§8A-5-8. Approval of major subdivision or land development plans and plats.

(a) Upon written request of the applicant for a determination, the planning commission must determine by vote at the next regular meeting or at a special meeting, whether or not the application is complete based upon a finding that the application meets the requirements set forth in its governing body’s subdivision and land development ordinance. The planning commission may delegate this review to planning commission staff.

(b) If a governing body’s subdivision and land development ordinance does not specify what may be included in a land development plan and plat, then the planning commission must determine that an application is complete if the application meets the requirements set forth in subsection (b), section seven of this article.

(c) At a meeting where the application is determined to be complete, the planning commission must set a date, time and place for a public hearing and a meeting to follow the public hearing to vote on the application. The public hearing must be held within 45 days: Provided, That if the planning commission’s next regularly scheduled meeting that would meet public notice requirements is scheduled within 60 days of receipt of the application, it may hold the public hearing at its next regularly scheduled meeting. The planning commission shall notify the applicant of the public hearing and meeting in writing unless notice is waived in writing by the applicant. The planning commission must publish a public notice of the public hearing and meeting in a local newspaper of general circulation in the area at least 21 days prior to the public hearing.

(d) At a meeting at the conclusion of the public hearing or a meeting held within fourteen days after the public hearing, the planning commission shall vote to approve, deny or hold the application.

(e) The application may be held for additional information necessary to make a determination. An application may be held for up to forty-five days.

(f) The planning commission shall approve the application after the planning commission determines that an application is complete and meets the requirements of the governing body’s subdivision and land development ordinance; or if the governing body does not have a subdivision and land development ordinance or if the subdivision and land development ordinance does not specify what may be included in a subdivision or land development plan and plat, that the application meets the requirements set forth in subsection (b) section seven of this article.

(g) If the planning commission approves the application, then the planning commission shall affix its seal on the subdivision or land development plan and/or plat.

(h) If the planning commission approves the application with conditions, then the planning commission must specify those conditions.

(i) If the planning commission denies the application, then the planning commission shall notify the applicant in writing of the reasons for the denial. The applicant may request, one time, a reconsideration of the decision of the planning commission, which request for reconsideration must be in writing and received by the planning commission no later than ten days after the decision of the planning commission is received by the applicant.