The purpose of site plan review is to:

(a)

Provide site-specific information on a particular site's capacity to support a proposed development.

(b)

Ensure compliance with the standards and requirements of the city as they relate to individual cases.

(c)

Provide a coordinated and timely review procedure by which to ensure comprehensive and equitable enforcement of the minimum standards of the city.

(d)

Promote and preserve the health, safety, and general welfare of the people.

(Code 1993, § 27-197)

(a)

Plot plan required. No building permit for a single-family or two-family dwelling and accessory buildings on a single lot shall be issued until a plot plan, in accordance with the standards of the Department of Planning and Development, has been approved.

(b)

Site plan required. No other building permit shall be issued on a lot until a site plan, in accordance with the standards of section 40-471, has been approved for the development. No new or amended site plan shall be required if an adequate site plan is already on file, no increase in or rearrangement of parking is proposed or required, and no increase in impervious surface is proposed or required.

(Code 1993, § 27-198)

(a)

Required review. No person shall construct or engage in the construction of any building or building additions or alterations to any development until such construction, addition, or alteration has been approved and a building permit issued, subject to the following process:

(1)

A site plan, following the requirements of subsection (b) of this section, is submitted to the Department of Planning and Development.

(2)

A Technical Review Committee (TRC), made up of department heads or their designees from the Department of Planning and Development, the Electric Department, the Public Works Department, the Police Department, and the Fire and Rescue Department, reviews the plan. Other city departments may also be represented on the TRC, including the Parks and Recreation Department. Other governmental agencies, including the North Carolina Department of Transportation, the North Carolina Department of Environment and Natural Resources, Division of Coastal Management, and the United States Army Corps of Engineers, may be represented on the TRC from time to time. The Director of Planning and Development, or his designee, shall coordinate and preside over the TRC. The TRC may take any of the following actions:

a.

Approve the plan as submitted.

b.

Require that the plan be resubmitted for evaluation where revision of the plan is necessary to meet with applicable city ordinances, policies, and standards.

c.

Disapprove the plan if it cannot be approved with reasonable conditions of compliance. The reasons for such disapproval shall be set forth by the TRC. Disapproval by the TRC may be appealed to the City Manager and ultimately to the City Council, unless otherwise required to be first submitted to the Planning Board for their recommendation.

(3)

The plan is submitted to the Planning Board for approval. Unless otherwise specified in this chapter, the following development plans may be approved by the TRC without going before the City Council or Planning Board:

a.

Final Planned Unit Development (PUD) plans.

b.

Development plans for development in all business districts, all industrial districts, all residential districts, and all office and institutional districts, except the following:

1.

Recreation vehicle parks or campsites.

2.

Mobile home parks.

3.

Shopping centers.

4.

Industrial parks.

5.

All residential developments (including detached multifamily) other than one- and two-family dwellings.

(4)

If required, the Planning Board shall forward a copy of the plan with its recommendations to the City Council for their review and approval.

(5)

If the plan is approved by the TRC, or by the City Council, if required, the Building Inspector shall issue a permit for the construction, additions, or alterations as shown on the approved plan.

(6)

The Department of Planning and Development shall make an examination of the construction at any reasonable time to determine whether the work is being done in accordance with the approved plan and the specifications and requirements of this article. The owner and/or developer of the development shall make available any records, test data, or other information essential to such determination.

(7)

Where any land in the development is to be dedicated for public use, the city subdivision regulations shall be followed.

(b)

Site plan requirements. Site plans submitted for approval must be drawn to a scale of not less than one (1) inch equals one hundred (100) feet by a registered engineer, land surveyor, or architect and shall show the following information on one (1) or more sheets:

(1)

A title, date, north arrow, engineer's scale, graphic scale, and the names and addresses of the developer and the person or firm preparing the plan;

(2)

Name of the development;

(3)

A vicinity sketch with a scale no less than one (1) inch equals one thousand (1,000) feet showing the site and its relationship to the surrounding area and the nearest intersection of two (2) public streets;

(4)

Location, arrangement, and dimensions of automobile parking spaces and truck loading/unloading spaces and docks, including width of aisles and bays, proposed angle of parking, number of spaces, handicapped spaces, circulation patterns, and required buffers;

(5)

The plan conforms with applicable development standards, including United States mail delivery and pickup stations;

(6)

Show existing and finished contours at intervals of two (2) feet, in parking or paved areas the finished grade elevation may be shown instead of contours;

(7)

Proposed streetlighting for private drives and parking areas;

(8)

Location of recreational facilities and open space;

(9)

Names and locations of all proposed public or private drives, dedicated streets, and vehicular entrances and exists showing width, rights-of-way, street names, sight distance triangles at intersections, curb and gutter alignments, and location and dimensions of sidewalks, alleys, and pedestrian ways where required (curb, gutter, and storm drainage shall be installed per city specifications) with all width dimensions and improvements shown;

(10)

Provide site data regarding total acres, gross floor area of each building and/or additions (existing and proposed), proposed use of buildings, and parking tables showing both the required number of parking spaces for each use and the total number of parking spaces provided in the development plan;

(11)

Indicate type of screening to be provided;

(12)

If planting, landscaping, and/or buffering is required, show locations, sizes, common names, and number of existing and proposed plants and trees and provide a schedule for planting;

(13)

Show locations and dimensions of property lines, zoning setback lines (front, side, rear), public utility easements, and all buildings (existing and proposed);

(14)

Location of adjoining properties and buildings, with names and addresses of owners of record, and current zoning classifications;

(15)

Location of water taps, sewer taps, septic tank locations, septic tank drain fields, and fire hydrants, showing size of lines and meters;

(16)

Location and dimensions of proposed and existing water lines, sanitary sewer lines, and storm sewer lines;

(17)

Location of electrical service connections, meters, and poles;

(18)

Location and dimensions of bridges, culverts, railroads, and watercourses, including ditches;

(19)

Drainage plans including locations and dimensions of pipes, yard drains, catchbasins, and curb inlets;

(20)

Location and dimension of gas lines;

(21)

Locations and dimensions of any required refuse collection container spaces;

(22)

Locations, dimensions, and materials of walls and fences;

(23)

Where public water or public sewer is not available, a written statement from the Beaufort County Health Department shall be submitted indicating that the development has adequate land area and suitable topography to accommodate the proposed methods of water supply and sewage disposal.

(c)

Additional mobile home requirements. Site plans for mobile home parks must meet the additional requirements of article VIII of this chapter, pertaining to mobile home parks, as well as the requirements of subsection (b) of this section.

(d)

Group development projects. Site plans for group development projects (as defined in section 40-25) must meet the additional requirements of article XI of this chapter, pertaining to multifamily development, as well as the requirements of subsection (b) of this section.

(e)

Planned Unit Developments. Site plans for Planned Unit Developments (PUD) must meet the additional requirements of article XII of this chapter, pertaining to Planned Unit Development, as well as the requirements of subsection (b) of this section.

(f)

Additional approvals, permits. The following additional approvals and/or permits shall be required, and proof provided, prior to issuance of the building permit, where applicable:

(1)

Construction permit approval for all water, sewer, drainage, and street facilities shall be obtained from the city. These facilities may also require approval by the North Carolina Department of Transportation.

(2)

Sewer line permit approval for new sewer line construction shall be obtained from the North Carolina Department of Environment and Natural Resources.

(3)

Water line permit approval for new water line construction shall be obtained from the North Carolina Department of Environment and Natural Resources, Division of Health Services.

(4)

Driveway permit approval for construction of driveways shall be obtained from the Director of Public Works. If a state-maintained street is involved, the North Carolina Department of Transportation approval is also required.

(5)

Encroachment agreement shall be obtained from the North Carolina Department of Transportation for all encroachments into the rights-of-way of a State-maintained road, and from the City of Washington Director of Public Works or his/her designee encroachments into the rights-of-way of a city-maintained road.

(6)

Pretreatment sewer facilities shall require permit approval by the North Carolina Department of Environment and Natural Resources.

(7)

Erosion control permit approval shall be obtained from the North Carolina Department of Environment and Natural Resources, Division of Land Quality, for all land disturbing activities consisting of one (1) acre or more.

(8)

Permit approval for construction in coastal areas, pursuant to the Coastal Area Management Act (CAMA) must be obtained from the North Carolina Department of Environment and Natural Resources, Division of Coastal Management.

(9)

Permit approval for construction in wetlands areas must be obtained from the United States Army Corps of Engineers.

All developments shall comply with all applicable county, state, and federal permits. Where one (1) of the preceding permits is required, or other general occupancy permits is necessary prior to the issuance of a building permit, the site plan approval shall be held pending receipt of such permit.

(Code 1993, § 27-199; Ord. No. 21-3, § 1(Att.), 6-14-2021)

(a)

No permits for any use or improvements shall be issued and no construction activities shall be allowed for any development subject to this chapter until a site plan has been approved as provided herein.

(b)

The Department of Planning and Development shall issue a building permit for development upon determining that the application for such permit complies with the approved site plan.

(Code 1993, § 27-200)

Appeals from any regulation of this article shall be made to the Board of Adjustment in accordance with article XIX of this chapter.

(Code 1993, § 27-201)

All development regulated in accordance with this article shall be subject to the requirements, conditions, and restrictions of chapter 34, pertaining to subdivisions, if applicable.

(Code 1993, § 27-202)