Notwithstanding any provision of title 13b or 14, in all matters in which a formal petition, application or request for a permit is required to be submitted to the Commissioner of Transportation or the Office of the State Traffic Administration, and such petition, application or request is submitted by a municipality, the commissioner or office shall, within available appropriations, not later than sixty days after the date on which the commissioner or office receives such petition, application or request, make a preliminary review of the petition, application or request for the sole purpose of determining whether such petition, application or request is acceptable for filing. The commissioner or office shall notify the municipality of the results of such preliminary review. Nothing in this section shall preclude the commissioner or office from requesting additional information from the municipality subsequent to such notification.