The tentative plan approval process differs based on the type of division you want to do and requires approval from the Planning Department. [Salem Revised Code (SRC) Chapter 205]:

The general process for tentative plan approval is:

• Application preparation: Review the application requirements and procedures specific to what you want to do:
  
  • Partition: Divide your land to create three or fewer parcels of land within a calendar year
  • Subdivision: Divide your land to create four or more lots within a calendar year
  • Phased subdivision: Divide your land to create four or more lots, but divide the subdivision into individual phases whose final plats are recorded over time
  • Planned unit development (PUD): Develop your property with more flexibility in site development standards, common areas, and open space than is allowed through traditional zoning. (It can be approved with or without a land division such as a partition or subdivision.)
  • Replat: Reconfigure lots or parcels and public easement within a recorded plat
  • Manufactured dwelling park subdivision: Divide land within a manufactured dwelling park
• Application. Submit your land use application, fees, and all required materials to Planning staff at the Permit Application Center.
• Staff reviews your application for completeness. If the application is not complete, you will be notified as to what information is missing and will have 180 days to submit the additional information. You may track the status of your application online at the City of Salem permit tracking webpage.
• Notification. After all required information is submitted and the application is deemed complete, staff sends notice of the proposal, indicating a public comment period of 14 days, to you, the property owner, the relevant neighborhood association, and property owners within 250 feet. (Staff prepares the notification list of property owners.)
• Public hearing: Applies only to a PUD.
• Decision. The Planning Administrator issues a decision to approve or deny the application based upon whether the proposal meets the applicable criteria.
  
  • Staff sends a copy of the decision (noting 15-day appeal period) to you, the property owner, the relevant neighborhood association, and property owners within 250 feet.
  • If no appeal is filed and the City Council does not initiate review of the application, the tentative plan decision becomes effective.
• Construction. After the tentative plan is approved, you must construct all required improvements, comply with required conditions of approval, and submit a final plat for review and signature by the Planning Administrator and City Surveyor.

City staff must review plats for completeness before you submit the final plat Mylar and application for processing.

The pre-submittal review includes a detailed review to ensure the final plat conforms with the tentative land use decisions. City staff will make sure:

• The project meets all land use conditions
• Required improvements have been constructed or secured
• Necessary agreements and easements are in place

The pre-submittal review does not include a plat review by the City Surveyor for conformance with Oregon Revised Statutes (ORS) map standards. The City Surveyor and Planning Administrator will only evaluate the final plat in Mylar form after the initial review process has been deemed complete.

The City Surveyor is available for a peer-to-peer review of the plat during the pre-submittal review process, upon request. These meetings are intended to answer any general survey related questions or issues from the Project Surveyor prior to submitting a final plat in Mylar form.

Filing Fee

A filing fee will be charged for all pre-submittal review requests. The amount of the fee depends on the type of application and is adjusted annually by the City Council. Contact Development Services staff at the Permit Application Center to find out the required fee, or check the current fee schedule.

Pre-Submittal Requirements

Please follow the link to the pre-submittal checklist for the items that need to be provided to Development Services Staff for review. All applicable items will need to be submitted for the pre-submittal review. Pre-submittal reviews typically take 10-15 days for Development Services Staff to complete.

Please email pre-submittal applications to developmentservices@cityofsalem.net. When the application materials are accepted, you will be notified by email of fees available for payment on the PAC Portal.

Once the pre-submittal review process has been deemed complete, an approval notice for Mylar submittal will be sent to your project surveyor. You or your surveyor may then submit the final plat application to Development Services staff at the Permit Application Center.

Final Application Requirements

• The final plat in Mylar form
• A completed Final Plat Application
• A title report with hyperlinks and not older than 15 days

Final Review

Once the application requirements are met:

• City review (30 days). The City Surveyor will review the final plat in Mylar form and provide approval or redline comments to your private surveyor within 30 days of submittal.
• Submit revisions (30 days). Your surveyor must then satisfy redlines comments and submit a revised Mylar to the City within 30 days of receipt of redline review comments.
• Final review. The final Mylar is reviewed and signed by the City Surveyor and Planning Administrator and returned to your surveyor for recording with the appropriate County. This final process typically takes 10 business days.