Prior to submitting a sketch plan, applicants for developments are encouraged to informally discuss their proposal with the Zoning Officer and/or other appropriate Township staff. See also discussion of a site tour in § 113-28.
Prior to the submission of a preliminary plan, applicants are
very strongly encouraged to submit a sketch plan. A sketch plan review
often allows an applicant to save substantial time and engineering
costs, because many concerns about layout and issues concerning Township
ordinances can be resolved prior to detailed engineering. This can
often reduce the need for future redesign at a more-detailed stage,
thereby saving the applicant significant money and time. When submitted,
sketch plans shall include the following information:
A.
Submission requirement. If submitted, seven print copies of the sketch
plan and the accompanying application should be submitted to the Township
staff prior to a regular Township Planning Commission meeting. It
is requested that a sketch plan be provided at least seven days before
a Planning Commission meeting where it will be discussed.
B.
Drawing requirements. Any sketch plan shall be drafted to approximate
scale and is recommended to include the following, as applicable:
(1)
Boundary line of the development.
(2)
Existing resources and site analysis map: the approximate location
of the following:
(a)
Any concentrations of steeply sloped lands (such as 15% to 25%,
and greater than 25%).
(b)
Locations of watercourses (with any name), natural springs,
ponds, lakes and suspected wetlands. (NOTE: Applicants are requested
to review the locations of hydric soils in the York County Soil Survey
to provide an initial indication of areas that are likely to include
some wetland areas.)
(c)
Any known sinkholes and topical depressions.
(d)
Any areas within the one-hundred-year floodplain.
(e)
Suggestions from the applicant regarding possible locations
of any proposed common open space or recreation land or whether the
applicant seeks to pay recreation fees, if applicable.
(f)
Any major easements or proposed recreation trails, existing
trails and trail easements.
(g)
Major existing utility easements/rights-of-way that might affect
development layout.
(h)
Approximate locations of tree lines and existing forested areas.
(3)
Conceptual proposed lot and street layout with approximate areas
of lots (such as "two acres").
(5)
North point and scale and a tentative name of the project (may be
the developer's name).
(6)
Approximate proposed locations of any nonresidential buildings (if
known) and statement of the general proposed types of any nonresidential
uses.
(7)
A map showing the general location of the project in relation to
nearby roads/streets and creeks (may be a photocopy of USGS or Township
base map or a commercial map).
(8)
Tentative approximate locations of any stormwater detention basins
and any major stormwater drainage channels.
(9)
Note stating the general methods of providing water and sewer service.
(10)
Names of any adjacent nonresidential uses and any zoning district
boundaries in the area.
(11)
Name and address of person responsible for the preparation of
the plan and the date of preparation.
C.
Site design process. See § 113-32, which requires applicants for certain subdivisions and land developments to submit maps showing how their project follows the site design process. If this provision is not met at the sketch plan stage, then it must be met at the preliminary plan submission.
(1)
Applicants are strongly encouraged to submit these maps as part of
the sketch plan process, to avoid delays to the applicant in preliminary
plan approval. Submittal at the sketch plan stage will greatly increase
the likelihood that all issues will be able to be resolved in a timely
manner.
A.
No official action shall be taken on a sketch plan. The Township
shall not be bound by comments made or not made as part of a sketch
plan review.
B.
The Township should distribute copies of the sketch plan to the Township
Engineer, the relevant Township staff person and the Planning Commission
for advisory reviews.
C.
The sketch plan should be reviewed by the Planning Commission and
the Board of Supervisors, with any comments reported to the applicant
or his/her representative. It is recommended that the following matters
be emphasized in a review of a sketch plan:
(1)
The suitability of areas proposed for development and areas proposed as open space, considering the process of § 113-32.
(2)
The most suitable methods of providing street access, including access
points onto existing streets, and possible interconnections with existing
streets or streets within approved developments.
(3)
Methods to reduce the total percentage of the site that will be regraded,
paved or deforested.
D.
County review. The Township may forward a copy of the sketch plan
to the York County Planning Commission for any informal review if
the Township believes it may have significant impacts.
