18-DISCUSSION ONLY REGARDING DEVELOPMENT APPLICATIONS AND PLATS

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Submittal Date: 11/20/12 Council Date: 11/26/12 CITY COUNCIL AGENDA ITEM BRIEFING SHEET Originating Department: I Presented By: City Manager � John Godwin RECOMMENDED MOTION: Discussion Only POLICY ISSUE(S�: BACKGROUND: Agenda Item No.: 18. We are assiduously trying to improve how well and how quickly we deal with development applications and plats. Historically, it appears state law requirements concerning plats may have been ignored from time to time, and some developed properties were never platted at all. The purpose of a plat is to create and file with the county a comprehensive drawing showing property lines, easements (both public and private), rights-of-way, etc. while also managing land dedications and public capital improvements. Although Paris has its own ordinances governing them, plats are required by state law so we have no real choice in requiring them. Even so, we are taking steps to try to move the platting process along more quickly in Paris. For example, a majority of Texas cities require both the preliminary and final plat to go before the city council for approval. We require only the final plat; preliminary plats need only P&Z approval here. Paris also recently agreed to delegate authority to staff to approve minor plats of up to four lots, meaning they do not have to go to either the commission or the council. We also are delegating approval of curb and gutter variances to staff, and amended plats too may be approved administratively. Because many applicants are not professional builders, we have also developed standardized forms for the various steps in the platting process to try to make it more understandable and easier for our citizens to navigate. And if no public infrastructure is included in a project, we allow the preliminary and final plats to be submitted and approved simultaneously. We also allow dirt work to begin on projects even before plat approval. Attached is a summary of the platting process and copies of the relevant forms. Shawn Napier will make a brief presentation about platting and how it works here in Paris. BOARD�COMMISSION RECOMMENDATION: EXHIBITS: Platting Process & Forms ACTION: ❑ Financial Report ❑ Department Report ❑ Presentation ❑ Public Hearing FISCAL NOTES: ❑ Minute Order ❑ Resolution ❑ Ordinance ❑ Other BUDGET INFO: Budgeted Amt. $ YTD Actual � Acct. Name Acct. Number City of Paris Revised 6/20/12 75