Checklist to guide you in preparing a Planning Board Site Plan Review application

In order for a Site Plan application to be placed on the Planning Board’s meeting agenda; you must submit the following to the Town Clerk at least seven days prior to the date of the Planning Board’s Meeting.

1. In submitting any payment, you may pay by check or cash, but checks are safer and more efficient for your town government to handle.
2. In preparing documents:
   • Electronic documents are always greatly appreciated and sometimes required. When the town makes referrals to Fulton County Planning Board, the Adirondack Park Agency, or other agencies, the town must convey documents electronically. This is one of the reasons why electronic documents are so important.
   • Never use pencil. Always use black or dark blue ink.
   • You may avoid submitting electronic documents only if your paper document meets these requirements:
     • The document is letter-size (8.5 inch by 11 inch).
     • The font size is 8 point or greater, so that it can be scanned.
     • Writing should not extend to the edge of the letter: there should be at least a quarter inch margin on all edges.
     • The document should be text or line drawing only.
   • If any document does not meet the above requirements for paper-only submission, it must be submitted both as paper and as an electronic document:
     • Survey, plat, site plan, architectural rendering, elevations, et cetera: vector PDF (not image PDF). This is the default for AutoCad but may not be the default for MicroStation.
     • Photograph: PDF, JPEG, TIFF
     • Hand drawing: PDF at sufficient resolution to be clearly readable, and oriented so text is upright.
     • Text file: DOCX, DOC, RTF
     • Spreadsheet: XLS, XLSX
   • One paper copy each for the Code Office and Town Clerk.
   • Paper copies may be required for ZBA (4) and Planning Board (7), though the board chairs may waive that requirement on a case-by-case basis. Enquire with each board’s clerk.
3. Application Form for Planning Board Review.
4. $100.00 fee.
5. A short-form or long-form SEQR Environmental Assessment Form (EAF) with Part 1 fully completed by the applicant. A long-form EAF shall be required for all SEQRA Type 1 Actions, but the Board may require a long-form EAF for Unlisted Actions if the Board deems that the additional information contained on the long-form would be helpful and appropriate under the circumstances of the project proposal.
6. A Site Plan prepared and stamped by a NYS licensed engineer, architect or land surveyor that includes: title, the name and address of applicant, and property owner and person responsible for preparation of the Site Plan.
7. North arrow, scale bar and date.
8. Boundaries of the property plotted to scale of one inch to 50 feet and all property boundary dimensions and setbacks in feet (if the property is located in more than one zoning district, the boundaries of the districts shall also be shown).
9. Exiting contours (unless otherwise indicated by the Planning Board, two-foot contours shall be required showing the topography for all disturbed areas of the parcel and land within 100 feet of such areas).
10. Existing watercourses and wetlands.
11. Grading and drainage plan, showing existing and proposed final contours.
12. Location, design, types of construction, proposed use and exterior dimensions of all buildings. Identify finished floor elevation.
13. Location and widths of existing and proposed driveways for the site and access to existing roads and highways. Location to nearest intersection of public roads.
14. Location, design and type of construction of all parking and truck loading areas, showing access and egress.
15. Provision for pedestrian access, if applicable.
16. Location of outdoor storage, if any.
17. Location, design and construction materials of all existing or proposed site improvements including water and sewer lines, roads, drains, culverts, retaining walls and fences.
18. A plan, prepared by a licensed professional engineer, identifying the onsite water and wastewater disposal systems and that includes a certification that the plan complies with NYSDEC and NYSDOH required setbacks for existing water sources and onsite wastewater disposal systems and that the onsite wastewater disposal system is designed to properly collect and treat all wastewater to be generated on the site in accordance with all application State and local sanitary laws and codes.
19. Location of fire and other emergency zones, including the location of fire hydrants.
20. Location, design and construction materials of all energy distribution facilities, including electrical, gas and alternative energy.
21. Location, size and design and type of construction of all proposed signs.
22. Location and proposed development of all buffer areas, including existing vegetative cover.
23. Location, design, type and uses of exterior lighting and signs including illumination levels and patterns.
24. The type, location and hours of activities likely to generate noise or ground vibrations of a magnitude as to be a public concern.
25. Location and design of outdoor lighting facilities.
26. Identification of the location and amount of building area proposed for retail sales or similar commercial activity.
27. General landscaping plan and planting schedule.
28. An estimated project construction schedule.
29. Identification of any federal, state or county permits required for the project’s execution.
30. Record of application for and approval status of all necessary permits from federal, state and county officials.
31. Description of the proposed use or uses, including hours of operation, number of employees, expected volume of business and type and volume of traffic expected to be generated.
32. Stormwater Pollution Prevention Plan (SWPPP) for all land development activities (excluding agricultural activities) on the site that results in land disturbance of 1 acre or more. A SWPPP shall comply with NYSDEC requirements for stormwater discharges from construction activities. It shall be at the discretion of the Planning Board as to whether a SWPPP shall be required for disturbances of less than one (1) acre and which are not otherwise subject to such regulations.
33. Other elements or information integral to the proposed development as considered necessary by the Planning Board.
34. Completed Part I Environmental Assessment Form (EAF).

If the Planning Board finds that any of the information requirements as set forth above are not necessary to conduct an informed review, it may waive such information requirements as it deems appropriate. The Planning Board may grant such waivers on its own initiative or at the written request (that sets forth the specific requirements that are requested to be waited and the reasons for the requested waiver) of an applicant.

More information is available on the townofcaroga.com website.