When larger tracts of land are developed under unified control, many of the regulations relating to the mixing of uses and proximity of buildings in the residential districts which are otherwise necessary to protect individual lot owners, may become unnecessary or may not apply. The uniqueness in the planned unit development approach is the variety, flexibility and order in establishing residential living patterns. Variety is achieved by permitting a mixture of housing types at a maximum intensity of land use equivalent to that of the zoning for residential districts within which the planned unit development is proposed. Flexibility is achieved by permitting variations of the district regulations pertaining to lot area, setbacks, yards and frontages as herein stated. Order is achieved by requiring advance consideration of the City's Future Land Use and Major Thoroughfare Plans as adopted and amended, and all aspects of the proposed site development, including housing types, livable open spaces, landscaping, vehicular and pedestrian circulation, parking, utilities, recreation areas, accessory facilities and methods of land ownership to be used.
It is the purpose of this chapter to recognize and accommodate such residential developments and to permit those innovations in the technology of land development that are in the best interest of the City. In order to accomplish this, physical development criteria are contained herein:
A. To permit suitable associated neighborhood commercial developments consistent with the demand created by the planned unit development and compatible with the existing and proposed uses of lands adjacent to the planned unit development. Planned unit developments are permitted as conditionally permitted uses within the R-LD, R-MD, R-UD, R-TH, R-MHL and R-MHH Zoning Districts.
B. To permit a variety of dwelling types compatible with the purpose and intensity of land use of the residential districts within which the planned unit development is proposed;
C. To permit the flexible spacing of lots and buildings in order to encourage:
1. More creative site design;
2. The separation of vehicular and pedestrian circulation;
3. The preservation and conservation of the desirable natural features of the site and other amenities such as historical structures;
4. The provision of readily accessible recreation areas and livable open spaces; and
5. The provision of basic utility facilities such as sanitary sewers and water supply systems; and
D. To permit a clustering of dwelling units around livable open spaces in order to require fewer and shorter streets and utility lines, less grading and site preparation, resulting in lower per unit costs.
(Ord. 98-176. Passed 8-3-98.)