Site Plan Approval

At a Glance

• Pre-application meeting with Planning staff is required.
• Site plans are reviewed administratively by City staff.
• Major vs. minor amendments are processed differently.
• Site Plan fees vary based on application type and acreage.

What Is Site Plan Approval?

A Site Plan illustrates how development will be arranged on a property, including buildings, parking, circulation, utilities, drainage, landscaping, and lighting. The City reviews site plans to ensure compliance with zoning, engineering, and development standards.

Step-by-Step Site Plan Process (Summary)

1. Schedule a required pre-application meeting with Planning staff. Projects may be reviewed at a Development Team Meeting during pre-application.
2. Prepare pre-application materials, including a project narrative and a conceptual site plan.
3. Prepare the full Site Plan submittal package using the City’s application checklist and file naming standards.
4. Submit the Site Plan application and pay applicable fees.
5. Completeness review: City staff reviews the application for administrative completeness.
6. Substantive review: City staff issues review comments; applicant revises and resubmits as needed.
7. Final decision: Once the site plan meets City requirements, staff issues approval (or denial if deficiencies remain).

Pre-Application Meeting: What to Bring

• Project narrative describing the proposed development and operations.
• Conceptual site plan showing site boundaries, building footprints, access and circulation, parking, utilities, drainage, and special site conditions.

Major vs. Minor Site Plan Amendments

If a site plan has already been approved, changes may be classified as a Major Amendment or a Minor Amendment. Planning staff will determine the appropriate classification during the pre-application meeting.

• Major Amendments follow the full site plan review process.
• Minor Amendments have reduced submittal requirements and do not require public notice.

Public Notice (When Required) Chapter 17.66

Public notice is not required for minor site plan amendments. For initial site plans and major amendments, City staff mails notice to property owners within at least 300 feet of the site. The Planning Director may expand the notification radius based on site-specific conditions.

Site Plan Application Submittal Checklist

• Completed Site Plan application form (owner authorization required if filed by an agent).
• Project narrative (including hours of operation and employees, if applicable).
• Site plan with site statistics, setbacks, parking, circulation, accessibility, lighting, refuse, walls/fences, and rights-of-way.
• Landscape plan.
• Preliminary utility plan (water and wastewater).
• Lighting photometric plan with cut sheets.
• Technical reports as required (traffic impact analysis, drainage, hydrology, etc.).

Fees

• Site Plan (Initial and Major Amendment): $3,300 plus $10 per acre
• Minor Amendment to Site Plan: $1,050
• Traffic Impact Analysis (if required): $600
• Technology Recovery Fee: 5% of applicable review fees

Typical Review Timeframes (Maximum Business Days)

• Completeness review (initial): 5 business days
• Initial substantive review: 30 business days
• Completeness review (resubmittal): 5 business days
• Resubmittal substantive review: 30 business days
• Overall review timeframe: 70 business days