LandCode
Forsyth CountyUnified Development Code

Chapter 18 — Subdivisions and Land Development, Article 6 — APPLICATION REQUIREMENTS AND PROCEDURES

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§ 18-6.1

Application Requirements.

The Director of Planning and Community Development shall not accept any application for the subdivision or development of land as complete unless and until the application meets all pertinent requirements specified in this Chapter. Application requirements for land subdivisions and land developments are summarized in Table 18.1. All plats and construction plans shall be submitted in accordance with the requirements specified in Table 18.2.

TABLE 18.1
APPLICATION REQUIREMENTS

Minor Major Subdivision Requirement Subdivision Construction Final Plat plans Pre-application review with staff Recommended Application form completed Required Required Letter requesting approval with name, address, and phone of applicant 4 Copies or as 9 Copies or as 10 Copies or Number of copies of plat specified by specified by as specified the director the director by the director Filing fee per Resolution/schedule Required Required Required Description of type of water supply and sewerage system and utilities to be Required Required Required provided Water model sealed by a Professional Required Engineer Soil test for each lot proposed for on-site Required Required septic tank and drainfield Data on existing conditions Traffic Study Public Participation Plan/Report Hydrological or other engineering study Per County Required Engineer Development of regional impact application Subdivision entrance monument and Required landscaping elevation/plan Warranty deed for the dedication of streets Required and other public place Written approval from electric utility company regarding installation of service Required points and pole-mounted lights As-built drawings of public improvements Required Subdivision improvement guarantee Required Certificate of title Required Required Plat Certificate Per County Required Engineer

TABLE 18.2
Information Required to be on the Plat or Construction PlansConstruction PlansFinal Plat
Street mailing address for each lotRequired
Topography (U.S.G.S. Quad maps are sufficient for sketch plat)RequiredNot Shown
Digital submission (in format required by County Information Technology Staff)Required
Minimum front setback for all lotsRequiredRequired
Location and description of all monumentsRequired
Certificate of ownership and dedication* * For minor plats, only if required by the County EngineerRequired
Plat recording and signature blockRequired
Signature block for Planning Commission approvalRequired
Land surveyor's stamp, certificate*, signature, including field survey and closure statement * For minor plats, only if required by the County EngineerRequiredRequired
Statement of and reference to private covenantsRecommendedRequired
Schedule of construction for all proposed projects with particular attention to development planned for the first yearRequired
Designated parking area(s) for construction related vehiclesRequired
Reading grid · rebuilt for display · verify at source (p. 252)
§ 18-6.2

Sketch Plat.

Sketch Plat purpose, requirements and procedures are addressed in Chapter 8 of this Code.

§ 18-6.3

Construction Plans.

(A)Application. Upon approval of a sketch plat, the subdivider or land developer may apply for construction plans approval. In the case of a minor subdivision, or in cases where a sketch plat is not required by this article, the subdivider or land developer may apply for approval of construction plans; provided, however, that in the case of a minor subdivision or land development the applicant for construction plan approval should hold a pre-application conference with the Department to ensure that plans meet the intent and specific provisions of this Code. The construction plan approval process is administrative.

Applications for construction plan approval shall be made in accordance with requirements shown in

Table 18.1 and 18.2. No application for a construction plan shall be accepted for processing or approved
Information Required to be on the Plat or Construction PlansConstruction PlansFinal Plat
Street mailing address for each lotRequired
Topography (U.S.G.S. Quad maps are sufficient for sketch plat)RequiredNot Shown
Digital submission (in format required by County Information Technology Staff)Required
Minimum front setback for all lotsRequiredRequired
Location and description of all monumentsRequired
Certificate of ownership and dedication* * For minor plats, only if required by the County EngineerRequired
Plat recording and signature blockRequired
Signature block for Planning Commission approvalRequired
Land surveyor's stamp, certificate*, signature, including field survey and closure statement * For minor plats, only if required by the County EngineerRequiredRequired
Statement of and reference to private covenantsRecommendedRequired
Schedule of construction for all proposed projects with particular attention to development planned for the first yearRequired
Designated parking area(s) for construction related vehiclesRequired
Reading grid · rebuilt for display · verify at source (p. 252)
§ 18-6.4

Final Plat.

(A)When Required. All major and minor subdivisions shall require final plat approval. The final plat approval process is administrative. Applications shall be made in accordance with requirements shown in Table 18.1.
(B)Criteria For Approval. The Director of Planning and Community Development may grant final plat approval if the following conditions are met:
(1)A sketch plat of the proposed subdivision has been previously officially approved by the County when required.
(2)Construction plans have been approved by the director.
(3)All improvements have been installed and inspected by the Director of Engineering, or adequate provisions have been made to guarantee such improvements. The Forsyth County and/or City of Cumming Water and Sewer Department must approve utility construction prior to the approval of the final plat.
(4)The final plat meets all applicable requirements of this Code.
(5)A complete final plat application has been submitted, including all supporting materials required by this Chapter for final plats.
(6)If a final plat has not been approved within one (1) year of initial submittal, the application for final plat approval is null and void. The final plat must be resubmitted and the applicant must pay a resubmittal fee.
(7)In residential developments, any active amenity area must be permitted and under construction before the issuance of a final plat.

Final plats and applications that meet the above-referenced conditions shall be considered a ministerial action of approval by the Director of Planning and Community Development. Denial of a final plat shall be permitted only upon specific findings that one or more of the above-referenced conditions have not been met.

(C)Approval Certificate. Upon approval of the final plat, a certificate, stamped directly on the plat, shall state:

"Pursuant to the Unified Development Code of Forsyth County, Georgia, and all requirements of approval having been fulfilled, this final plat was given approval by all Reviewing Departments, with final approval by the director, or a designee of the Planning & Development Department, the issuing authority for Forsyth County. This final plat is entitled to recordation in the Clerk's Office, Forsyth County Superior Court, on or after the date as indicated on the Planning & Development Department approval stamp as found on the cover sheet of these plans."

(D)Additional Plat Specifications. Per those requirements identified in Table 18.1 and 18.2 to be supplied on a final plat, each major subdivision final plat – and all minor subdivision plats when deemed necessary by the County Engineer - shall contain certificates in the following form:
(1)Surveyor’s Certificate. A certificate by a surveyor directly on the applicable plat as follows:

It is hereby certified that all monuments and improvements shown hereon actually exist except as otherwise indicated, and that their location, size, type and material are correctly shown.

By: ____________________________________________ Registered Georgia Land Surveyor No.: _______________

(2)Owner’s Certificate. A certificate by the owner directly on the applicable plat, signed in an appropriate manner as follows:

The owner certifies that all state and local taxes and other assessments that have been billed for collection by the pertinent taxing authority have been paid. The owner donates and dedicates to the public for use forever the public street right-of-way as shown on this plat.

__________________________________________ Owner Signed, sealed and delivered in the presence of:

______________________________________ ______________________________________ Witness ______________________________________ Notary Public ARTICLE VII, SUPPLEMENTARY PROVISIONS FOR MINOR SUBDIVISIONS:

Notwithstanding other provision of this chapter, minor subdivisions shall be governed by the following: