Portsmouth City Zoning Code
ARTICLE XI
Development Plan Review
Section A
Development plan review of applications for certain uses, as specified in this Ordinance, requiring a special-use permit or a variance, shall be conducted by the Planning Board and the Design Review Board, as applicable, and shall be advisory to the permitting authority.
Section B
Applications subject to Development Plan Review shall, immediately upon receipt of an application hereunder, refer the site plan and related documents, as required in this ordinance, to the Portsmouth Planning Board and the Design Review Board, as applicable, for review and advice. Two (2) copies each of the site plan and supportive documents required in Articles VII and IX shall be delivered to the Portsmouth Planning Board and the Design Review Board, plus whatever plans and documents are required by each Board for their review. The Design Review Board shall hold a special meeting(s) as required for its review, and report its recommendations to the Planning Board. Said Planning Board shall make a written report to the Zoning Board of Review within forty-five (45) days of receipt of said plan by the Planning Board at its next regularly scheduled meeting.
1.
The Planning Board shall assume primary responsibility for the processing and approval of all development plan review applications. However, for all applications requiring Design Review, as stipulated in Article VII, the Planning Board shall rely upon the expertise of a Design Review Board, which is established as a subcommittee of the Planning Board for design review matters.
2.
Where the decision of the Zoning Board of Review differs from the recommendations of the Portsmouth Planning Board, the reasons therefor shall be clearly stated in writing.
Section C
Applications which are materially changed after review by the Planning Board may, at the discretion of the Zoning Board of Review, be referred back to the Planning Board and the Design Review Board for further review.
Section D
Nothing herein shall be construed to permit waivers of any regulations unless approved by the permitting authority pursuant to this ordinance.
Section E
Preliminary plans may be submitted to the Planning Board and the Design Review Board for informal discussion, provided however, any tentative advisory opinion of a preliminary plan by the Planning Board and the Design Review Board shall not be binding upon the Planning Board, Design Review Board, or Zoning Board of Review.