NOTICE: The Plan Commission meetings are scheduled on the 2nd Monday of each
month. All completed plans must be in by 9:00 a.m. four weeks prior to the scheduled
meeting. If not, the item will be placed on the next available Plan Commission meeting
agenda.
CITY OF WHITEWATER
PLAN REVIEW APPLICATION PROCEDURE
1. File the application with the Code Enforcement Director’s Office at least four weeks
prior to the meeting. $100.00 fee. Filed on ________________.
2. Agenda Published in Official Newspaper on _____________________.
3. Notices of the public review mailed to property owners on ______________.
4. Plan Commission holds the public review on ____________________.
They will hear comments of the Petitioner and comments of property owners.
Comments may be made in person or in writing.
5. At the conclusion of the public review, the Plan Commission makes a
decision.
PLEASE COMPLETE THE FOLLOWING APPLICATION.
Refer to Chapter 19.63 of the City of Whitewater Municipal Code of Ordinances,
entitled PLAN REVIEW, for more information on the application.
Twenty complete sets of all plans should be submitted. All plans should be drawn to a scale of not
less than 50 feet to the inch; represent actual existing and proposed site conditions in detail; and
indicate the name, address, and phone number of the applicant, land owner, architect, engineer,
landscape designer, contractor, or others responsible for preparation. It is often possible and
desirable to include two or more of the above 8 plans on one map. The Zoning Administrator or
Plan and Architectural Review Commission may request more information, or may reduce the
submittal requirements. If any of the above 10 plans is not submitted, the applicant should provide
a written explanation of why it is not submitted.
City of Whitewater
Application for Plan Review
IDENTIFICATION AND INFORMATION ON APPLICANT(S):
Applicant’s Name:____________________________________________________________________________________
Applicant’s Address:_________________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________Phone #_____________________________________
Owner of Site, according to current property tax records (as of the date of the application):
Street address of property: _______________________________________________________________________________
Legal Description (Name of Subdivision, Block and Lot or other Legal Description):
Agent or Representative assisting in the Application (Engineer, Architect, Attorney, etc.)
Name of Individual:
Name of Firm:
Office Address:
Phone:
Name of Contractor:
Has either the applicant or the owner had any variances issued to them, on any property? YES NO
If YES, please indicate the type of variance issued and indicate whether conditions have been complied with.
_____________________________________________________________________________________________________
EXISTING AND PROPOSED USES:
Current Land Use:
Principal Use:__________________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________________________
Accessory or Secondary Uses:_____________________________________________________________________________
Proposed Use
No. of occupants proposed to be accomodated:________________________________________________________________
No. of employees:_______________________________________________________________________________________
Zoning District in which property is located:_________________________________________________________________
Section of City Zoning Ordinance that identifies the proposed land use in the Zoning District in which the property is
located:____________________________________________
PLANS TO ACCOMPANY APPLICATION
Applications for permits shall be accompanied by drawings of the proposed work, drawn to scale, showing, when necessary,
floor plans, sections, elevations, structural details, computations and stress diagrams as the building official may require.
PLOT PLAN
When required by the building official, there shall be submitted a plot plan in a form and size designated by the building
official for filing permanently with the permit record, drawn to scale, with all dimension figures, showing accurately the
size and exact location of all proposed new construction and the relation to other existing or proposed buildings or structures
on the same lot, and other buildings or structures on adjoining property within 15 feet of the property lines. In the case of
demolition, the plot plan shall show the buildings or structures to be demolished and the buildings or structures on the same
lot that are to remain.
STANDARDS
STANDARD
APPLICANT’S EXPLANATION
A. The proposed structure,
addition, alteration or use will
meet the minimum standards
of this title for the district in
which it is located;
B. The proposed development
will be consistent with the
adopted city master plan;
C. The proposed development
will be compatible with and
preserve the important natural
features of the site;
D. The proposed use will not
create a nuisance for
neighboring uses, or unduly
reduce the values of an
adjoining property;
STANDARD
APPLICANT’S EXPLANATION
E. The proposed development
will not create traffic
circulation or parking
problems;
F. The mass, volume,
architectural features,
materials and/or setback of
proposed structures, additions
or alterations will appear to be
compatible with existing
buildings in the immediate
area;
G. Landmark structures on the
National Register of Historic
Places will be recognized as
products of their own time.
Alterations which have no
historical basis will not be
permitted;
H. The proposed structure,
addition or alteration will not
substantially reduce the
availability of sunlight or
solar access on adjoining
properties.
CONDITIONS
The City of Whitewater Zoning Ordinance authorizes the Plan Commission to place conditions on approved uses.
Conditions can deal with the points listed below (Section 19.63.080). Be aware that there may be discussion at the Plan
Commission in regard to placement of such conditions upon your property. You may wish to supply pertinent information.
“Conditions” such as landscaping, architectural design, type of construction, construction commencement and completion
dates, sureties, lighting, fencing, plantation, deed restrictions, highway access restrictions, increased yards or parking
requirements may be required by the Plan and Architectural Review Commission upon its finding that these are necessary to
fulfill the purpose and intent of this Ordinance.
“Plan Review” may be subject to time limits or requirements for periodic reviews where such requirements relate to review
standards.
_______________________________________________ ______________
Applicant’s Signature Date
APPLICATION FEES:
Fee for Plan Review Application: $100
Date Application Fee Received by City_______________ Receipt No. ____________________________
Received by_________________________________________
________
TO BE COMPLETED BY CODE ENFORCEMENT/ZONING OFFICE:
Date notice sent to owners of record of opposite & abutting properties:___________________________________
Date set for public review before Plan & Architectural Review Board:____________________________________
ACTION TAKEN:
Plan Review: ___________ Granted ___________ Not Granted by Plan & Architectural Review Commission.
CONDITIONS PLACED UPON PERMIT BY PLAN AND ARCHITECTURAL REVIEW COMMISSION:
____________________________________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________ ______________
Signature of Plan Commission Chairman Date
click to sign
signature
click to edit
click to sign
signature
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Tips for Minimizing Your
Development Review Costs:
A Guide for Applicants
The City of Whitewater assigns its consultant costs associated with reviewing development proposals to
the applicant requesting development approval. These costs can vary based on a number of factors. Many
of these factors can at least be partially controlled by the applicant for development review. The City
recognizes that we are in a time when the need to control costs is at the forefront of everyone’s minds.
The following guide is intended to assist applicants for City development approvals understand what they
can do to manage and minimize the costs associated with review of their applications. The tips included in
this guide will almost always result in a less costly and quicker review of an application.
Meet with Neighborhoods Services Department before submitting an
application
If you are planning on submitting an application for development review, one of the first things you
should do is have a discussion with the City’s Neighborhood Services Department. This can be
accomplished either by dropping by the Neighborhood Services Department counter at City Hall, or by
making an appointment with the Neighborhood Services Director. Before you make significant
investments in your project, the Department can help you understand the feasibility of your proposal,
what City plans and ordinances will apply, what type of review process will be required, and how to
prepare a complete application.
Submit a complete and thorough application
One of the most important things you can do to make your review process less costly to you is to submit a
complete, thorough, and well-organized application in accordance with City ordinance requirements. The
City has checklists to help you make sure your application is complete. To help you prepare an
application that has the right level of detail and information, assume that the people reviewing the
application have never seen your property before, have no prior understanding of what you are proposing,
and don’t necessarily understand the reasons for your request.
For more complex or technical types of projects, strongly consider working
with an experienced professional to help prepare your plans
Experienced professional engineers, land planners, architects, surveyors and landscape architects should
be quite familiar with standard development review processes and expectations. They are also generally
capable of preparing high-quality plans that will ultimately require less time (i.e., less cost for you) for the
City’s planning and engineering consultants to review, saving you money in the long run. Any project
that includes significant site grading, stormwater management, or utility work; significant landscaping; or
significant building remodeling or expansion generally requires professionals in the associated fields to
help out.
For simpler projects, submit thorough, legible, and accurate plans
For less complicated proposals, it is certainly acceptable to prepare plans yourself rather than paying to
have them prepared by a professional. However, keep in mind that even though the project may be less
complex, the City’s staff and planning consultant still need to ensure that your proposal meets all City
requirements. Therefore, such plans must be prepared with care. Regardless of the complexity, all site,
building, and floor plans should:
1. Be drawn to a recognized scale and indicate what the scale is (e.g., 1 inch = 40 feet).
2. Include titles and dates on all submitted documents in case pieces of your application get
separated.
Tips for Minimizing Your
Development Review Costs:
3.
A Guide for Applicants
4. Include clear and legible labels that identify streets, existing and proposed buildings, parking
areas, and other site improvements.
5. Indicate what the property and improvements look like today versus what is being proposed for
the future.
6. Accurately represent and label the dimensions of all lot lines, setbacks, pavement/parking areas,
building heights, and any other pertinent project features.
7. Indicate the colors and materials of all existing and proposed site/building improvements.
Including color photos with your application is one inexpensive and accurate way to show the
current condition of the site. Color catalog pages or paint chips can be included to show the
appearance of proposed signs, light fixtures, fences, retaining walls, landscaping features,
building materials, or other similar improvements.
Submit your application well in advance of the Plan and Architectural Review
Commission meeting
The City normally requires that a complete application be submitted four weeks in advance of the
Commission meeting when it will be considered. For simple submittals not requiring a public hearing,
this may be reduced to two weeks in advance. The further in advance you can submit your application, the
better for you and everyone involved in reviewing the project. Additional review time may give the City’s
planning consultant and staff an opportunity to communicate with you about potential issues with your
project or application and allow you time to efficiently address those issues before the Plan and
Architectural Review Commission meeting. Be sure to provide reliable contact information on your
application form and be available to respond to such questions or requests in a timely manner.
For more complex projects, submit your project for conceptual review
A conceptual review can be accomplished in several ways depending on the nature of your project and
your desired outcomes.
1. Preliminary plans may be submitted to City staff and the planning consultant for a quick, informal
review. This will allow you to gauge initial reactions to your proposal and help you identify key
issues;
2. You may request a sit-down meeting with the Neighborhood Services Director and/or Planning
consultant to review and more thoroughly discuss your proposal; and/or
3. You can ask to be placed on a Plan and Architectural Review Commission meeting agenda to
present and discuss preliminary plans with the Commission and gauge its reaction before
formally submitting your development review application.
Overall, conceptual reviews almost always save time, money, stress, and frustration in the long run for
everyone involved. For this reason, the City will absorb up to $200 in consultant review costs for
conceptual review of each project.
Tips for Minimizing Your
Development Review Costs:
A Guide for Applicants
Hold a neighborhood meeting for larger and potentially more controversial
Projects
If you believe your project falls into one or both of these two categories (City staff can help you decide),
one way to help the formal development review process go more smoothly is to host a meeting for the
neighbors and any other interested members of the community. This would happen before any Plan and
Architectural Review Commission meeting and often before you even submit a formal development
review application.
A neighborhood meeting will give you an opportunity to describe your proposal, respond to questions and
concerns, and generally address issues in an environment that is less formal and potentially less emotional
than a Plan and Architectural Review Commission meeting. Neighborhood meetings can help you build
support for your project, understand others’ perspectives on your proposals, clarify misunderstandings,
and modify the project and alleviate public concerns before the Plan and Architectural Review
Commission meetings. Please notify the City
Neighborhood Services Director of your neighborhood meeting date, time, and place; make sure all
neighbors are fully aware (City staff can provide you a mailing list at no charge); and document the
outcomes of the meeting to include with your application.
Typical City Planning Consultant
Development Review Costs
The City often utilizes assistance from a planning consultant to analyze requests for land development
approvals against City plans and ordinances and assist the City’s Plan and Architectural Review
Commission and City Council on decision making. Because it is the applicant who is generating the need
for the service, the City’s policy is to assign most consultant costs associated with such review to the
applicant, as opposed to asking general taxpayer to cover these costs.
The development review costs provided below represent the planning consultant’s range of costs
associated with each particular type of development review. This usually involves some initial analysis of
the application well before the public meeting date, communication with the applicant at that time if there
are key issues to resolve before the meeting, further analysis and preparation of a written report the week
before the meeting, meeting attendance, and sometimes minor follow-up after the meeting. Costs vary
depending on a wide range of factors, including the type of application, completeness and clarity of the
development application, the size and complexity of the proposed development, the degree of cooperation
from the applicant for further information, and the level of community interest. The City has a guide
called “Tips for Minimizing Your Development Review Costs” with information on how the applicant
can help control costs.
Tips for Minimizing Your
Development Review Costs:
A Guide for Applicants
Type of Development Review Being Requested
Planning Consultant
Review Cost Range
Minor Site/Building Plan (e.g., minor addition to building, parking lot expansion,
small apartment, downtown building alterations)
When land use is a permitted use in the zoning district, and for minor
downtown building alterations
Up to $600
When use also requires a conditional use permit, and for major downtown
building alterations
$700 to $1,500
Major Site/Building Plan (e.g., new gas station/convenience store, new
restaurant, supermarket, larger apartments, industrial building)
When land use is a permitted use in the zoning district
$700 to $2,000
When land use also requires a conditional use permit
$1,600 to $12,000
Conditional Use Permit with no Site Plan Review (e.g., home occupation, sale of
liquor request, substitution of use in existing building)
$up to $600
Rezoning
To a standard (not PCD) zoning district
$400 to $2,000
To Planned Community Development zoning district, assuming
complete GDP & SIP application submitted at same time
$2,100 to $12,000
Land Division
Certified Survey Map
Up to $300
Preliminary Subdivision Plat
$1,500 to $3,000
Final Plat (does not include any development agreement time)
$500 to $1,500
Annexation
$200 to $400
Note on Potential Additional Review Costs: The City also retains a separate engineering consultant, who is typically
involved in larger projects requiring stormwater management plans, major utility work, or complex parking or road
access plans. Engineering costs are not included above, but will also be assigned to the development review
applicant. The consultant planner and engineer closely coordinate their reviews to control costs.
Tips for Minimizing Your
Development Review Costs:
A Guide for Applicants
Cost Recovery Certificate and Agreement
The City may retain the services of professional consultants (including planners, engineers, architects,
attorneys, environmental specialists, and recreation specialists) to assist in the City’s review of an
application for development review coming before the Plan and Architectural Review Commission,
Board of Zoning Appeals, and/or Common Council. In fact, most applications require some level of
review by the City’s planning consultant. City of Whitewater staff shall retain sole discretion in
determining when and to what extent it is necessary to involve a professional consultant in the review of
an application.
The submittal of an application or petition for development review by an applicant shall be construed as
an agreement to pay for such professional review services associated with the application or petition. The
City may apply the charges for these services to the applicant and/or property owner in accordance with
this agreement. The City may delay acceptance of an application or petition (considering it incomplete),
or may delay final action or approval of the associated proposal, until the applicant pays such fees or the
specified percentage thereof. Development review fees that are assigned to the applicant, but that are not
actually paid,
may then be imposed by the City as a special charge on the affected property.
Section A: Background Information
------------------------ To be filled out by the Applicant/Property Owner ------------------------
Applicant’s Information:
Name of Applicant: ________________________________________________
Applicant’s Mailing Address: ________________________________________________
________________________________________________
Applicant’s Phone Number: ________________________________________________
Applicant’s Email Address: ________________________________________________
Project Information:
Name/Description of Development:
____________________________________________________
Address of Development Site: ____________________________________________________
Tax Key Number(s) of Site: ____________________________________________________
Property Owner Information (if different from applicant):
Name of Property Owner: ____________________________________________________
Property Owner’s Mailing Address: ____________________________________________________
____________________________________________________
Tips for Minimizing Your
Development Review Costs:
A Guide for Applicants
Section B: Applicant/Property Owner Cost Obligations
------------------------ To be filled out by the City’s Neighborhood Services Director -----------------------
Under this agreement, the applicant shall be responsible for the costs indicated below. In the event the
applicant fails to pay such costs, the responsibility shall pass to the property owner, if different. Costs
may exceed those agreed to herein only by mutual agreement of the applicant, property owner, and City.
If and when the City believes that actual costs incurred will exceed those listed below, for reasons not
anticipated at the time of application or under the control of the City administration or consultants, the
Neighborhood Services Director or his agent shall notify the applicant and property owner for their
approval to exceed such initially agreed costs. If the applicant and property owner do not approve such
additional costs, the City may, as permitted by law, consider the application withdrawn and/or suspend or
terminate further review and consideration of the development application. In such case, the applicant and
property owner shall be responsible for all consultant costs incurred up until that time.
A. Application Fee..............................................................................................................$____________
B. Expected Planning Consultant Review Cost .................................................................$ ____________
C. Total Cost Expected of Applicant (A+B) .................................................... .................$ ____________
D. 25% of Total Cost, Due at Time of Application.................................................. .........$ ____________
E. Project Likely to Incur Additional Engineering or Other Consultant Review Costs? Yes No
The balance of the applicant’s costs, not due at time of application, shall be payable upon applicant
receipt of one or more itemized invoices from the City. If the application fee plus actual planning and
engineering consultant review costs end up being less than the 25% charged to the applicant at the time of
application, the City shall refund the difference to the applicant.
Section C: Agreement Execution
------------------------ To be filled out by the Applicant and Property Owner ------------------------
The undersigned applicant and property owner agree to reimburse the City for all costs directly or
indirectly associated with the consideration of the applicant’s proposal as indicated in this agreement,
with 25% of such costs payable at the time of application and the remainder of such costs payable upon
receipt of one or more invoices from the City following the execution of development review services
associated with the application.
_____________________________________ _____________________________________
Signature of Applicant/Petitioner Signature of Property Owner (if different)
_____________________________________ _____________________________________
Printed Name of Applicant/Petitioner Printed Name of Property Owner (if different)
_____________________________________ _____________________________________
Date of Signature Date of Signature