The purpose of this article is to promote the orderly development of certain activities in the town and to ensure that such activities are developed in a manner harmonious with surrounding properties and in the interest of the general public welfare. More specifically, the site plan shall be used to review a project's compatibility with its environment; to review the ability of a project's traffic circulation system to provide for the convenient and safe internal and external movement of vehicles and pedestrians; to review the quantity, quality, utility, and type of a project's required community facilities; and to review the location and adequacy of a project's provision for drainage and utilities. Where applicable, additional site plan requirements needed to meet the requirements of the Chesapeake Bay Protection Act are set forth in the Chesapeake Bay Protection Act overlay ordinance may be requested.

(Code 1989, § 24-109; Ord. eff. 6-5-1962; Ord. of 3-24-1997; Amd. of 7-14-1997)

A site development plan is required and shall be submitted for the following:

(1)

Any development in which automobile parking space is to be used by more than one business or residence.

(2)

Any use or development, not including accessory buildings of less than 500 square feet, in all zoning districts except single-family detached dwelling units where a plat is submitted pursuant to the subdivision ordinance of the town.

(3)

When a change is proposed in a previously approved site development plan.

(4)

When an existing residential use is proposed for change to a business, industrial, or multifamily residential use.

(5)

All public and/or semi-public buildings.

(6)

All other uses involving a structure required to be reviewed by the town for consistency with the comprehensive plan as required under Code of Virginia, § 15.2-2232, as amended.

(7)

Any development in a designated Chesapeake Bay Protection Area.

(Code 1989, § 24-110; Ord. eff. 6-5-1962; Ord. of 3-24-1997; Amd. of 7-14-1997; Amd. of 2-9-1998)

The provisions of this article shall apply to any use as specified in the rules and regulations of each zoning district.

(Code 1989, § 24-111; Ord. eff. 6-5-1962; Ord. of 3-24-1997; Amd. of 7-14-1997)

Any requirement of this article may be waived by the town council where the waiver is not adverse to the purpose of this article and the applicant establishes that in his specific case an undue hardship would result from a strict enforcement of this article, or that the requirement is unreasonable.

(Code 1989, § 24-112; Ord. eff. 6-5-1962; Ord. of 3-24-1997; Amd. of 7-14-1997)

Every site plan shall be prepared in accordance with the following specifications:

(1)

The scale shall be appropriate for the proposed construction.

(2)

All site plans shall not exceed 24-inch by 36-inch sheets.

(3)

If the site plan is prepared on more than one sheet, match lines shall clearly indicate where the several sheets join.

(4)

Horizontal dimensions shall be in feet and fractions of a foot.

(Code 1989, § 24-113; Ord. eff. 6-5-1962; Ord. of 3-24-1997; Amd. of 7-14-1997)

(a)

The site plan, or any portion thereof, involving engineering, urban planning, landscape architecture, architecture or land surveying shall be prepared by qualified persons.

(b)

The site plan shall include, but not be limited to, the following:

(1)

The proposed title of the project and the names of the engineer, architect, landscape architect, surveyor and/or developer; the name of the developer; and a signature panel for the zoning administrator's approval.

(2)

The north point, scale, data and vicinity map.

(3)

Existing zoning and zoning district boundaries on the property in question and on immediately surrounding properties.

(4)

The present use of all contiguous or abutting property.

(5)

The boundaries of the property involved as described in the deed.

(6)

All existing property lines, existing streets, buildings, watercourses, waterways or lakes and other existing physical features in or adjoining properties, need only be shown in approximate scale and proportion.

(7)

The location and sizes of sanitary and storm sewers, gas lines, water mains, culverts and other underground structures, all overhead utilities and their supporting poles in or affecting the project, including existing and proposed facilities and easements for these facilities.

(8)

The location, dimensions, and character of construction of proposed streets, alleys, driveways and the location, type and size of ingress and egress to the site.

(9)

When proposed streets intersect with or adjoin existing streets, both edges of existing pavement surface or curb and gutter must be indicated for a minimum of 150 feet or the length of connections, whichever is the greater distance.

(10)

The location of all existing and proposed off-street parking and parking bays, loading spaces, and walkways, indicating types of surfacing, size, angle of stalls, width of aisles, and a specific schedule showing the number of parking spaces.

(11)

The location of all trees on the site with a diameter of six inches or greater at the DBH (diameter, breast high). The site plan shall show heavily wooded areas and trees to be removed which shall be designated by symbols coincident with the areas of the trees; and an indication of which trees are to be retained and which are to be removed.

(12)

The location, height, type, and material of all existing and proposed terraces, fences, walls, retaining walls, screening, any shoreline stabilization structures, and outdoor lighting systems.

(13)

The location and proposed general use for each building; and the number, size, and type of dwelling units where applicable.

(14)

Provisions for the adequate disposition of surface water in accordance with design criteria and construction standards of the town indicating location, sizes, types, and grades of ditches, catchbasins and pipes and connection to existing drainage system.

(15)

Provisions and schedule for the adequate control of erosion and sedimentation for development or redevelopment exceeding 2,500 square feet, in accordance with the county erosion and sediment control ordinance.

(16)

Proposed finished grading by contour supplemented where necessary by spot evaluation.

(17)

100-year floodplain limit studies as required by the administrator.

(18)

The location, character, size, height, and orientation of proposed signs.

(19)

Locations and acreage of all open spaces, required buffer areas and identification of areas for and improvements to all recreational facilities.

(20)

Any necessary notes required by the administrator to explain the purpose of specific items on the plan.

(21)

The administrator may request additional information other than what has previously been stated when deemed necessary to protect the health, safety and general welfare of the citizens of the town.

(22)

Location of applicable CBPAs.

(Code 1989, § 24-114; Ord. eff. 6-5-1962; Ord. of 3-24-1997; Amd. of 7-14-1997)

The following improvements and minimum standards, as applicable, shall be required and provided for in a site development plan:

(1)

All street and highway construction standards and geometric design standards shall be in accord with those specified by the state department of highways and transportation.

(2)

The pavement of vehicular travel lanes, driveways, or alleys designed to permit vehicular travel on the site and to-and-from adjacent property and parking areas shall be not less than 20 feet in width for two-way traffic and ten feet for one-way traffic.

(3)

Cul-de-sacs shall be designed and constructed in accordance with the street standards specified by the Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT), and may not be construed or employed as parking areas.

(4)

Minimum utility easement width shall be 20 feet unless specifically reduced as specified by the administrator. Where multiple structures or pipes are installed, the edge of the easement shall be five feet clear of the outside pipes. Where easements do not follow the established lot lines, the nearest edge of any easement shall be a minimum of five feet from any building.

(5)

Sidewalks and pedestrian walkways shall be designed to enable patrons and tenants to walk safely and conveniently from one building to another within the site and adjacent sites.

(6)

All required screening shall be sufficiently dense or opaque to screen development effectively from the adjacent properties.

(7)

In order to preserve the character and natural environment and to provide visual and noise buffering, the administrator may refuse to approve any site plan which proposed unnecessary destruction of trees and other natural features and unnecessary land disturbances. The town council may require assurance that the developer has made reasonable effort in light of the proposed development to preserve, replenish, and protect trees of six-inch diameter or larger at the DBH, ornamental trees of any size; trees within required setbacks or along boundaries unless necessary to remove for access, grading, circulation, utilities, or drainage; and streams in their natural condition and limits to the amount of impervious cover to the extent practicable.

(Code 1989, § 24-115; Ord. eff. 6-5-1962; Ord. of 3-24-1997; Amd. of 7-14-1997)

(a)

Authority for review and approval. Site plans may be approved administratively by the administrator after first distributing the plan to required county and state departments and to the town planning commission for written comments.

(b)

Preapplication conference. All applicants are encouraged to request a preapplication review conference. The purpose of the conference is to discuss the basic site plan, off-street parking, signs and other town ordinance requirements, utilities and drainage and to consider preliminary features of the proposed development as they relate to this article.

(c)

Review and approval of final site plan.

(1)

Sufficient copies, as required by the administrator, of the final plan shall be submitted to the administrator. The administrator shall notify the applicant within 20 days of the action taken, which may be approval, approval subject to conditions or disapproval.

(2)

An applicant may appeal the decision of the administrator within 30 days in writing to the board of zoning appeals in accordance with article XVI of this chapter.

(Code 1989, § 24-116; Ord. eff. 6-5-1962; Ord. of 3-24-1997; Amd. of 7-14-1997)

(a)

An approved site plan shall expire and become null and void if no building permit has been obtained for the site in 12 months after the final approval.

(b)

The town council may grant an extension of one year.

(Code 1989, § 24-117; Ord. eff. 6-5-1962; Ord. of 3-24-1997; Amd. of 7-14-1997)

If it becomes necessary for an approved site plan to be changed, the administrator shall, at the applicant's request, either administratively approve an amendment to the site plan or, if the change is major, require that a new site plan be drawn and submitted for review and action in accordance with this article.

(Code 1989, § 24-118; Ord. eff. 6-5-1962; Ord. of 3-24-1997; Amd. of 7-14-1997)

(a)

No zoning permit shall be issued to construct, erect, or alter any building or structure or any permit or authorization granted to improve or develop land subject to the provisions of this article, unless a site development plan has been submitted and approved.

(b)

Clearing or grading and construction may begin upon approval of the site plan by the zoning administrator, payment of all required plan fees and acquisition of building permits. All building and occupancy permits shall be issued in accordance with approved site plans.

(Code 1989, § 24-119; Ord. eff. 6-5-1962; Ord. of 3-24-1997; Amd. of 7-14-1997)

(a)

Inspections shall be made, during the installation of offsite and onsite improvements, by the zoning administrator or his designated representative in their areas of responsibility, to ensure compliance with the approved site plan.

(b)

The owner or developer shall provide adequate supervision at the site during installation of improvements required by the site development plan and shall make one set of approved plans available at the site at all times that work is being performed.

(Code 1989, § 24-120; Ord. eff. 6-5-1962; Ord. of 3-24-1997; Amd. of 7-14-1997)