What is the process a parcel map waiver goes through?

After a parcel map waiver application has been formally accepted as complete, the illustration is sent to several governmental agencies, utility companies, and the public for review and comment. A Notice of Opportunity for Public Hearing, or Notice of Public Hearing when processed concurrently with a discretionary action, is sent to all of the property owners within 500 to 1,000 feet of the site and is published in the local newspaper. A parcel map waiver is not scheduled for a public hearing unless one is requested by the applicant or any other interested person or is processed concurrently with a discretionary action such as a zone variance, zone modification, or precise development plan, for which a public hearing is already required.

All of the comments received during the review period are compiled by the Planning and Natural Resources and a list of recommended conditions of approval and findings are prepared. The recommendation, along with copies of the comments received, is known as the “Advance Report.” The Advance Report is sent to the applicant approximately fifteen (15) days before final action is scheduled to be taken on the parcel map waiver. This time is provided so that the applicant can review the draft recommendation and discuss it with the Department or any commenting agency. Applicants are strongly encouraged to carefully read the Advance Report and contact the staff planner about any questions or concerns prior to the “action date” which is a predetermined date, when final action is taken to conditionally approve or deny the parcel map waiver. At this point, if the parcel map waiver is approved, it is considered to be “tentatively approved.”

Conditions of approval must be satisfied before the Certificate of Compliance for the parcel map waiver can be recorded. Typical conditions of approval may include, but are not limited to the following:

• Road dedications;
• Removal of obstructions;
• Preparation and filing of a field survey;
• Water supply and sewage disposal approval;
• Installation of street signs;
• Payment of park fees; and
• Floodplain requirements.

Once all of the conditions of approval have been satisfied and a copy of all required title work has been submitted to the Planning and Natural Resources Department, a Certificate of Compliance will be prepared for recording. The Certificate of Compliance is a legal document certifying that the new parcels have been legally created. Title companies and financial institutions recognize a Certificate of Compliance as being verification of the legal parcel configuration.