Planning & Zoning

Review Process

Within 30 days of receipt of a complete and corrected site plan application, the Site Plan Review Team (SPRT) shall notify the Planning Commission in writing of its finding with any comments or recommendations on the application.
The SPRT leadership officials will provide a report with finding and recommendation to the Planning Commission and, in the case of an appeal or variance, to the City Council.
It is recognized that due to the unique conditions presented by some conversion projects and the nature of special limitations on a site, particularly in the built environment, there may be applications that will present some special conflicts complying with all parts of this Ordinance. It is also recognized that these conflicts will arise in 20 percent expansion projects where the original construction did not incorporate the standards listed in this Ordinance. In those cases, the SPRT recommendation shall outline the justifications for these minor variances and the Planning Commission may incorporate these recommendations into their action for approval.

The Planning Commission will study the proposed site plan application, taking into account the recommendation of the SPRT, the review criteria. The Planning Commission will then approve, approve with conditions or deny the site plan application.
The Planning Department will prepare a report to the Planning Commission regarding the staff's finding and recommendation and this report is forwarded to the City Council as an information item.
The Planning Commission may grant approval with conditions necessary to bring the application into compliance with adopted regulations and objectives or where additional conditions have been agreed to by the applicant.

An applicant may appeal the decision of the Planning Commission denying their site plan application by submitting a written notice of appeal specifying the grounds for the appeal, to the Planning Director within 10 days of the decision by the Planning Commission.
Protestants who own property within 300 feet of the site plan may appeal the decision of the Planning Commission approving the site plan application by submitting a written notice of appeal, specifying the grounds for the appeal, to the Planning Director within 10 days of the decision by the Planning Commission.
The City Council in considering any appeal from a decision of the Planning Commission shall consider the basis of the appeal, all reports from City Staff and the report from Planning Commission and either affirm the Planning Commission decision or render a different decision. In either case, the City Council decision is final.
When a site plan requires a major variance from the minimum adopted standard for new projects, the City Council will consider those variances as a part of the review process prior to final site plan approval. Recommendations from the Planning Commission will be reviewed and notice will be provided to property owners within 300 feet of the subject property prior to the City Council hearing in those cases where a variance has been requested.