The applicant at the time of filing a submission to the Planning Board or Zoning Board shall pay to the City of Port Republic the required application fees and escrows.[1] The application fees are nonrefundable. The escrow fees will be paid to the City and are held to cover the costs of Board professional services and other expenses and administrative costs. In addition to the above fees and escrows, the applicant shall pay to the City of Port Republic a nonrefundable fee in the following amounts to be used by the City to revise the City's Tax Map as a result of subdivisions of land within the City limits:

The required escrows are estimates and the actual amounts needed may be less than or more than the amounts indicated. Any escrow funds not used will be returned to the applicant at the conclusion of the matter without interest. If the escrow funds are substantially depleted before the conclusion of the matter, the applicant will be required to post additional funds in order to return the escrows to the original required amounts and to have the matter proceed.

If at the conclusion of the matter there are not sufficient escrow funds to cover all costs of the City, a bill for such deficiency will be submitted to the applicant and will be paid immediately. In the event that it is necessary for the City to file suit to collect any unpaid costs, the applicant will be responsible for all costs of collection, including reasonable attorney's fees. The City may enforce payment by the withholding of building permits or certificates of occupancy.

Where one submission includes more than one application or request for relief, or where preliminary and final approval is sought simultaneously, the applicant shall be responsible for payment of the sum of all of the individually required fees and escrows. The Board may, however, waive any portion of the required escrows where it appears reasonably likely that the full amount normally required would not be necessary. The applicant would not be relieved of the obligation to post the full required escrow amounts should the Board subsequently determine it necessary. Also, the applicant would still remain responsible for paying the actual amount of Board expenses and costs.

Waiver. Existing single-family homes are permitted to add accessory buildings and structures, such as garages, sheds, outbuildings, pools and the like, and the Planning Board may waive site plan approval if the applicant can clearly demonstrate that there is no likelihood of an adverse impact on any wetlands area based upon such factors as the size and location of the proposed improvement, the extent of any required disturbance, the distance to the wetlands, the ground contours and elevations, the extent of existing vegetation and similar factors. The applicant shall submit a waiver application to the Planning Board, pay the required application fee and, if specifically required by the Planning Board, post the specified review escrow. The posting of the escrow is only required if the Planning Board requires review of the application by the Board's consulting engineer or other professional.

Storm damage restoration. Any application for variance relief for the repair, restoration or replacement of a residential structure damaged by flood, windstorm or hurricane shall only be required to post the required escrow for such application, but not the otherwise applicable application fees. The payment of such fees are waived in such circumstances.