Due to the urban nature of Covington and the complexity of modern land development in this urban area, certain review measures are necessary to ensure and encourage the most appropriate development and wise use of land in harmony with both the neighborhood and local environment. Therefore, a site plan shall be required in certain use districts in which the scale and type of development requires local review and concern.

(2-1)

Applicability. A site plan shall be required in the following situations:

(2-2)

Site plan approval requirements—General. No person shall commence any use or erect any structure without first obtaining the approval of a site plan by the zoning administrator as set forth in this section, and no use shall be carried on, no structure erected or enlarged, and no other improvement or construction undertaken, except as shown upon an approved site plan. No certificate of occupancy shall be granted until all improvements shown on an approved site plan have been completed in accordance therewith; provided, that upon a finding by the zoning administrator that certain improvements shown on an approved site plan have been completed in accordance therewith, or provided, that upon a finding by the zoning administrator that certain improvements cannot be completed due to seasonal or other factors beyond the control of the developer and that temporary occupancy prior to completion will involve no health or safety hazard, he may instruct the building inspector to issue a temporary certificate of occupancy bearing an expiration date, which date shall allow reasonable time for completion.

(2-3)

Site plan and preliminary plat approval coordination for subdivision ordinance. Site plans may be submitted in a form to satisfy the requirements of the Covington City Subdivision Ordinance (appendix A to the Code of Ordinances) in submission of preliminary plats.

(2-4)

Exemptions from site plan requirements. The lawful construction, alteration and occupancy of a single- or two-family dwelling or mobile home, with or without a garage, on a lot on which there exists no other building or use; any lawful use, alteration or construction in districts M-1 and M-2, which is more than 200 feet distant from any lot line; any lawful use, alteration or construction in any residential districts, R-1, R-2 and R-3; are exempt from the site plan requirements of this ordinance. Any alteration of any use or structure upon less than ten percent of the lot area is also exempt from the site plan requirements of this ordinance. Exemption from site plan requirements does not authorize violation of any other provision of this ordinance.

Every site plan shall be submitted to the zoning administrator in three identical copies on one or more sheets of paper measuring not more than 24 [inches] by 36 inches, drawn to a scale not smaller than 40 feet to the inch, certified by a registered land surveyor or professional engineer, which shall show the following:

(3-1)

The boundary lines of the area included in the site plan, including angles, dimensions and reference to a section corner, quarter corner or point on a recorded plat, an arrow pointing north and the lot area of the land included in the site plan.

(3-2)

Existing and proposed grades and drainage systems and structures with topographic contours at intervals not exceeding two feet.

(3-3)

The shape, size, location, height and floor area of all structures, and the finished ground and basement floor grades.

(3-4)

Natural features such as woodlots, streams and lakes or ponds and man-made features such as existing roads and structures, with indication as to which are to be retained and which removed or altered. Adjacent properties and their uses shall be identified.

(3-5)

Proposed streets, driveways, parking spaces, loading spaces and sidewalks, with indication of direction of travel for one-way streets and drives and inside radii of all curves. The width of streets, driveways and sidewalks and the total number of parking spaces shall be shown.

(3-6)

The size and location of all existing and proposed public and private utilities and required landscaping.

(3-7)

A vicinity sketch showing the location of the site in relation to the surrounding street system.

(3-8)

A legal description of the land included in the site plan and of the lot; the name, address and telephone number of the owner, developer and designer.

(3-9)

Any other information necessary to establish compliance with this and other ordinances or the availability of adequate utility capacity.

Upon receipt of any site plan, the zoning administrator shall review it to determine whether it is in proper form, contains all of the required information, shows compliance with this and all other ordinances of Covington, and demonstrates the adequacy of utility service. Upon demand by the proposer of the site plan, the zoning administrator shall, within 20 days, approve it in writing or deny approval in writing, setting forth in detail his reasons, which shall be limited to any defect in form or required information, any violation of any provision of this or any other ordinance, or the inadequacy of any utility, and any changes which would make the plan acceptable. The applicant may appeal any denial to the board of zoning appeals.

After a site plan has been approved by the zoning administrator, minor adjustments of the site plan, which comply with the spirit of this article and other provisions of this ordinance, may be approved by the zoning administrator. Deviation from an approved site plan without the written approval of the zoning administrator shall void the plan and the zoning administrator shall require the applicant to submit a new site plan for consideration. Any major revision of an approved site plan shall be made in the same manner as originally approved.