Approval of preliminary subdivision plats

A. Review period. 1. Within thirty days after submission of the preliminary plat of a subdivision to be processed as an affordable housing project, the director must review the plan and may approve the preliminary plat as submitted, or as it may be modified, or disapproved, and must express the reasons for the disapproval in writing. 2. Within forty-five days after submission of the preliminary plat of a subdivision for a long-term residential development that is not to be processed as an affordable housing project or after submission of the preliminary plat of a subdivision that is outside of the scope of subsection 18.08.100 (A)(1), the director must review the plan and may approve the preliminary plat as submitted, or as it may be modified, or disapproved, and must express the reasons for the disapproval in writing. B. The director may also defer consideration of the preliminary plat pending receipt of additional information, in which case the running of time is suspended. C. Approval of the preliminary plat must indicate the director's directive to prepare detailed drawings on the plat submitted, as long as there is no change in the plan of subdivision as shown on the preliminary plat and there is full compliance with all requirements of this chapter. The action of the director with reference to any attached documents describing any conditions must be noted on two copies of the preliminary plat. One copy must be returned to the subdivider and the other retained by the director. At such time, the director must stamp the two preliminary plats, as follows: 1. "Subdivider authorized to prepare detailed drawings on plat as submitted including corrections noted." 2. "Recordation with the Bureau of Conveyances, State of Hawaiʻi, or State Department of Taxation, not authorized until approved for recordation at a later date." D. If no action (approval, disapproval, modification, or deferral) is taken by the director within the review period identified in subsection 18.08.100 (A), or a longer period if agreed upon in writing, the preliminary plat will be deemed approved, and it is the duty of the director to endorse approval of the preliminary plat. The director's approval does not exempt the subdivider from compliance with the mandatory requirements of this chapter. E. In the wetlands overlay district, the director must make decisions on applications that are consistent with the policy in section 19.47.020 , unless the director notifies the council in writing of the reasons to make a contrary decision. ( Ord. No. 5421 , § 5, 2022; Ord. 1873 § 8, 1989: Ord. 789 § 1 (part), 1974: prior code § 11-1.8)