Borough of Milton, PA Article III Submission Requirements; Review Procedure

§ 213-5 Plat preparation and filing.

Whenever a subdivision and/or land development is desired to be effected, a plat of the layout of such subdivision and/or land development shall be prepared, filed and processed according to the requirements of this chapter.

§ 213-6 Submission of preapplication plans and data; waivers.

A. Prior to the preparation and filing of the preliminary plat, the subdivider shall submit to the Commission the following plans and data and shall ascertain from the Commission those elements which should be considered in the design of the subdivision and/or land development. These shall include any features of the borough's plan of future land use, thoroughfare plan, community facilities plan or of any plans of the Commission, including but not limited to proposed streets, recreation areas, drainage reservations, floodplain areas, shopping centers and school sites.

B. In response to a written request by the subdivider, the Commission may waive the requirements of preapplication plans and data, provided that no new streets are involved and that fewer than six lots are proposed in the total subdivision and/or land development.

§ 213-7 Contents of preapplication plans and data.

Preapplication plans and data shall include the following:

A. General information describing or outlining existing covenants, land characteristics, including floodplain areas, community facilities and utilities and information describing the proposed subdivision and/or land development, such as the number of residential lots, typical lot width and depth, price range, business areas, playgrounds, park areas, other public areas, proposed protective covenants, proposed utilities and street improvements.

B. A location map showing the relationship of the proposed subdivision and/or land development to existing community facilities which serve or influence it and shall include development name, location of any existing facilities, traffic arteries, public or other schools, parks, playgrounds, utilities, churches, shopping centers, airports, hospitals, principal places of employment, title, scale, North arrow and date.

C. A topographic map, drawn to a scale of one inch equals 100 feet or less, showing:

(1) The proposed name of the subdivision and/or land development.

(2) The name of the subdivider.

(3) The name of the registered owner.

(4) The North point, scale and the date.

(5) The name of the engineer, surveyor or other qualified person responsible for the map.

(6) Tract boundaries, with bearings and distances.

(7) Topography, with elevations based on datum approved by the Commission and showing contours at vertical intervals of five feet.

(8) Approximate location of watercourses, tree masses, rock outcrops, existing buildings and actual location of sewers, inlets, water mains, easements, fire hydrants, railroads and existing or confirmed streets and their established grades.

(9) Adjacent streets.

D. A sketch plan, drawn on a print of the topographic map, showing in a simple sketch form the proposed layout of streets, lots and other features in relation to existing conditions.

§ 213-8 Submission of preliminary plats; review.

A. The subdivider, 10 days prior to the meeting of the Commission at which consideration is desired, shall file with the Commission six copies of a preliminary plat of the proposed layout of the subdivision and/or land development.

B. The Commission may submit copies of the preliminary plat to the Engineer, the Northumberland County Soil and Water Conservation District, public utilities and other public agencies and shall return the plat to the subdivider, either approved or with recommendations for changes necessary for approval. The Commission shall act on any such preliminary plat within 60 days of its being received. In the event that any variance from this chapter is requested by the subdivider or is deemed necessary by the Commission for approval, the variance and the reasons for its necessity shall be entered in the records of the Commission.

C. The Commission shall determine whether the preliminary plat shall be approved, approved with modifications or disapproved and shall notify the subdivider, in writing, thereof, including, if approved with modifications or disapproved, a statement of reasons for such action and return a copy of the preliminary plat to the subdivider.

D. Before taking final action on any submitted plat, the Commission shall submit copies of the preliminary plat and accompanying data to the Engineer, who shall advise the Commission as to the suitability of all engineering details and specifications, including those for any floodplain areas; to the Health Official, where septic tanks and/or wells are to be utilized, who shall determine, on the basis of a percolation test, the minimum lot size permissible; and to all affected public utilities, who shall be requested to make recommendations as to the suitability of the utility easements. A copy of said preliminary plat and accompanying data shall also be submitted to the Northumberland County Planning Commission in accordance with the Act of 1968, July 31, P.L. 805, No. 247, Article V, Section 502 (53 P.S. § 10502). In addition, a copy of the preliminary plat plan and accompanying data shall be submitted to the Northumberland County Soil and Water Conservation District for review and comment on any measures needed for control of erosion and sedimentation. In the event that the proposed subdivision and/or land development is in a floodplain area, the district recommendations should be incorporated into the plan to provide protection against inundation by floodwaters of the one-hundred-year frequency.

E. Approval of the preliminary plat shall not constitute approval of the final subdivision and/or land development plat by the governing body.

§ 213-9 Contents of preliminary plats.

A. The preliminary plat shall be drawn on a copy of the topographic map and shall show:

(1) The layout, names and widths of rights-of-way, cartways and pavings of proposed streets, alleys and easements.

(2) The layout of lots showing dimensions, lot numbers and the approximate area of each lot.

(3) Parcels of land intended to be dedicated or reserved for schools, parks, playgrounds or other public, semipublic or community purposes.

B. The preliminary plat shall be accompanied by the following data and maps:

(1) A profile of each street, including grades.

(2) Locations of existing proposed utility mains.

(3) Location plans of proposed sanitary, stormwater or combined sewers and of any proposed water distribution system.

(4) A plan which accurately locates the subdivision and/or land development proposal with respect to floodplain limits, stream channels and existing floodplain developments and shall also include elevations, soil types and floodproofing measures needed.

§ 213-10 Submission of final plats; review.

A. The subdivider shall, not later than six months after the date of approval of the preliminary plat, file with the Commission a final plat. Failure to comply with the time limitation herein provided shall make the approval of the preliminary plat null and void unless an extension of time is requested by the subdivider and for good cause granted by the governing body.

B. The final plat will have incorporated all the changes and modifications required by the Commission; otherwise, it shall conform to the approved preliminary plat and it may constitute only that portion of the approved preliminary plat which the subdivider proposes to record and develop at the time, provided that such portion conforms to all of the requirements of this chapter.

C. The final plat shall be drawn on a copy of the topographic map. Six copies shall be filed by the subdivider with the Commission 45 days prior to the meeting of the governing body at which consideration is desired.

D. Before approval of a final plat, the governing body must be assured by means of a proper completion guaranty in the form of a bond or the deposit of funds or securities in escrow sufficient to cover the cost of the required improvements, as estimated by the Engineer, that all improvements required in Article V will be installed by the owner in strict accordance with the standards and specifications of the governing body and within a specified time after approval of the final plat.

E. The governing body shall determine whether the final subdivision and/or land development plat shall be approved or disapproved and shall give notice to the subdivider in the following manner:

(1) If approved, the President and Secretary of the governing body and Chairman of the Commission shall affix their signatures to the original final subdivision and/or land development plat and attach thereto a notation that it has received approval and return it to the subdivider for compliance with the recording requirements.

(2) If disapproved, the governing body shall attach to the plat a statement of reasons for such action and return it to the subdivider.

F. No changes, erasures, modifications or revisions shall be made on any final plat of a subdivision and/or land development after approval has been given by the governing body and endorsed, in writing, on the plat, unless the plat is first resubmitted to the governing body.

G. Within 30 days after the date of approval by the governing body of the final plat, the owner shall record an approved duplicate copy thereof in the office of the Recorder of Deeds of Northumberland County and forthwith file with the governing body a Recorder's certificate that the approved plat has been recorded with the Deed Book and page numbers indicated and two copies of the recorded plat.

§ 213-11 Contents of final plats.

The final plat shall show the following:

A. Primary control points, approved by the Engineer, or description and ties to such control points, to which all dimensions, angles, bearings and similar data on the plat shall be referred.

B. Tract boundary lines, right-of-way lines of streets, easements and other rights-of-way and property lines of residential lots and other sites, with accurate dimensions, bearings or deflection angles and radii, arcs and central angles of all curves.

C. The name and right-of-way width of each street or other right-of-way.

D. The location, dimensions and purpose of easements.

E. The number to identify each lot and/or site and street numbers of lots.

F. The purpose for which sites other than residential lots are dedicated or reserved.

G. Building lines on all lots and other sites.

H. The location and description of survey monuments. All permanent reference monuments shall be shown by an "X" on the plat.

I. The names of record owners of adjoining unplatted land.

J. Reference to recorded subdivision and/or land development plats of adjoining platted land by record name, date and number.

K. Certification by a licensed surveyor or licensed engineer certifying to the accuracy of the survey and plat.

L. Certification of title showing that the applicant is the owner of the land.

M. A statement by the owner dedicating streets, rights-of-way and any sites for public uses which are to be dedicated.

N. Proposed protective covenants running with the land, if any.

O. Proposed contours at vertical intervals as required by the Commission.

P. Other data.

(1) The plat shall be accompanied by the following data in the form prescribed by the engineering specifications:

(a) Profiles of streets and alleys showing grades at a minimum scale of 40 feet horizontal and four feet vertical.

(b) Cross-sections of streets and alleys showing the width of rights-of-way, width of cartways, location and width of sidewalks and location and size of utility mains.

(c) Plans and profiles of proposed sanitary, stormwater or combined sewers, with grades and pipe sizes indicated, and a plan of any proposed water distribution system showing pipe sizes and the location of valves and fire hydrants.

(d) The location and method of streetlighting facilities.

(e) Such other certificates, affidavits, endorsements or dedications as may be required by the governing body in the enforcement of these regulations.

(f) The following acknowledgment and approval:

Commonwealth of Pennsylvania:
County of ________:	ss
On the ______ day of ____________________ 20_____, before me the subscriber, a notary public of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, personally appeared ____________________, who acknowledged the accompanying plan to be the official plan of highways and/or subdivision and/or land development situated in the Borough of Milton, County of Northumberland, Pennsylvania, and desired that said plans be recorded according to law. Witness my hand and notarial seal the day and year aforesaid.
	Notary Public

(g) Plans which accurately locate the subdivision and/or land development proposal with respect to floodplain limits, stream channel and existing floodplain developments. They shall also include elevations, soil types and any floodproofing measures required.

(2) In the event that any alteration or relocation of a watercourse is required for the proposed plat, the applicant shall file with the plat an affidavit that he has notified all adjacent communities and the State Coordinating Office of such alteration or relocation and has sent copies of the notification to the Federal Insurance Administration and the Pennsylvania Department of Community Affairs, Bureau of State Planning.

(3) In the event that any alteration or relocation of a watercourse is required for the proposed plat, the plat must be accompanied by specifications showing that the flood-carrying capacity within the altered or relocated portion of the waterway will be maintained and must also be accompanied by a permit for such stream alteration or relocation from the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Resources.

(4) The plat must also contain the elevation above sea level for the areas on the plat and the elevations of the one-hundred-year flood for the areas contained in the plat.