There is a mutual responsibility between the County of Mathews and the developer to develop the land in an orderly and environmentally compatible manner.

The purpose is to encourage innovative and creative design and facilitate use of the most advantageous techniques in the development of land in Mathews County, and to insure the efficient use of land and resources and to promote high standards in the layout, design, landscaping and construction of development.

Single-family dwellings, two-family dwellings, individual manufactured homes and accessory buildings and structures to single-family dwellings, two-family dwellings and individual manufactured homes.

Individual private piers, docks, boat ramps, boat houses, hunting blinds, other private recreation facilities, shoreline stabilization structures, tennis courts, swimming pools, and other buildings or structures normally accessory to permitted principal residential, recreational or conservation uses that may or may not be situated on a lot having a single-family dwelling, two-family dwelling or individual manufactured home.

A subdivision for single-family dwellings and/or individual manufactured homes (excluding manufactured home parks, which shall submit a site plan per the terms of Article 17) where a site development plan has been submitted and approved in accordance with the existing subdivision, erosion and sediment control and other land development ordinances of the County and the standards of the Virginia Departments of Transportation and Health.

Wayside and roadside stands; signs.

Any farming, horticultural, silvicultural or forestal activity.

Any individual home occupation, general retail business or professional office or activity and their accessory buildings containing less than 5,000 square feet in floor space. (Newly constructed developments containing two or more businesses and all businesses providing fuel service to the motoring public shall submit a site plan per the terms of Article 17 regardless of the square footage of each proposed business within the development or the business providing the fuel service.)

Location of tract or parcel by vicinity map at a scale of not less than one inch equals 2,000 feet, and landmarks sufficient to properly identify the location of the property.

A boundary survey of the proposed site or a certified copy of a previously recorded survey. If a boundary survey is required, a certificate or plat signed by the engineer or surveyor setting forth the source and title of the owner of the tract and the place of record of the last instrument in the chain of title.

Existing and proposed streets and easements, their names, numbers and widths; existing and proposed utilities of all types; water courses and their names; owners, zoning and present use of adjoining tracts.

Location, type and size of ingress and egress to the site.

Location, type, size, floor area, number of floors and height of all structures; fencing, screening, and retaining walls where required under the provision of applicable ordinances; and proposed general use for each building; if a multifamily residential building, townhouse or patio house, the number, size and type of dwelling units shall be shown.

All off-street parking and parking bays, loading spaces and walkways indicating type of surfacing, size, angle of stalls, width of aisles and a specific schedule showing the number of parking spaces provided and the number required in accordance with this chapter.

All shoreline alteration, including dredging, filling, and bulkheading as approved by the appropriate local, state and federal regulatory agencies and commissions. Provision for disposition of spoils. Provision for the prevention of saltwater intrusion. Provision for preservation of the ecology of the area and prevention of damage to the groundwater supply.

Existing and proposed water and sanitary sewer facilities indicating all pipe sizes, types, and grades and where connection is to be made to an existing or a proposed central water and sewer system.

Provision for the adequate disposition of natural and stormwater in accordance with design criteria and construction standards of the Commonwealth of Virginia and/or Mathews County in effect at the time the site plan is submitted indicating location, sizes, types and grades of ditches, catch basins and pipes, and connections to existing drainage system.

Provisions and schedule for the adequate control of erosion and sedimentation indicating proposed temporary and permanent control practices and measures which shall be implemented during all phases of clearing, grading and construction in keeping with the requirements of the Soil Erosion and Sediment Control Ordinance of Mathews County.[1]

As applicable, existing topography and finished grading in conformance with the Mathews County Erosion and Sediment Control Ordinance and Virginia Department of Transportation standards.

All dimensions shown per standard surveying industry practices.

If required by this chapter or the Zoning Administrator per terms of this chapter, a landscape design plan.

Provisions for firefighting services and facilities, including emergency services, if deemed appropriate.

The site plan or any portion thereof shall be prepared by persons qualified to do such work.

The site plan shall show the name and address of the owner or developer, magisterial district, County, state, North point, date, and scale of drawing and number of sheets. In addition it shall reserve a blank space four inches by four inches in size on the plan face for the use of the approving authority.

The site plan may be prepared on one or more sheets drawn to a scale noted thereon. If prepared on more than one sheet, match lines shall clearly indicate where the several sheets join. Six clearly legible copies of a site development plan shall be filed with the agent for Mathews County.

Profile shall be submitted for all sanitary and storm sewers, streets and curbs adjacent thereto, and other utilities and shall be submitted on standard profile sheets. Special studies as required may be submitted on standard cross-section paper and shall have a scale approved by the Zoning Administrator. No sheet size shall exceed 42 inches. Floodplain limit studies required shall be shown on all profile sheets with reference to properties affected and center line of stream.

In addition to the information required on site development plans by § 175-17.3 and above, the following specific items shall also be shown on all site development plans if applicable:

All improvements required by this article shall be installed at the cost of the developer. Where cost sharing or reimbursement agreements between the County of Mathews and the developer are appropriate, the same shall be recognized by formal written agreement prior to site development plan approval, and shall be subject to the Virginia Department of Transportation review and acceptance. Where specifications have been established either by the Virginia Department of Transportation for streets, etc., or by this chapter for related facilities and utilities, such specifications shall be followed. The developer's performance bond shall not be released until construction has been inspected and accepted by the County and the Virginia Department of Transportation.

Prior to approval of any site plan, there shall be executed by the owner or developer an agreement to construct required physical improvements located within public rights-of-way or easements or connected to any public facility, together with a bond with surety approved by the governing body in the amount of the estimated cost of the required physical improvements as determined by the agent for Mathews County. The agreement and bond or condition shall provide for the completion of all work within a time specified to be determined by the agent.

Lot sizes and densities for residential areas shall conform to the Zoning Ordinance in effect for the County of Mathews at the time of filing of the site development plan.

Condominium and common wall house projects of all types shall indicate on the plat those areas reserved for rental purposes and those areas reserved for sale purposes. All common wall housing projects where programmed for sale purposes shall be required to submit a subdivision plat showing all lots as required Subdivision Ordinance of Mathews County.[1]

Where the adopted Comprehensive Plan for Mathews County indicates a proposed right-of-way greater than that existing along the boundaries of the site development plan, such additional right-of-way shall be dedicated for public use when the plan is approved. Where a site development plan is presented on public streets of less than 50 feet in width, additional right-of-way shall be required so that the public street or right-of-way shall be a minimum of 25 feet from the existing centerline if so required to meet the standards and criteria of the Virginia Department of Transportation. All building setbacks shall be measured from the additional dedicated right-of-way.

All accessway, street and highway construction standards and geometric design, including, but not limited to, right-of-way, width, surface treatment and drainage, shall be in accord with those specified in the Subdivision Ordinance of Mathews County for all single-family subdivisions under the purview of the Subdivision Ordinance.[2] All accessway geometric design for all other permitted uses and developments shall be in accord with those specified by the Virginia Department of Transportation as based upon the estimated vehicle trips per day for the proposed use, project or development.

The pavement of vehicular traffic lanes or driveways designed to permit vehicular travel on the site and to and from adjacent property and parking areas shall be not less than 25 feet in width.

Where pipe stem residential lots are used in a site development plan, the width of the pipe stem (driveway) shall not be less than 25 feet.

Culs-de-sac shall be designed and constructed in accordance with the street standards specified in the Subdivision Ordinance of Mathews County,[3] and may not be construed or employed as a parking bay.

Parking bays shall be constructed to the same construction standard as the appurtenant public street to which the parking bay abuts and be of a dustless surface. This requirement shall apply also to interior travel lanes or driveways. Every parking bay shall be so designed that no vehicle when parked will overhang property lines, sidewalks or moving travel lanes, public or private.

Where geometric design standards are modified from those required in the Subdivision Ordinance of Mathews County as set forth in Subsection F above, the developer shall be responsible for the placing of "No Parking" signs on all travel lanes, driveways, or streets to prohibit parking on such roads or driveways.

Adequate easements shall be provided for drainage and all utilities. Minimum easement width shall be 15 feet. Where multiple structures or pipes are installed or the edge of the easements do not follow the established lot lines, the nearest edge of any easement shall be a minimum of five feet from any building.

Adequate drainage for the disposition of storm and natural waters both on and off-site shall be provided. The extent and nature of both on-site and off-site treatment is to be determined by the developer in conference with the agent for Mathews County.

Provision shall be made for all necessary temporary and permanent erosion and sedimentation control measures, both on and off-site as determined to meet the provisions of the Mathews County Erosion and Sediment Control Ordinance.[4]

Adequate provision shall be made by the developer for all utilities, both on and off-site. Design requirements shall be established by the developer in conference with the agent for Mathews County.

All public facilities, utility and drainage easements outside the right-of-way of public streets or accessways are to be shown on the final site development plan. Where it is necessary to place public utilities in public rights-of-way, a permit shall first be obtained from the governing body or its agent for such installation. Utility installations to be installed in public streets and rights-of-way shall be coordinated with street construction plans and profiles approved by the Virginia Department of Highways and Transportation resident engineer for Mathews County and, if applicable, County public service district officials.

Adequate fire hydrants and distribution systems shall be provided by the developer in areas where central or public water systems are available.

Provision shall be made for sidewalks and pedestrian walkways which will enable patrons and/or tenants to walk safely and conveniently from one building to another or to adjacent sites as well.

Landscape planting, screening, fences, walks, curbs, gutters and other physical improvements as required by ordinances and the regulations of the Virginia Department of Transportation and shall be provided by the developer.

One set of approved plans, profiles and specifications shall be at the site at all times when work is being performed.

Upon the completion of all required improvements shown on the approved site development plan, the developer shall submit to the agent for the governing body two copies of the completed as-built site plan or building location plat certified by an engineer, architect or surveyor. The as-built site plan shall be submitted at least one week prior to the anticipated occupancy of any building for the review and approval by the agent for conformity with the approved site plan and the ordinances and regulations of Mathews County and state agencies.

The approval of a site development plan or the installation of the improvements as required in this chapter shall not obligate the County to accept improvements for maintenance, repair or operation. Acceptance shall be subject to County and/or state regulations, where applicable, concerning the acceptance of each type of improvement.

The agent appointed by resolution by the governing body is delegated the authority and power to administer the site development plan regulations.

The agent shall be responsible for the receipt, review, processing and approval of site development plans.

The agent may request opinions and/or decisions from other departments, divisions, agencies, or authorities of the County government, officials, departments or agencies of the Commonwealth of Virginia and the federal government, or from other persons as may from time to time be retained.

The agent, subject to approval of the governing body, may from time to time establish reasonable administrative procedures necessary for the proper administration of the ordinance.

Any person aggrieved of any decision of the agent pursuant to this chapter may within 10 days of such decision appeal in writing to have a determination made by the governing body.

Approval, modification and approval, or disapproval, of a site development plan by the governing body or its agent shall occur within 60 days of filing of the required documents in the office of the agent, unless abnormal circumstances exist in which case time may be extended by action of the governing body.

No public easement, right-of-way or public dedication shown on any site development plan shall be accepted for dedication for public use until such proposed dedication shall first be approved by the governing body and evidence of such approval is shown on the instrument to be recorded.

Final approval of a site plan submitted under the terms of this article shall expire five years after the date of such approval. During that period all building permits shall be obtained and the development shall be put into use.

No permit shall be issued by any administrative officer or agent of Mathews County for the construction of any building or improvement requiring a permit in any area covered by the site development plan except in conformity to the provisions of this chapter and after approval of a site development plan.

County and state agencies responsible for the supervision and enforcement of this chapter shall periodically inspect the site during the period of construction.

Upon compliance with the terms of this chapter and the satisfactory completion of construction, the agent of Mathews County shall furnish a certificate of approval. Certificates of approval, upon ratification by the governing body shall release all of the bonds which may have been furnished.

Any requirement of Article 17 may be waived by the governing body where the applicant establishes that an undue hardship would be created by the strict enforcement of this chapter, providing such a waiver, as requested, shall not be adverse to the purposes of this chapter.

No change, revision, or erasure shall be made on any pending or final site development plan or on any accompanying data sheet where approval has been endorsed on the plat or sheets unless authorization for such changes is granted in writing by the approving body or the agent.

Any site development plan may be revised, provided request for revision shall be filed and processed in the same manner as the original site plan.

The Board of Supervisors, by resolution, shall establish from time to time a schedule of fees for the examination and approval or disapproval of site development plans. Such fee shall be payable to the Treasurer of Mathews County and shall be submitted to the agent in the following manner: 50% due and payable at the time of filing a site development plan, and 50% due and payable prior to final approval.

The Board of Supervisors reserves the right to review a site plan and any action of the agent.