The purpose of the site plan review process is to evaluate new development of permitted uses and certain changes of use from one permitted use to another for conformance with the standards of the zoning ordinance. The site plan review process promotes the health and welfare of residents and business owners of Murray City by allowing for a coordinated review of a development by various City departments. (Ord. 09-20 § 2)

Site plan review shall be required prior to the issuance of a building permit or business license for all permitted uses listed for each zone unless exempted from the requirement by section 17.54.030 of this chapter. The following types of development activities shall require site plan review approval:

   A.   New construction;

   B.   Changes of use within an existing building where there is an increase in parking demand, unless the applicant can demonstrate that the site has sufficient parking to meet the requirements of this Code;

   C.   Uses which include outdoor storage;

   D.   Temporary storage containers;

   E.   Construction of drive-through windows;

   F.   Development of new parking lots greater than one thousand (1,000) square feet in size;

   G.   Major changes to the site, including changes to parking and landscaping layout;

   H.   Unusual circumstances or issues, as deemed necessary by the Community and Economic Development Director. (Ord. 09-20 § 2)

The following types of developments may proceed directly to business license or building permit review without the need for site plan review:

   A.   Construction, expansion or remodel of a single-family home or duplex or accessory structures typically associated with a single-family home or duplex;

   B.   Expansions of five hundred (500) square feet or less to existing conforming buildings provided the expansion is less than twenty five percent (25%) of existing square footage of the building;

   C.   A change of use within an existing structure where there is no increase in required parking or increase in traffic generation greater than one hundred (100) average daily trips (ADT) or ten (10) peak hour trips;

   D.   Other permitted uses and development activities that have a minimal impact on adjacent properties as determined by the Community and Economic Development Department. (Ord. 09-20 § 2)

An application for site plan review shall be submitted to the Community and Economic Development Department along with the accompanying fee. Applications for site plan review shall include, at a minimum, the following information:

   A.   A completed site plan review application including a site plan containing the minimum information required for review. Site plan requirements may be obtained from the Community and Economic Development Department;

   B.   Signature of the owner of the property to be developed;

   C.   The Site Plan Review Committee may request additional information in order to complete their review. Examples of additional information which may be requested include traffic reports, environmental reports, geotechnical reports, and any other information necessary for the committee to complete their analysis.

Applications will not be scheduled for site plan review until staff has deemed the application complete. (Ord. 09-20 § 2)

The City charges a fee for site plan review applications, which must be paid at the time the application is submitted. The fee will be established by the Mayor in a written fee schedule in an amount reasonably necessary to defray costs of processing an application. The written fee schedule will be made available for public inspection in the City's Public Works Department. (Ord. 18-06)

Applications for site plan review shall be reviewed by the Site Plan Review Committee comprised of representatives of the City Engineering, Building, Fire, Police, Water and Sewer, Power, Urban Forestry, and Parks and Recreation Departments. The committee will review the proposed development and provide recommendations which will be collected by planning staff. After reviewing the recommendations of the Site Plan Review Committee, the Community and Economic Development Director or designee shall determine whether the proposed development meets the requirements of this title. In doing so, the Director may require conditions related to bring the site into conformance with the zoning ordinance. (Ord. 09-20 § 2)

The community and economic development department shall coordinate the comments of the site plan review committee and shall issue their formal written decision on an application for site plan review in the form of a site plan review letter which will be mailed to the applicant of record and property owner within thirty (30) days of the site plan review committee meeting. (Ord. 09-20 § 2)

The applicant and/or property owner of any property for which site plan review has been applied may appeal the decision of the community and economic development department to the appeal authority. An appeal must be presented in writing within thirty (30) days after the date of the site plan review letter. (Ord. 14-10: Ord. 09-20 § 2)

Following approval of site plan review, the community and economic development department shall approve an application for a building permit upon submittal of plans meeting the conditions contained in the site plan review letter. Representatives of the community and economic development department shall inspect the site to ensure that all required improvements meet the conditions of the site plan review and this title before a certificate of occupancy is issued by the building division and/or prior to the issuance of a business license and before an application for permanent or temporary power from the property may be approved by the city power department. (Ord. 22-33: Ord. 09-20 § 2)

A site plan review, once approved, affects real property regardless of change in ownership and all subsequent owners are subject to those conditions so long as the site is being operated. If the site or use becomes nonconforming due to a later amendment of this title, the provisions of chapter 17.52 of this title relating to nonconforming buildings and uses shall apply. (Ord. 22-33: Ord. 09-20 § 2)