§ X. Procedure.

1.

The subdivider shall retain the services of an engineer licensed in the State of Louisiana, acceptable to the City of Natchitoches to prepare all designs, plans and specifications and to represent the subdivider or developer in all negotiations pertaining to the technical aspects of the proposed development. However, in the case of subdividing a pre-existing lot, it shall be sufficient to retain the services of a licensed land surveyor rather than an engineer.

2.

The subdivider's or the developer's engineer or surveyor shall review the proposed development with the planning commission before proceeding with the plan for a subdivision.

3.

After a conference with the Planning Commission, the subdivider or developer shall submit 5 prints of the preliminary plans to the Planning Commission who will check the preliminary plan for compliance with the geometric standards (Section IV) and the preliminary plan requirements (Section XI). When these requirements are fulfilled the Planning Commission will grant preliminary approval of the subdivision. Upon approval by the Planning Commission, the Planning Commission will return to the subdivider or developer an approved copy of the preliminary plan.

If the subdivider or developer fails to proceed with the steps required in Paragraphs 3 through 5, below, within six (6) months from the date of preliminary approval, the Planning Commission reserves the right to cancel its preliminary approval.

The preliminary approval of all incomplete subdivisions on file with the Planning Commission at the time of adoption of these regulations shall be cancelled six months after adoption of these regulations.

4.

Construction Plans and Final Plat. The subdivider's or developer's engineer shall confer with the director of public works, the director of utilities, the fire chief and the regional office of the department of health and hospitals to determine the standards and specifications which shall govern proposed improvements. After preliminary approval of the geometric layout has been granted by the planning commission, the engineer shall submit complete construction plans for the entire development of the area given preliminary approval together with a complete and accurate contour map using mean sea level datum to the director of public works, the director of utilities, and the fire chief for their review and approval. The developer shall present each of these officers with a written statement from a proper officer or agent of the department of health and hospitals indicating that department's approval of the plans. The construction plans shall include the complete design of the sanitary sewerage system, water system, storm drainage system and the street system for the entire area to be subdivided. It shall be recognized as a principle that the sanitary sewerage, water and storm drainage facilities cannot be properly designed on a piece-meal basis and that the entire area shall be studied and worked out as a unit giving due consideration to the problems which may be created by the subdivision of adjacent lands, especially as pertains to drainage. Typical sections showing the reservation of spaces for all utilities shall be included in the construction plans. After the construction plans and specifications have been approved, the subdivider and his engineer shall proceed with the preparation of the final plat.

The subdivider or developer shall not sell or lease any lots in the subdivision until the final plat has been approved.

5.

When the final plat, construction plans and specifications are complete the subdivider or developer shall distribute check prints as follows:

(a)

Two (2) copies of the final plat to the planning commission.

(b)

Three (3) copies of the final plat and three (3) sets of construction plans to the City of Natchitoches, Louisiana.

(c)

One (1) copy of the final plat and two (2) copies of sewer construction plans to the director of the parish health unit.

6.

After construction plans and specifications have been approved by the City of Natchitoches, and water and sewer construction plans have been approved by the department of public health, and the health unit, the subdivider or developer shall be notified of such approval, in writing. Final approval of construction plans and specifications shall be valid for a period of six (6) months from date of approval. The City of Natchitoches shall cancel and revoke approval, in writing, of all construction plans under which no work is commenced within six (6) months, the new construction plans conforming to the regulations then in effect must be submitted and approved before construction of any improvements. In any event, construction must be completed within two (2) years of approval as provided in this section.

7.

Construction shall at all times be subject to inspection by the City of Natchitoches; however, this in no way shall relieve the subdivider and his engineer of close field supervision and final compliance with approved plans and specifications. A field inspector acceptable to the City of Natchitoches shall be maintained as deemed appropriate by the city on the site during all phases of the construction of sanitary sewers, water lines, underground storm drains and street pavements. The City of Natchitoches may require that any inspector who appears incompetent or otherwise unsatisfactory shall be replaced by a satisfactory inspector. The City of Natchitoches shall establish detailed regulations governing the inspections to be furnished by the developer or his engineer, and may refuse to accept work which was done without proper inspection. The City of Natchitoches shall not accept any construction work which is in such a condition that it will require immediate and excessive maintenance by the city.

8.

When construction is complete and in accordance with the approved plans and specifications and complies with the provisions of these regulations the subdivider or developer through his engineer, shall certify that all work has been completed and request final inspection so that he may obtain written final approval and acceptance from the City of Natchitoches and submit such written approval to the director of utilities and director of public works.

(a)

The final approval as required in this section shall be maintained by the signatures of all appropriate parties, to-wit: the director of utilities, the director of public works, a duly authorized agent of the department of health and hospitals, and the fire chief. After these officers have signed indicating their final approval, the chairman of the planning commission and the mayor, if they are satisfied that all requirements of the city have been met, shall give their written approval. All of these approvals will be deemed valid if made on the official subdivision survey and filed of record in the map records of Natchitoches Parish, Louisiana.

(b)

For a period of twelve (12) months after acceptance of the work by the City, the subdivider shall keep all filled trenches, pipes, manholes, pumping stations, structures, paved or unpaved surfaces, etc., constructed by the subdivider in good condition, making repairs to such defects in materials or workmanship as may develop or be discovered.

(c)

The subdivider or developer shall file with the City of Natchitoches a maintenance agreement and surety bond or other acceptable security securing to the city the satisfactory performance of this work for a period of one (1) year from the date of such bond. The amount of the bond shall be ten (10) percent of the cost of the improvements as determined by the City of Natchitoches and the form of the bond or other security shall be approved by the city attorney. The bond shall be subject to cancellation only upon the written approval of the City of Natchitoches.

9.

The subdivider or developer shall furnish the planning commission with not less than thirteen (13) copies of the signed final plat, and within thirty (30) days after final approval as provided in paragraph 8 above, shall record a copy of the final plat in the office of the clerk of court for Natchitoches Parish, Louisiana.

(a)

The prints shall be distributed as follows: One (1) copy for the files of the planning commission, one (1) copy for the Natchitoches Parish Assessor, one (1) copy for the department of health and hospitals, four (4) copies for the City of Natchitoches, one (1) copy for the department of transportation and development, and one (1) copy for each of the private utility companies having services within the subdivision.

(b)

The subdivider or developer shall also furnish the city with one (1) set of records of final plat, construction plans, and specifications on a CADD program compatible with the City of Natchitoches standards.

10.

The following exceptions to certain provisions of this section are permissible.

(a)

The subdivider or developer shall prepare a preliminary plan for the entire tract and then may submit a final plat for only a portion of the tract. No construction shall be started until construction plans for the entire area covered by the final plat have been approved. Improvements must be installed for all of that area for which a final plat is submitted and the owner may sell, lease or offer for sale or lease only those lots in the improved portion of the property.

In such cases of partial development of a subdivision, the street system, drainage system, trunk sewers, water lines, and sewage pumping stations, shall be designed and built to serve the entire area, or designed and built in such a manner as to be easily expanded or extended to serve the entire area.

(Ord. No. 28-1995, §§ 1.8—1.11, 5-8-95)