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Planned Unit Development
The objective of Planned Unit Development (PUD) is not simply to allow exceptions to otherwise applicable regulations. It is instead to encourage a higher level of design and amenity than it is possible to achieve under the usual land development requirements.
It is accordingly the intent of the City to suspend the application of detailed zoning and subdivision standards as provided herein only where such special amenity is achieved. In this way the City may grant the creative developer a desirable flexibility and at the same time not only protect, but to enhance the welfare of the residents and other users of a development as well as the rest of the community.
The provisions of this section are intended for special situations in which:
- adequate space, light, air, and other objectives of this Ordinance relating to the public health, safety, and welfare can be achieved without the literal application of the detailed zoning and subdivision requirements otherwise applicable, and
- special amenities and benefits to the community beyond those required by this and other City ordinances can be achieved by allowing more flexible design than is otherwise permitted by such requirements.
These objectives can be achieved where an area of land is planned for development as an integrated unit, and where its design is subject to more detailed review and approval by the City than is normally required.
In recommending approval or conditional approval of a General Site Plan for an SD District Development (including Development Control Regulations associated therewith) or a Preliminary or Final Plan for a Planned Unit Development (PUD), the Plan Commission shall transmit to the City Council written findings of fact that the application meets all of the criteria below or will meet them when the Commission’s conditions are complied with. The City Council shall, in granting approval or conditional approval, also find that all of the following criteria are met or will be met when the conditions to which the approval is made subject are complied with:
Table 8A: Approval Criteria for Planned Unit Developments
- Superior Design: The PUD represents a more creative approach to the unified planning of development and incorporates a higher standard of integrated design and amenity than could be achieved under otherwise applicable zoning district and subdivision regulations, and solely on this basis modifications to the use and design standards established by such regulations are warranted.
- Meets PUD Requirements: The PUD meets the requirements for Planned Unit Developments set forth in this Ordinance, and no modifications to the use and design standards otherwise applicable are allowed other than those permitted herein.
- Consistent with City Plan: The PUD is generally consistent with the objectives of the City Comprehensive Plan as viewed in light of any changed conditions since its adoption.
- Public Welfare: The PUD will not be detrimental to the public health, safety, morals, or general welfare.
- Compatible with Environs: Neither the PUD nor any portion thereof will be injurious to the use and enjoyment of other properties in its vicinity, seriously impair property values or environmental quality in the neighborhood, nor impede the orderly development of surrounding property.
- Natural Features: The design of the PUD is as consistent as practical with the preservation of natural features of the site such as flood plains, wooded areas, steep slopes, natural drainage ways, or other areas of sensitive or valuable environmental character.
- Circulation: Streets, sidewalks, pedestrian ways, bicycle paths, off-street parking, and off-street loading as appropriate to the planned land uses are provided. They are adequate in location, size, capacity, and design to ensure safe and efficient circulation of automobiles, trucks, bicycles, pedestrians, fire trucks, garbage trucks, and snow plows as appropriate without blocking traffic, creating unnecessary pedestrian-vehicular conflict, creating unnecessary through traffic within the PUD, or unduly interfering with the safety or capacity of adjacent streets.
- Open Space and Landscaping: The quality and quantity of public and common open spaces and landscaping provided are consistent with the higher standards of design and amenity required of a PUD. The size, shape, and location of a substantial portion of total public and common open space provided in residential areas render it usable for recreation purposes.
- Open space between all buildings is adequate to allow for light and air, access by fire fighting equipment, and for privacy where walls have windows, terraces, or adjacent patios. Open space along the perimeter of the development is sufficient to protect existing and permitted future uses of adjacent property from adverse effects from the development.
- Covenants: Where individual parcels are to be later sold, adequate provision has been made in the form of deed restrictions, homeowners or condominium associations, or the like for:
- the preservation and maintenance of any open spaces, thoroughfares, utilities, water retention or detention areas, and other common elements not to be dedicated to the City or another public body
- such control of the use and exterior design of individual structures, if any, as is necessary for continuing conformance to the PUD Plan, such provision to be binding on all future ownership.
- Public Services: The land uses, intensities, and phasing of the PUD are consistent with the anticipated ability of the City, the school districts, and other public bodies to provide and economically support police and fire protection, water supply, sewage disposal, schools, and other public facilities and services without placing undue burden on existing residents and businesses.
- Phasing: Each development phase of the PUD can, together with any phases that preceded it, exist as an independent unit that meets all of the foregoing criteria and all other applicable regulations herein even if no subsequent phase should ever be completed. The provision and improvement of public or common area improvements, open spaces, and amenities--or the provision of financial sureties guaranteeing their improvement--is phased generally proportionate to the phasing of the number of dwelling units or amount of non-residential floor area.
Except with respect to an SD District PUD, approval of an amendment in conformance with the procedures in Table 2D of the Zoning Ordinance shall be required for:
a. Any material change, deletion, or addition made to:
1. an approved Preliminary Plan, or
2. an approved Final Plan, or for
b. A Final Plan that does not conform to the Preliminary Plan approved by the City Council.
The approval process for the amendment shall depend on whether the proposed amendment constitutes a "Major Amendment" or a "Minor Amendment." The amendment type is determined by Community Development Staff.