Board backs code change to let city staff handle plats after state law change

The Planning and Zoning Board recommended that the City Commission approve a city‑initiated amendment to the land‑development code intended to align local plat procedures with state law.

Community Development Director Carol Strickland told the board that 2025 Senate Bill 784 amended statutory plat and replat procedures so that local governments may perform plat review administratively rather than routing every final plat to the City Commission. The proposed ordinance (2025‑06) designates the official with administrative authority to sign plats, establishes associated timelines for written notice, and clarifies minor‑subdivision procedures and required improvements. Strickland said the city had already adopted an interim resolution to comply with the statute and that the ordinance would formalize the technical code changes; staff recommended the board advise the Commission to approve the amendment on first reading.

A board member moved and another seconded a recommendation to approve ordinance 2025‑06; the motion passed unanimously with no public comment. First reading is scheduled for Feb. 2 and second reading for Feb. 16. Strickland said staff will bring performance‑bond and improvement‑guarantee options to bear where projects are incomplete, noting the code already allows performance bonds in some circumstances.

If approved by the Commission, the change will shift some plat decisions from an elected body to staff administration as permitted under state law, with the community development director named as the designated administrative official in the code change.