Site Plan Review

Zoning Section staff reviews PD site plans as well as Unified Residential Developments for apartments (URD) and other construction-related site plans. Site plans are reviewed based on the requirements provided in the Zoning Ordinance. Some common questions concerning site plans are:

1. What types of parking surfaces are acceptable?

Ordinance 6.201.E states that parking spaces, including for one and two family dwellings (recently amended), must be hard-surfaced and dust free, including compacted base, concrete and asphalt and pervious surfaces are now permitted. Compacted base must be confined into an area defined by a concrete border, railroad ties and the like.

2. What will the City accept for a parking agreement?

Ordinance 6.200.C, states where off-street parking is required, except for one, two, three or four family dwellings, a plan approved by the city Traffic Engineer showing the location and arrangement of spaces shall be furnished to the Development Services Department. This should also include sufficient proof of ownership, lease or other arrangement as will show that the spaces contemplated with be permanent. Any future changes in parking arrangements must be approved by the Development Services Department.

Parking agreements are common in the MU districts but may also be used in most districts. The actual written agreement must provide, per Ordinance 4.902.D(f): 1) the names and addresses of the uses and of the owners or tenants that are sharing the parking; 2) the location and number of parking spaces that are being shared; 3) an analysis showing that the peak parking demands for the different uses occur at different times and that the parking area will supply at least the minimum number of required spaces for each use during its respective peak parking times; and, 4) a legal instrument such as an easement or deed restriction that guarantees access to the joint parking for all uses.

3. Will the City accept surveys instead of a plat?

When obtaining a permit for a new structure, an addition to an existing structure, utility facilities, pools, fences, accessory structures, etc., the City may only accept an official, signed plat or a legal deed indicating all easements, property lines and setbacks.

4. Can I build or add on to a structure on unplatted property?

Per Ordinance 4.103.5, states that no building permit shall be issued for any building or structure unless such building or structure is located on a platted lot or lots which have been described by an instrument (subdivision plat) recorded in the county deed records. No building permit shall be issued for any building on land on or composed of any lot which has not been legally divided through platting. The lot or lots must have frontage upon a legally established street or private access easement.

5. What are my setbacks?

Setbacks are based on the Zoning District in which your property is located and adjacent districts. Buildings located next to residential districts have a twenty (20) foot side or rear supplemental setback on the side adjacent to the residential area.

When preparing a site plan for either a zoning case or for permitting, please consider some common oversights and attempt to avoid these issues. Incomplete or unclear submissions may result in project holds and delays.

  1. Ensure site plan, landscape plan, parking site plan, and other information as required is included in the submission.
  2. Ensure drawings are to scale.
  3. Show entire lot on site plan with the dimensions from the structure to property lines.
  4. Clearly describe the intended use.
  5. Ensure property is platted or has a legal metes and bounds description, as recorded at the county.