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4 <br />later date, which could have been addressed at the Concept <br />Plan stage if staff had had enough time to do a more thorough <br />review. <br />The proposal presented for public hearing on February 26 <br />included a 30 --day period for staff review of a Concept Plan, <br />and presentation of the Concept Plan to the Planning Board at <br />its first meeting after that period. This would have allowed <br />a minimum of twenty days (14 working days) for review of the <br />project, and ten days (7 working days) for finalizing and <br />distributing the agenda abstract. <br />Comments made at the public hearing by the Board of <br />Commissioners, as well as several citizens, indicated concern <br />with the proposal. Applicants who submitted projects <br />immediately after the deadline date for a particular meeting <br />would have to wait until the following Planning Board meeting <br />for action on the Concept Plan. The longest time period <br />between acceptance of the application and its presentation to <br />the Planning Board would have been 58 days, an increase of <br />13 days from the current regulatons. <br />To balance the needs of staff with the concerns expressed at <br />the public hearing, it is proposed that a minimum of 21 days <br />be allowed for staff review, and prparation /distribution of <br />agenda materials. This would allow at least 11 (9 working <br />days) for staff review, in addition to the 10 days needed to <br />finalize and distribute the agenda. <br />This time frame is consistent with the requirements for Minor <br />Subdivision Concept Plans, which must be approved or denied <br />by the Planning Staff within 14 days of acceptance. Most of <br />that time is used for the review of the project, since there <br />are no agenda abstracts to prepare, and no meeting schedules <br />to maintain. <br />With approval of the revised proposal, the deadline for <br />acceptance of a Concept Plan would be moved back 4 days. <br />Planning Staff usually has contact with the applicant prior <br />to submittal of the Concept Plan, and advises the applicant <br />of the application deadline date for a particular Planning <br />Board meeting. <br />EXISTING AND PROPOSED ORDINANCE PROVISIONS: <br />III- D -1 -b. Planning Department Review Procedures <br />Upon receipt of the Concept Plan, the Planning <br />Department shall review the proposal for general <br />compliance with the requirements of this Ordinance <br />and the Zoning Ordinance, if applicable. The <br />