Mercer County Planning Board, Department of Planning (Land Development Committee)

County Planning Board Site Plan and Subdivision Review (Sites on a County Road or With 1 Acre or More of Impervious Surface)

This applies to a business building or expanding a site that affects or abuts a county road, county drainage facility or other county property. Under the Land Development Ordinance, Vol. I §III(B)(1), such site plans go to the County Planning Board, except site plans not along or abutting county roads that include 'less than a combined total of one (1) acre of existing and proposed impervious surfaces' (§III(B)(1)(a)) and single-family homes or multifamily structures of four or fewer units; all subdivisions require county approval (§III(A)(2)). A project with no impact on county roads or drainage may receive a Letter of No Impact. The fee figures are those in Code Chapter 4.09, adopted by the Board of County Commissioners on 8-15-2024 by Ordinance 2024-11, and the county's 2024 fee form prints the same schedule. Per the fee form, government agencies, 501(c)(3) organizations and public school districts pay no parking, dwelling, commercial and industrial or corridor fee, though base fees still apply; fees are non-refundable once review begins, and additional escrow may be required for an outside consultant review. The ordinance sets a penalty of $1,000 for each day construction continues without Final Approval. The Land Development page states that the county only accepts physical checks for Planning Board payments; applications are submitted electronically. Inquiries go to 609-989-6985, payment questions to 609-989-6545, and pre-application meetings for larger projects to the Office of the County Engineer at (609) 989-6600.