Plats
What is a Plat?
A plat is a formal survey of a piece of property showing all essential dimensions of a lot or lots. Plats are required to ensure the safe and orderly development of the City. Plats are reviewed to determine compliance with the Comprehensive Plan, Subdivision Ordinance, and other applicable regulations on land development.
Prior to plat submittal, the City will review engineering plans to determine whether any public improvements; such as streets, drainage, water, or sewer are required prior to development of the land. The City also determines whether any rights-of-way or easements are required. An approved plat is one that has been approved by the City of Henderson and recorded in the plat records of Rusk County.
Who must file a Plat?
A plat is filed by the property owner, though a registered public surveyor may act as the agent for the owner. An approved plat is required before any building permits will be issued, and before any parcel may be subdivided and legally sold.
How do I prepare a Plat?
The first step in all cases is the preparation of a plat and a preliminary conference with the Community Development Department. The City can then determine the appropriate way to proceed with preparation of the plat.
What is required for a Sketch Plat?
A sketch plat may be drawn at a convenient scale on paper no larger than 24” by 36” and show:
- The boundaries and dimensions of the property in question
- Existing (if any) and proposed name of subdivision
- Name, address, and telephone number of owner, legal description (Lot, Block,
- Survey Abstract or Metes and Bounds from Deed)
- Scale, north arrow, and date
- Existing easements, rights-of-way, watercourses, and streets
- The Conceptual iSWMTM Site Plan
- Approximate location, rough dimensions, and minimum area of proposed lots
- Approximate locations and dimensions of proposed streets and public improvements
- Vicinity map showing general development location.
Following City review, it will be determined whether a Preliminary Plat or Short Form Plat is required.
Who approves a Preliminary Major Plat?
A preliminary plat is approved by the Planning and Zoning Commission, following a public hearing. All landowners within 200 feet of the proposed subdivision are notified of the public hearing. If the Commission requires changes to the preliminary plat as a condition of approval, these must be completed and re-submitted within 30 days.
What is a Minor Plat?
The minor plat facilitates the subdivision plat approval process in those instances (including minor street dedication, easement dedication, and replats) where the highly formalized standard plat approval procedure is not necessary.
The Minor Plat subdivision approval procedure may be used when the following conditions have been met:
- The Minor Plat and supporting instruments are respectively drawn and compiled in compliance with the Final Plat specifications as hereinafter provided. (See Final Plat Requirements and Final Plat Checklist)
- The Minor Plat and supporting instruments and the subdivision they represent are not otherwise in contravention with Chapter 212, Local Government Code.
- Each lot and block has frontage upon a dedicated and improved street to City specifications, or necessary dedication and improvements are part of the plat.
- All easements to each block, or lot have been previously granted or are shown on the Plat.
- The proposed development neither contains nor creates a significant drainage problem, nor is topography a salient development consideration.
- All utilities required serving each block, or lot is in place or arrangements to provide same have been made with the appropriate agency.
- If the subject property is not identifiable by reference to a previously recorded subdivision Plat and is to be platted as a single tract, the tract shall have street frontage of not less than the minimum specified by the Zoning Ordinance.
- Subject property shall involve a maximum of four (4) lots.
- Lot width and total lot area vary no more than five percent (5%) less than the equivalent dimensions of abutting lots.
- Property which has previously had a total of four (4) lots platted from it via the Minor Plat procedure shall not have additional lots platted from it under the Minor Plat procedure.
Download Minor Plat application
For additional information, or to schedule a preliminary conference, please contact the Community Development Department at (903) 392-0786.