§ 4.1. Submittal process.

4.1.1 Review of plats and plans required.

1)

All preliminary plats, construction plans and final plats must be submitted to the development control committee for review and approval prior to the commencement of land disturbance or construction activities. The community development department (hereafter referred to in this article as "the department") shall coordinate the committee's review and approval process.

2)

All information requested on applications for plat or plan review must be provided; incomplete applications will not be accepted. Likewise all plats and plans must contain the minimum information outlined in this article. The absence of necessary design data shall result in plats and plans being resubmitted for a future plan review date.

3)

Flowcharts detailing the review process for both residential subdivisions and nonresidential developments are shown on pages 31 and 32 of this article.

4.1.2 Pre-application conference (optional).

1)

Whenever any subdivision or development of a tract of land is proposed to be made, whether residential or nonresidential in nature, the developer is encouraged to present to the development control committee preliminary documents and graphic exhibits to allow early evaluation of the developer's intentions as well as coordination with the comprehensive plan, zoning ordinance and other county regulations.

2)

A pre-application conference can be scheduled through the community development department for each Thursday. The request for a pre-application conference must be by calling the department by 5:00 p.m. on Wednesday of the preceding week (in other words, eight days prior to the requested conference date). The following information shall be required at the time the pre-application conference is requested:

(a)

Location of project site.

(b)

Tax parcel or street address.

(c)

District and land lot(s).

(d)

Name of person to contact for confirmation of appointment.

(e)

Telephone number that the contact can be reached on Thursday morning.

(f)

Number of people to attend their conference along with their names and company affiliation.

(g)

The general nature of the information sought from the various county departments.

(h)

The type of project proposed.

4.1.3 Water pressure, flow test, and fire hydrant spacing requirements for preliminary plat approval. (Revised 2001)

1)

A water pressure and flow test shall be conducted and approved by Paulding County before applying for preliminary plat review and approval as described in section 4.1.4 below. An approved water pressure and flow test is defined as a corrected flow rate (Q _C ) that meets the minimum fire flow rate as outlined in the table below.

2)

In addition to any other preliminary plat requirements, the following information shall be provided on the preliminary plat; tested flow rate (Q _T ), pressure recording chart (minimum 24-hour, however, pressure recording duration may be increased at the discretion of the water and sewer system director) , static pressure, residual pressure, tested hydrant location, tested hydrant elevation, date of field flow test measurements, computed available flow rate (Q _A ) at the field tested hydrant, corrected flow rate (Q _C ) for the proposed development location, all associated computations, and the appropriate hydrant spacing in accordance with the table below.

3)

The tested flow rate (Q _T ), shall be computed the using the orifice equation below based on the actual field measurements:

Q _T = [27 (d) (P) ^0.5 ] * k

Where:

Q _T (gpm) = tested flow rate at the pilot location, reported in gallons per minute

d (in) = orifice diameter tested, typically 2.5 inches

P (psi) = pilot pressure measured in the flow stream

k (unitless) = flow discharge efficiency factor, generally accepted to be 0.90

4)

The available flow rate (Q _A ) shall be computed by adjusting the tested flow rate at the pilot location for the minimum allowable residual pressure (20-psi) , deviations in hydrant testing elevations, low hydraulic grade line conditions (corrected at 50 percent of the tank overflow elevation) , and the sustained 24-hr pressure (pump-off) conditions. The available flow rate (Q _A ) shall be computed using the following equation:

Q _A = { ([s' -20)/(S - R)] ^0.54 } * Q _T

Where:

Q _A (gpm) = available flow rate at the pilot location, adjusted for local field conditions

s' (psi) = static pressure adjusted for low hydraulic grade line conditions

S (psi) = static pressure prior to hydrant flow test

R (psi) = residual pressure during hydrant flow test

5)

The minimum fire flow rate used to design a proposed development shall correspond to the corrected flow rate (qc) that has been projected to the proposed development. The corrected flow rate (qc) shall be computed by adjusting the available flow rate (qa) to reflect conditions at the proposed development site. Corrected flows may be projected from the nearest water distribution main where the field measured flow test was performed to a proposed development location using accepted hydraulic engineering design practices that account for changes in elevation head, frictional losses through meters, etc.

6)

Minimum fire flow and maximum hydrant spacing shall be completed in compliance with the chart below.

Minimum fire flow and maximum hydrant spacing

Distance Between Any Structure (ft) in Development	Minimum Fire Flow (gpm) with 20-psi Residual Pressure	Maximum Hydrant Spacing;sup\sup; (ft)
>100	500	1,000
31 - 100	750	800
10 - 30	1,000	800
<10	1,000	500
Commercial/industrial	1,000 a	500 c

 

a.

Minimum flow may be upwardly adjusted based upon the written recommendation of the county fire chief setting forth any special /conditions of the development which require additional flow.

b.

Fire hydrants shall be located at the end of every water line, the back of cul-de-sacs, and the entrances of new developments regardless of the maximum allowable spacing distances. Hydrants shall be located at road intersections whenever feasible as determined during the plan review process.

c.

For commercial/industrial developments, the hydrant spacing shall be the hose lay distance and shall be measured from all portions of the building exterior.

In the event the corrected flow rate for a proposed development is less than the minimum required flow rate in the minimum fire flow and hydrant spacing table above, an owner/developer may elect to propose off-site improvements to the water distribution system that would result in an increase in the corrected flow rate (qc). All proposed system improvements shall be designed by an independent professional engineer at the expense of the owner/developer. The proposed improvements shall be reviewed by the water and sewer system department and authorized by the water and sewer system director. Any approved off-site improvements shall be described on the preliminary plat prior to preliminary plat review and approval as described in section 4.1.4 below.

7)

The fee for the water pressure and flow test shall be administered through the Paulding County Water and Sewer System Department. The Paulding County Water and Sewer System Department should be contacted for additional information regarding the water pressure and flow test.

4.1.4 Application for preliminary plat review and approval.

1)

All preliminary plats shall be prepared to the specifications listed in section 4.2 of these regulations. Application for preliminary plat approval shall be submitted to the department using an application form to be determined by the community development director. The application, along with six copies of the preliminary plat and the appropriate fee, shall be submitted to the department no later than 4:30 p.m. on Wednesday of the week preceding the week in which a preliminary plat review conference is desired. Preliminary plats submitted after this deadline will not be reviewed by Thursday of the following week.

2)

Each project submitted for review shall be allotted a 30-minute appointment for the date and time assigned for review before the development control committee. If a developer, engineer, surveyor or landscape architect has several projects for review on the same week, an effort will be made to schedule contiguous appointments for his or her convenience. However, appointment times are scheduled on a first come-first served basis. Only those projects scheduled well in advance may be so scheduled.

3)

A list of requirements and corrections will be discussed at the time of the scheduled review. If the development control committee determines that an insufficient amount of information, detail or design was provided for review, the project shall be resubmitted. Appointments will only be assigned for projects when the completed preliminary plats are resubmitted for review.

4.1.5 Submission of construction plans to health department may be required. In addition to the requirements for submitting construction plans outlined in section 4.1.6 below, an extra set of construction plans shall be submitted to the Paulding County Health Department if a project is to be served by an on-site sewage disposal system. Other projects requiring the review and approval of this department are identified elsewhere in these regulations.

4.1.6 Application for construction plan review.

1)

Construction plans shall be prepared to the specifications listed in section 4.3 of these regulations for residential subdivisions and section 4.4 for nonresidential developments. Application for construction plan approval shall be submitted to the department using an application form to be determined by the community development director. The application, along with eight copies of the construction plans, two copies of a hydrology study and the appropriate fee, shall be submitted to the department no later than 4:30 p.m. on Wednesday of the week preceding the week in which a construction plan review conference is desired. Plans submitted after this deadline will not be reviewed by Thursday of the following week.

2)

Construction plans shall be no larger than 24 inches by 36 inches. Stormwater detention analysis must be conducted in accordance with article 8 of these regulations. Other methods of hydrological analysis must be pre-approved for use by the department.

3)

Each project submitted for review shall be allotted a 30-minute appointment for the date and time assigned for review before the development control committee. If a developer, engineer, surveyor or landscape architect has several projects for review on the same week, an effort will be made to schedule contiguous appointments for his or her convenience. However, appointment times are scheduled on a first come-first served basis. Only those projects scheduled well in advance may be so scheduled.

4)

A list of requirements and corrections will be discussed at the time of the scheduled review. If the development control committee determines that an insufficient amount of information, detail or design was provided for review, the project shall be resubmitted. Appointments will only be assigned for projects when the completed construction plans are resubmitted for review.

4.1.7 Project approval and permit.

1)

After all requirements have been met and any corrections made to the construction plans, said plans may be submitted for their approval. Eight sets of amended construction plans and two copies of a hydrology study shall be presented for approval. The construction plans must be accompanied by the "plan review copy" of the plans reviewed and comments returned by the development control committee.

2)

The department will issue a development permit for the project upon successfully obtaining the approval of the development control committee. The development permit will be delivered to the project site by the department's development inspector at the time of the scheduled pre-construction meeting.

4.1.8 Utility construction.

1)

It shall be the developer's responsibility to notify the necessary utility companies involved in burying main and/or service cable and/or pipe (including conduit) in commercial and residential developments where there are streets to be dedicated to Paulding County for maintenance.

2)

Sufficient notice shall be given so as to allow for the burying of long side services, intersectional crossings and to make splices, taps or relocations within acceleration/deceleration lanes at project entrances. No paving work on the public right-of-way shall be done until clear of all above and below ground utility work.

4.1.9 Pre-construction conference.

1)

Upon completion of construction plan review, the developer shall phone the department to schedule a pre-construction conference to be held on the site of the project. The primary purpose of this conference is to discuss policy, procedures and construction plans and to present the developer with the development permit.

2)

Representatives of Paulding County's Community Development, Transportation and Water, Sewer and Environmental Services Departments shall attend the pre-construction conference, as shall the developer of the project. The developer is strongly encouraged to bring to the conference the grading, paving, water, sewer and other contractors that will be working on the project.

3)

The developer shall be presented a "pre-construction procedure checklist" at the conference and that checklist will be reviewed with him by the aforementioned Paulding County representatives. The developer shall sign a statement following the conference, attesting to his understanding of the county's development requirements and his responsibility to abide by said requirements.

4.1.10 Business licenses. All developers, contractors and subcontractors shall obtain a valid business license prior to performing any work within Paulding County. This applies to contractors and subcontractors performing the following work: erosion and sediment control; grading; storm drainage; curbing; public utilities (water and sewer); all other utilities to be installed in proposed or existing county-maintained right-of-way; and paving (including fine grading of subgrade and base installation).

4.1.11 Fees. Article 14 of these regulations state the appropriate fees for reviewing and approving preliminary plats and construction plans, issuing land disturbance permits and conducting inspections of development projects.