Senate Study Bill 1175 - Introduced SENATE FILE _____ BY (PROPOSED COMMITTEE ON STATE GOVERNMENT BILL BY CHAIRPERSON DANIELSON) A BILL FOR An Act relating to bond requirements for the construction of 1 subdivision improvements. 2 BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF IOWA: 3 TLSB 2718SC (2) 84 aw/sc
S.F. _____ Section 1. Section 354.8, Code 2011, is amended to read as 1 follows: 2 354.8 Review and approval by governing bodies. 3 1. A proposed subdivision plat lying within the 4 jurisdiction of a governing body shall be submitted to that 5 governing body for review and approval prior to recording. 6 Governing bodies shall apply reasonable standards and 7 conditions in accordance with applicable statutes and 8 ordinances for the review and approval of subdivisions. The 9 governing body, within sixty days of application for final 10 approval of the subdivision plat, shall determine whether the 11 subdivision conforms to its comprehensive plan and shall give 12 consideration to the possible burden on public improvements 13 and to a balance of interests between the proprietor, future 14 purchasers, and the public interest in the subdivision when 15 reviewing the proposed subdivision and when requiring the 16 installation of public improvements in conjunction with 17 approval of a subdivision. The governing body shall not issue 18 final approval of a subdivision plat unless the subdivision 19 plat conforms to sections 354.6 , 354.11 , and 355.8 . 20 2. If the subdivision plat and all matters related to final 21 approval of the subdivision plat conform to the standards and 22 conditions established by the governing body, and conform 23 to this chapter and chapter 355 , the governing body, by 24 resolution, shall approve the plat and certify the resolution 25 which shall be recorded with the plat. The recorder shall 26 refuse to accept a subdivision plat presented for recording 27 without a resolution from each applicable governing body 28 approving the subdivision plat or waiving the right to review. 29 3. The governing body may require a proprietor to provide a 30 bond in an amount determined by the governing body to secure 31 construction of subdivision improvements, and may condition the 32 release of the bond on the governing body’s acceptance of the 33 subdivision improvements as having been properly constructed 34 in accordance with the applicable design requirements. If 35 -1- LSB 2718SC (2) 84 aw/sc 1/ 2
S.F. _____ the governing body requires the provision of such a bond by a 1 proprietor, the proprietor may provide a bond directly or have 2 a bond provided on the proprietor’s behalf by the contractor 3 hired for the construction of the subdivision improvements. As 4 used in this section, the term “subdivision improvements” means 5 any fixture, structure, or other improvement to land required 6 to be constructed or installed by the proprietor as a condition 7 of the governing body’s approval of a subdivision plat. 8 4. A city may establish jurisdiction to review subdivisions 9 or plats of survey outside its boundaries pursuant to the 10 provisions of section 354.9 . In the case of a city, the 11 provisions of this section apply to the review by the city of 12 both subdivision plats and plats of survey. 13 EXPLANATION 14 This bill relates to bond requirements for the construction 15 of subdivision improvements. 16 The bill permits a governing body to require that a 17 proprietor submit a bond in order to secure the construction of 18 subdivision improvements. The bill permits a city to condition 19 the release of such bonds upon the proper construction of 20 such improvements. If such a bond is required by the city, 21 the bill permits the proprietor to submit a bond attained on 22 behalf of the proprietor or on behalf of the contractor hired 23 to construct such subdivision improvements. 24 -2- LSB 2718SC (2) 84 aw/sc 2/ 2