Planning board backs code change to make final plats administratively approved under new state law

The Planning and Architectural Review Board on Sept. 2 recommended approval of ordinance 2025-16, a city code amendment to conform subdivision and platting rules to a state law effective July 1 that requires municipalities to designate an administrative designee for final-plat approval rather than routing certain plat approvals through elected or appointed governing boards.

Holly, a planning staff member, read the ordinance title and explained the change: the state bill, which became effective July 1, removes the local option to send certain plat approvals to a governing board and instead requires administrative approval by a designated official. Holly said the subdivision process itself — including preliminary plat review — remains intact; the change affects whether final plat sign-off occurs at an administrative level rather than before a governing board.

RJ Santore of 618 Cumberland Drive offered public comment, urging the city to publish a short administrative checklist or short report confirming that a final plat “matches the approved final plan in all material ways” before the city engineer signs the plat. Santore also suggested posting proposed plats on the city website for at least a week before final signing to provide public awareness without delaying approval. “Maybe a formal conference, review step or performance review step where the city engineer publishes a short report or checklist,” Santore said.

Board members discussed the scope of the state preemption and whether any local courtesy review could be preserved. Holly and other staff said the preliminary plat process and commission/city review of preliminary plats would remain as part of land-use review, but final plat sign-off would be administrative to comply with state law. A board member moved to approve the ordinance with consideration of RJ Santore’s suggested public-notice language; another member seconded. Roll call was unanimous.

Action: The board recommended approval of ordinance 2025-16 with consideration of Santore’s suggested language for public notice and administrative process transparency. The transcript records the roll-call votes as follows: Cody Espers — yes; Lisa Smith — yes; Scott Chapus — yes; Barbara Revels — yes; Chair Susie Johnston — yes. The motion passed.

Context: The change implements a state-level change in procedure; staff said the city’s code required updating to reflect the new state statute. The transcript does not show final ordinance adoption by the city commission or the name of the city official the city will designate as the final-plat approver.