EAST PALESTINE Council considers panel to review developers' plans
Plans approved by the committee would likely need fewer revisions, officials said.
By NANCY TULLIS
VINDICATOR SALEM BUREAU
EAST PALESTINE -- A technical review committee could save developers time and thousands of dollars, city planners said.
At its meeting at 7 tonight, city council will review revised subdivision regulations that include creation of the technical review committee.
John Turner, chairman of the planning commission, said the commission based the revisions on the Ohio Municipal League's subdivision plan.
He said the revisions will bring the city's subdivision regulations up to 2002 standards.
He said the technical review committee would help developers organize their plans, and it has the potential to save developers thousands of dollars and many hours of planning.
Turner said a technical review committee made up of representatives such as the city manager, planning commission members, engineers and water and sewer department representatives will be the first stop for developers in dealing with city officials and the various regulations.
Standardization
City Manager Gary Clark said a technical review committee is a good idea because while many engineering and building codes are standardized, other requirements vary from one municipality to another.
He said if a developer first approached the committee, he could gather information more quickly because he wouldn't have to make separate visits to individual offices such as zoning or water and sewer departments.
A developer would go to the committee, then draw up plans to take to the planning commission, Turner said.
He said a technical review committee should be able to provide information about subdivision requirements that, if left unaddressed, often send developers back to the drawing board.
Saving money
Revisions can add thousands to a development's cost, Turner said.
After a developer has discussed plans with the technical review committee, there should be fewer revisions needed once the planning commission considers the project, he said.
Turner said some other revisions to the subdivision requirements are that all dead-end streets must have a cul de sac, and that developers must provide the city with a set of final, as-built plans.
He said the as-built plans give city officials information that shows the actual specifications of the finished work, which often differ greatly from preliminary plans.
tullis@vindy.com