Soap Lake City Zoning Code
CHAPTER 17
49 SITE PLAN REVIEW
§ 17.49.010 Intent.
This chapter is intended to provide procedures for the review of site plan applications. Site plan review shall be required for any new commercial or industrial development and use or the conversion of one use to another on an established site. Site plan review is intended to ensure that new development projects carried out in given zoning districts are executed in a manner consistent with existing ordinances concerning public utilities, traffic, facilities, and services and provide unified site design, access, landscaping, screening, building placement, and parking lot layout. The site plan review process is not intended to review and determine the appropriateness of a given use on a given site. It is intended to ensure that development of a site will provide the features necessary to protect the health, safety, and general welfare of the citizens of the city.
(Ord. 1105 § 1, 2009; Ord. 1325 § 2 (Exh. B), 2022)
§ 17.49.020 Applicability.
§ 17.49.030 Site plans and review.
Any use that is subject to the requirements for a site plan review prior to issuance of building permits shall be processed in accordance with the following procedures:
A.
Application. An application for site plan approval may be filed by the property owner, lessee of the property with more than a month-to-month tenancy, or authorized agent of the property owner. These shall be submitted to the planner for transmittal to the planning agency with analysis and recommendation.
B.
Planning Agency Review. Unless a public hearing is required as a condition of the use (i.e., conditional use permit) the site plan review process shall be an administrative review. The review shall include at a minimum the following:
C.
The review and decision shall be in accordance with the provisions of this chapter.
(Ord. 1105 § 1, 2009; Ord. 1325 § 2 (Exh. B), 2022)
§ 17.49.040 Preliminary site plan conference.
Prior to applying for site plan review, a developer may present to city staff a preliminary site plan, which shall contain in a rough and approximate manner all of the information required on the site plan application. The purpose of the conference is to enable the developer to obtain the advice of city staff as to the intent, standards, and provisions of this chapter with regard to the proposed plan. Information presented for preliminary site plan discussion shall be considered confidential.
(Ord. 1105 § 1, 2009)
§ 17.49.050 Contents of application.
Each application for site plan review shall contain the following information:
A.
An environmental checklist when required.
B.
The title and location of the proposed development, together with the names, addresses, and telephone numbers of the recorded owners of the land and the applicant, and if applicable, the name, address, and telephone number of any architect, planner, designer, or engineer responsible for the preparation of the plan, and of any authorized representative of the applicant.
C.
A written description addressing the scope of the project, the nature and size in gross floor area of each use, and the total amount of square feet to be covered by impervious surfaces.
D.
A vicinity map showing site boundaries and existing roads and accesses within and bounding the site.
E.
A topographic map delineating contours, existing and proposed, at five-foot intervals and which locates existing streams, marshes, and other natural features.
F.
Site plans drawn to a scale no smaller than one inch equals 30 feet showing location and size of uses, buffer areas, yards, open spaces, and landscaped areas and any existing structures, easements, and utilities.
G.
A circulation plan drawn to a scale acceptable to the municipal services director illustrating all access points for the site, the size and location of all driveways, streets and roads with proposed width and outside turning radius, the location, size and design of parking and loading areas, and existing and proposed pedestrian circulation system.
H.
A drainage and stormwater runoff plan.
I.
A utility plan.
J.
A plot plan of all proposed landscaping including the treatment and materials used for open spaces, and the types of plants and screening to be used.
K.
Typical building elevation and architectural style.
L.
Landscaping and irrigation plan.
M.
Any other information deemed pertinent by the city staff.
(Ord. 1105 § 1, 2009)
§ 17.49.060 Application open for public inspection.
From the time of the filing of the application until the time of final action by the city, the application together with all plans and data submitted shall be available for public inspection upon request.
(Ord. 1105 § 1, 2009)
§ 17.49.070 Duration of approval.
Construction on the project must commence within 24 months from the date of final agency action; otherwise, the approval of the project becomes null and void. Construction may include approved site work or building construction.
(Ord. 1105 § 1, 2009)
§ 17.49.080 Amendments to a site plan.
A.
Minor adjustments may be made and approved when a building permit is issued. Any such alteration must be approved by the zoning administrator. Minor adjustments are those which may affect the precise dimensions or siting of buildings (i.e., lot coverage, height, setbacks) but which do not affect the basic character or arrangement and number of buildings approved in the plan, nor the density of the development or the amount and quality of open space and landscaping. Such dimensional adjustments shall not vary more than 10 percent from the original, but shall not exceed the standards of the applicable district.
B.
Major amendments are those which substantially change the character, basic design, density, open space or other requirements and conditions of the site plan. When a change constitutes a major amendment, no building or other permit shall be issued without prior review and recommendation by the planning agency.
(Ord. 1105 § 1, 2009)