(A) The purpose of the Planned Development Districts is to provide a means of achieving greater flexibility in development of land in a manner not always possible in conventional zoning districts; to encourage a more imaginative and innovative design of land development; and to promote a more desirable community environment. The Board of Trustees, upon recommendation by the Plan Commission, may, by an ordinance adopted in the same manner as a rezoning is approved, authorize a Planned Development district when the proposed development or use of a specific tract of land or area warrants greater flexibility, control and density than is afforded under the general regulations of standard zoning districts. These Planned Development regulations are not intended to allow excessive densities, or the development of incompatible land uses, either within the development, or as the development relates to the general neighborhood. The Board of Trustees may, upon proper application, approve a Planned Development to facilitate the use of flexible techniques of land development and site design, by providing relief from conventional zoning standards in order to achieve one or more of the following objectives:
(1) Site planning that better adapts to site conditions and its relation to surrounding properties that would not otherwise be possible or would be inhibited under the district regulations applicable to the property.
(2) Functional and beneficial uses of open space areas.
(3) Preservation of natural features of a development site.
(4) Creation of a safe and desirable living environment for residential areas characterized by a unified building and site development program.
(5) Rational and economical in relation to public utilities and services.
(6) Efficient and effective traffic circulation, both within and adjacent to the development site.
(B) Relationship of planned development districts to zoning map.
(1) A mapped district. The PD designation is not intended to be attached to existing zoning districts as an overlay. The PD designation, as detailed in this section, is a separate use district and may be attached to a parcel of land through the process of rezoning and zoning map amendment.
(2) Plan approval required. It is the intent of this Article that no development or redevelopment of the property encompassed by the PD designation take place until an acceptable development plan has been reviewed and approved in conformance with the requirements of this section, §§ 156.170 through 156.175, Amendments, and applicable subdivision regulations of Municipal Code.
(1) When a planned development involves any subdivision activity, the subdivision review and approval procedure requirements contained in the Subdivision Regulations of the Municipal Code shall be carried out simultaneously with the review of a Planned Development under this section of this Article. As applicable, reference is made to requirements of the Subdivision Code of the Municipal Code within this section. With regard to these references, said Appendix C may contain the term “plat”, which under the PD district requirements is intended to be synonymous with “plan” as appropriate.
(`92 Code, § 40-5-6) (Ord. 00-11, passed 7-5-00)