(a) Policies Underlying Use of Zone. This district is intended to provide a good deal of flexibility in the arrangement and design of residential dwellings, based upon a unified development plan conceived and carried out for an entire area. Within this district, appropriate and reasonable population density is maintained while a variety of dwelling unit types is permitted. Natural features such as topography, trees and drainage ways are encouraged to remain in their natural state to the degree possible. Such developments are generally characterized by a significant proportion of usable open space, and unified design concept with particular attention devoted to the periphery of the development, with the objective being the compatibility of the development with its surroundings.
(b) Permitted Uses. Those uses included as permitted and accessory uses in R-1A through R-3 Residential Districts developed in a unified manner in accordance with the approved development plan.
Convenience establishments have accessory uses which have been established as necessary for the proper development of the community and to be so located, designated and operated to serve primarily the needs of the persons within the Planned Development if specifically approved as part of the Planned Development Plan. Uses shall be generally limited to those uses permitted in the CB District, with no direct access or advertising signs for such uses to be visible from the exterior of the development.
Such convenience establishments and their parking areas shall not occupy more than five (5) percent of the total area of the development.
No separate building or structure designed or intended to be used, in whole or part, for business purposes within a Planned Residential Development shall be constructed prior to the construction of not less than thirty percent (30%) of the dwelling units proposed in the development plan.
(c) Area Requirements. The minimum land area required for a Planned Residential Development shall be five (5) acres. This area requirement may be varied at the discretion of the Planning Commission and Municipal Council if it can be demonstrated that a variance is necessary to achieve an improved site design and that surrounding neighborhoods and public facilities will not be adversely affected.
(d) Density Requirements. Any combination or cluster of housing units is permitted, provided that the average lot area per family or dwelling unit contained in the site, exclusive of the area of street rights-of-way, and commercial area, will not exceed the following net overall densities:
(1) Six (6) dwelling units per acre for single family residential developments.
(2) Eight (8) dwelling units per acre for developments containing a combination of single family and two family units.
(3) Twelve (12) dwelling units per acre for a development containing a combination of single family, two family and multi-family units.
(4) Fifteen (15) dwelling units per acre for multi-family residential developments.
The above density requirements may be varied at the discretion of the Planning Commission and Municipal Council if it can be demonstrated that a variance is necessary to achieve an improved site design and that surrounding neighborhoods and public facilities will not be adversely affected.
(e) Site Design. All housing shall be sited to preserve privacy and to ensure natural light.
Lot widths may be varied to permit a variety of structural designs. It is also recommended that setbacks be varied. Every housing unit should be situated to abut upon common open space or similar areas. A clustering of dwellings is encouraged.
(f) Structure Spacing. A minimum of fifteen (15) feet shall be maintained between unattached principal structures.
(g) Length. There shall be no continuous structure of apartments, attached dwellings, or townhouses containing more than the following respective maximum numbers of side by side dwelling units:
(1) Apartments - twelve (12) units.
(2) Attached dwellings other than townhouses - eight (8) units.
(3) Townhouses - six (6) units.
(h) Height The height of any residential structure within a planned unit development shall not exceed thirty five (35) feet, unless it can be demonstrated that an additional height is required, with provision of suitable open space to protect adjacent structures from adverse reduction of light and air.
(i) Setback and Screening. A setback of fifty feet shall be provided along the entire perimeter of the development and retained in natural woods or be suitably landscaped with grass and/or ground cover, shrubs and trees. Under appropriate circumstances, at the discretion of the Planning Commission and the Council, this setback may be reduced to a setback of not less than thirty feet, it being expressly understood that both the Planning Commission and Council must approve such reduction of the fifty foot setback to a setback not less than thirty feet. Projects located and adjacent to commercial or industrially zoned areas shall provide screening facilities comprising landscaping, walls or both which will provide suitable protection to the residential development as adjudged by the Planning Commission and Council. Screening facilities shall not obscure traffic visibility within fifty feet of an intersection.
(Ord. 1988-03. Passed 6-21-88.)
(j) Common Open Space. A minimum of twenty-five percent (25%) of the land in any planned residential development shall be reserved for permanent common open space and recreational facilities for the residents or users of the area being developed. Only areas having minimum dimensions of 50 feet by 100 feet shall qualify for computation as usable open spaces.