1156.06 DEVELOPMENT AND SITE PLANNING STANDARDS.
   Buildings, structures, pavement, and streets shall be located in compliance with the following development and site planning standards.
   (a)    Ownership. Any ownership arrangement is permitted in a P-CD District Development. The arrangement of dwelling units shall comply with all development standards contained in the applicable zoning district as modified in this Section.
   (b)    Minimum Lot Area. All dwelling units must be in compliance with the spacing and yard requirements defined herein.
   (c)    Perimeter Building Regulations.
      (1)    Where a P-CD District is adjacent to other existing housing development, the minimum setback from an existing perimeter public right-of-way shall be the average of the front setback requirements for those adjacent lots outside the P-CD district on the same side of the street. At the sole discretion of the Planning Commission, the minimum setback requirement may mirror the setback for those adjacent lots immediately across the street from the P-CD District. The minimum setback for interior lots abutting the boundary of the P-CD District shall be identical to or mirror the rear yard setback of the adjacent district.
      (2)    Where a P-CD District is not adjacent to other existing housing development, the minimum building setback from an existing public right-of-way shall be one fifty (50) feet. The minimum setback from the project boundary shall be fifty (50) feet.
      (3)    At the sole discretion of the Planning Commission, a reduction to a minimum building setback from an existing perimeter public right-of-way may be considered when:
         A.    Natural features existing along the existing perimeter public right-of-way are substantial enough to provide adequate buffering between the units in the development and the road; or
         B.    When there are significant natural features located on the interior of the site and the City's priorities dictate that it is more important to conserve those natural features than to maintain large building setbacks along the existing perimeter public right-of-way.
   (d)   Interior Building Setback/Spacing Regulations.
      (1)   The minimum setback from a proposed street line shall be twenty-five (25) feet.
      (2)   The minimum separation between dwellings shall be the greater of twenty (20) feet or one-half the combined height of the adjacent sides of the buildings as measured from the average grade of the building walls to the eave lines.
      (3)   Where lots are indicated on a development plan, a side yard setback of one-half the height of the adjacent side of the building shall be required as measured from the average grade of the building walls to the eave lines.
   (e)   Maximum Height of Structures. The maximum building height of any building, including appurtenant or accessory structures shall not exceed three (3) stories or measure more than thirty-five (35) feet above grade, whichever is less.
   (f)    Maximum Ground Coverage by Structures and Impervious Surfaces. Maximum ground coverage by structures and impervious surfaces shall not exceed more than a twenty-five (25) percent ratio, as averaged among the parcels in the development.
   (g)    General Street Design Criteria.
      (1)    Street alignments shall follow natural contours and be designed to conserve natural features.
      (2)    Locations of streets shall be planned to avoid excessive storm water runoff and reduce the need for storm sewers.
      (3)    The area of the project devoted to streets and related pavement shall be the minimum necessary to provide adequate and safe movement through the development.
   (h)    Bicycle and Pedestrian Circulation Systems. A bicycle and pedestrian circulation system shall be included in the conservation development and shall be designed to ensure that pedestrians can walk safely and easily throughout the development.
      (1)    The pedestrian system shall provide connections between properties and activities or special features within the common open space system and need not always be located along streets. For example, the bicycle and pedestrian circulation system should effectively promote the use of bus stops and linkages to adjacent subdivisions, shopping, and recreation areas.
      (2)    Trails for which public right of passage has been established shall be incorporated in the pedestrian circulation system.
   (i)    Equivalency Provisions. In the event the Planning Commission determines that certain standards set forth above in this Section do not, or should not, apply specifically to the circumstances of a particular project and an alternative method of achieving the objectives of the numerical standard is equal to or better than the strict application of the specified standard, the Planning Commission may relax such standard to an extent deemed just and proper, provided that the granting of such relief shall be without detriment to or impairment of the public interest. When evaluating the application with respect to this provision, the Planning Commission shall make any finding of equivalency in writing to explain how and why the proposal has satisfied the above criteria. When making such a finding, the Planning Commission may approve the proposed application, including waivers from the numerical standards herein, as if the application were in strict compliance with the standards and requirements in this UDO.