Planned unit developments are exempt from this chapter and chapter 26, subdivisions, with the exception of the following:
(1) Wetlands. Acologically sensitive lands, such as marsh, Carolina Bays, pocosins and swamps, when in the ownership of the owner/applicant, are to be preserved whenever possible for the public interest. For such lands, as long as such areas are left undisturbed, they shall be included in the gross density.
(2) Maximum ground coverage.
a. Maximum ground coverage of sites developed as residential structures and accessory uses shall be 30 percent of the gross site area for these uses.
b. Maximum ground coverage of sites developed as nonresidential shall be 50 percent of the site specific area for these uses.
c. Applicant may exceed restrictions if applicant can effectively demonstrate, through an innovative engineered design, that the protection provided by the design would be equal to or exceed the protection by the limitations of 30 and 50 percent as specified in subsections (2)a and (2)b of this section.
(3) Streets/internal trafficways. A basic characteristic of a planned unit development is that the internal trafficways or streets, whether public or private, do not follow fixed linear geometric lines as do most streets, but instead are curvilinear and of meandering character. This is intended to provide for the further protection of trees, landscape specimens, and other environmentally sensitive concerns by building around these areas and for deliberate slower paced traffic movements and making generous use of features that promote lower vehicular speeds. Creative design of trafficways is encouraged. All planned unit developments must adhere to chapter 26, subdivisions, article III, design standards, of this Code. Prior to the approval of a final plat, the developer shall have installed all required improvements, or guaranteed their installation in accordance with chapter 26, subdivisions, article IV, final approval, of this Code.
(4) Setbacks. Minimum setbacks and distances between structures shall be as follows: minimum distance between internal structures shall be as required by the North Carolina Department of Insurance, and a minimum setback of 25 feet shall be required from any peripheral property line of the planned unit development except, where the peripheral property line is the boundary between the planned unit development and the State of North Carolina Maritime Forest Preserve, the required minimum setback shall be 20 feet. A minimum of ten feet shall be required for all front property lines.
(5) Utilities. Each development shall be capable of service with a water system and a sewage disposal system meeting standards and requirements of the state. When a development is within 1,000 feet of a water or sewer system, and the system has the capacity to provide the necessary water and sewer, the developer shall connect to such system and shall design a water distribution system for the subdivision meeting any requirements of state and village ordinances. Except as otherwise allowed by this chapter, all utilities and easements for each planned unit development must be provided in accordance with subsection 26-124(f)(4). Notwithstanding that provision, or any other provision of this section, and with the approval of the village manager, water and sewer line installations may be located under the paved surfaces of public roads if such construction is reasonably necessary to preserve natural features of the land, including trees. All utilities shall be installed underground.
(Ord. No. 29, § 13.5, 8-17-1991; Ord. No. 2000-21, § 1, 9-16-2000; Ord. No. ZO-01-04, 6-18-2004; Ord. No. 2021-0607, § 1, 6-28-2021)