat is filed for recordation within 60 days after
final approval, then such approval shall be deemed withdrawn, and the approved
final plat shall be returned to the Agent by the subdivider.