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Zoning Portal | Procedures | Subdivision Plat - Preliminary

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Subdivision Plat - Preliminary
Description: By definition, a subdivision consists of 5 or more parcels, lots, or building sites of 1.5 acres each or less in area; or 5 or more parcels, lots, or building sites of 1.5 acres each or less in area created by successive divisions within a period of 5 years. The process to create a subdivision consists of two steps: preliminary and final. Approval or conditional approval of a preliminary plat does not constitute automatic approval of the final plat. Rather, the preliminary plat is an expression of approval or conditional approval of the layout submitted as a guide to the preparation of the final plat, which will be subject to further consideration by the Plan Commission and Common Council at the time of its submission.

Decision-maker(s): Plan Commission makes the final decision, except where the plat involves a nonconforming building

Application fee: $750

Submittal deadline: 4 weeks prior to the Plan Commission meeting (normally held the second and fourth Tuesday of each month)

Forms: All application forms are posted on the City's website (Licenses & Permits).
 
 
General review process:
  1. Preliminary Consultation. Before filing of an application for a preliminary plat the subdivider submits a conceptual plan and consults with the City Engineer and the Director of Community Development for advice regarding general subdivision requirements. This step does not require a formal application, or submittal of a plat with application fee.
  2. Submittal of application materials. The subdivider submits an application and other required materials along with the application fee.
  3. General distribution. The City Clerk sends copies of the preliminary plat to (i) the supervisor of the Plat Review Unit in the Wisconsin Department of Administration, (ii) the County Department of Public Works, (iii) the Plan Commission, and (iv) the Department of Community Development for distribution to other departments for their review and comment.
  4. Distribution to utilities. The applicant sends a copy of the preliminary plat to the local electric, gas and telephone utilities.
  5. Plan Commission decision. Within 90 days of the submission of the preliminary plat application, the Plan Commission makes a decision to (i) approve the preliminary plat, (ii) approve the preliminary plat with conditions, or (iii) reject the preliminary plat.
  6. Common Council review. In the event that the location of the streets within a proposed preliminary plat would make a principal structure on land that adjoins or abuts any street within the preliminary plat nonconforming as to setback, the Common Council has the final authority over the preliminary plat, subject to the recommendation of the Plan Commission. In that event, the Common Council within 90 days of submission of the preliminary plat application, reviews the preliminary plat application and negotiates with the subdivider on changes deemed advisable and makes a decision to (i) approve the preliminary plat, (ii) approve the preliminary plat with conditions, (iii) or reject the preliminary plat.

Note: Refer to Chapter 14 of the municipal code for all of the details relating to preliminary plats and the land division process.