A. Purpose. The purpose of this section is to encourage and provide for flexibility and innovation in the design and location of structures and land development, to provide for the most efficient use of land resources, and to provide an opportunity to develop land areas in a manner different from the standard arrangement of one (1) principal building on one (1) lot. It is further intended that a planned unit development will be in harmony with the character of the district in which it is located.
B. Planned unit development defined. See Sec. 10-1.1.
C. Land development standards. The following land development standards shall apply for all planned unit developments. These planned unit developments may be located only in certain specified districts as special uses, subject to a finding by the board of adjustment that the following conditions exist:
1. Ownership control. The land in a planned unit development shall be under single ownership or management by the applicant before final approval and/or construction, or proper assurances (legal title or execution of a binding sale agreement) shall be provided that the development can be successfully completed by the applicant.
2. Density requirements. There are no density requirements for nonresidential uses as long as the proposed project does not violate the intent of the district in which it is located. The proposed residential density of the planned unit development shall conform to that permitted in the district in which the development is located as indicated in article VI, applications of regulations. If the planned unit development lies in more than one (1) district, the number of allowable dwelling units must be separately calculated for each portion of the planned unit development that is in a separate district, and must then be combined to determine the number of dwelling units allowable in the entire planned unit development.
3. Frontage requirement. Planned unit developments shall have access to a highway or road suitable for the scale and density of development being proposed.
4. Minimum requirements.
a. Required distance between buildings. The minimum distance between buildings shall be twenty (20) feet or as otherwise specified by the board to ensure adequate air, light, privacy, and space for emergency vehicles.
b. Every dwelling unit shall have access to a public or private street, walkway or other area dedicated to common use, and there shall be provision for adequate vehicular circulation to all development properties, in order to ensure acceptable levels of access for emergency vehicles.
c. Privacy. Each development shall provide reasonable visual and acoustical privacy for all dwelling units. Fences, insulation, walks, barriers, and landscaping shall be used, as appropriate, for the protection and aesthetic enhancement of property and the privacy of its occupants and adjacent properties for screening of objectionable views or uses, and for reduction of noise. Multi-level buildings shall be located in such a way as to dissipate any adverse impact on adjoining low rise buildings and shall not invade the privacy of the occupants of such low rise buildings.
5. Perimeter requirements. Structures located on the perimeter of the development must be set back from property lines and right-of-way of abutting streets in accordance with the provisions of the zoning ordinance controlling the district within which the property is situated.
6. Plans and accompanying documentation to ensure that the water and sewer systems proposed for the planned unit development have been approved by the appropriate local and state agencies shall be submitted as part of the application.
7. Preliminary plans shall include parking provisions for all proposed uses within the planned unit development in accordance with off-street parking standards in chapter six, article one. When more than one use is located in the planned unit development, the minimum required parking shall be the sum of the required parking for each use within the development.
8. Any pedestrian and bicycle path circulation system and its related walkways shall be designed to minimize conflicts between vehicle and pedestrian traffic.
9. Layout of parking areas, service areas, entrances, exits, yards, courts and landscaping, and control of signs, lighting, noise or other potentially adverse influences shall be such as to protect the character within the zoning district and desirable character in any adjoining district.
10. Conveyance and maintenance of open space, recreational areas and communally owned facilities shall be in accordance with the Unit Ownership Act (Chapter 47-A of the North Carolina General Statutes) and/or any other appropriate mechanisms acceptable to the board.
(Ord. No. O-21-06-15-5, §1, 6-15-21)