Skip to code content (skip section selection)
Compare to:
§ 154.081 PLANNED RESIDENTIAL DEVELOPMENT.
   A planned residential development (PRD) may be located in the MR-30, MR-MU, and MR-NC district as a under a Major   , subject to a finding by the Mills River Town Council on the advice and recommendation of the Town of Mills River Planning Board that certain conditions are met. The purpose of this section is to afford substantial advantages for greater flexibility and improved marketability through the benefits of efficiency which flexibility in lot siting, mixtures of housing types and land use. Densities are calculated on a project basis, thus allowing the clustering of residential uses in order to create useful open spaces and to preserve natural site features.
   (A)   Land development standards. The land development standards apply for all planned residential developments.
      (1)   Ownership control. The land in a planned residential development 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 sales agreement) be provided that the development can be successfully completed by the applicant.
      (2)    requirements. The overall ( per acre) of any proposed planned residential development be one (1) per 40,000 square feet.
         (a)   The minimum lot size requirement for a detached single-family dwelling be no less than 20,000 square feet.
         (b)    , right-of-way, utility station sites, lakes, ponds and other impervious , may not be included when determining the total number of units available within a PRD.
         (c)   Planned residential development in more than one (1) zoning district. If the planned residential development lies in more than one (1) district, the allowable density shall be one (1) per 40,000 square feet.
      (3)   Frontage requirements. Planned residential developments have the main entrance on a paved, public, -maintained road or highway with a minimum parcel frontage of 200 feet and a minimum parcel depth of 200 feet. Minimum size. The minimum area for a PRD development be 1½ contiguous acres.
      (4)   Residential uses. The land uses normally permitted in the district within which a planned residential development is locates be permitted in the planned residential development with the modifications: Permitted types of   include townhouses and garden apartments.
      (5)   Minimum requirements. The normal 30,000 square foot lot size, setbacks and frontage requirements are hereby waived for the planned residential development, provided that the spirit and intent of this section are complied with in the total development plan as determined by the . The   exercise ultimate discretion as to whether the total development plan does comply with the spirit and intent of this section.
         (a)   Height limitations. No or   exceed 35 feet in height as measured from the highest ground elevation of the or to the highest point of the roof or facade whichever is greater.
         (b)   Required distance between . The minimum distance between in a planned residential development be as follows:
            1.   All located or situated end to end (shortest sides) and are less than 20 feet in height have a minimum of 20 feet between . When one (1) or both exceed 20 feet in height, the     be increased an additional one (1) foot for every foot of increased height to a maximum of 30 feet .
            2.   All located or situated side to side or end to end (longest sides) and are less than 20 feet in height have a minimum of 30 feet between . When one (1) or more adjacent exceed 20 feet in height, the     be increased an additional one (1) foot for every foot of increased height to a maximum of 40 feet .
         (c)   Landscaping. The proposed development be designed as a single architectural scheme with appropriate common landscaping.
         (d)   Publicly-owned and maintained water and sewer be required for a PRD.
         (e)    within a planned residential development be built to meet NCDOT Standards.
      (7)   Privacy. Each development provide reasonable visual and acoustical privacy for all . Fences, insulation, walls, barriers, and landscaping be used as appropriate for the protection and aesthetic enhancement of and the privacy of its , of objectionable views or uses, and reduction of noise. Multi-family   be located within a planned residential development in a way as to dissipate any adverse impact on adjoining low-rise and not invade the privacy of the of such low-rise .
      (8)   Perimeter requirements. A 10-foot evergreen planted   be provided where ever the development adjoins the boundary or line of a residential use.
         (a)   If topographical or other barriers within 200 feet of the perimeter of the development do not provide reasonable privacy for existing uses adjacent to the development, the may impose any of the requirements:
         (b)    located on the perimeter of the development must be set back from lines and rights-of-way of abutting in accordance with the provision of this chapter controlling the district within which the is situated.
            1.    other than single-family detached units located on the perimeter of the development may require in a manner which is approved by the .
            2.   The location of the on the perimeter of the development, as shown on the development plan, be so arranged as not to be detrimental to existing or to the adjacent .
      (9)   Plans and accompanying documentation to ensure that the water and sewer systems proposed for the planned residential development have been designed by a professional engineer, and have been approved by the appropriate local and agencies, be submitted as a part of the application.
      (10)   Preliminary plans include parking provisions for all proposed uses within the planned residential development in accordance with § 154.105.
      (11)   Any pedestrian and bicycle path circulation system and its related walkways be insulated as reasonably as possible in order to provide of pedestrian and motorized vehicular traffic.
      (12)   Layout of parking areas, service areas, entrance, exits, , courts and landscaping and control of signs, , noise or other potentially adverse influences be such as to protect the residential character within the PRD and the desirable character in any adjoining .
   (B)   Timing. If no development has occurred pursuant to the issuance of a   one (1) after the date of the permit for the PRD or upon the expiration of one 90-day extension of time for starting development granted by the , the     become null and void and the procedures for application and review as outlined in this section be required for any development on the subject .
   (C)   Staged development (phasing). After general construction commences, the   review at least once every 6 all issued and compare them to the overall development phasing program. If he or she determines that the rate of construction of residential units substantially differs from the approved phasing program, he or she so notify the developer, and the may issue such appropriate orders to the developer as it sees fit and, upon continued violation of this division, may order the to refuse any further until the project is in general accordance with the approved phasing program.
   (D)   Conveyance of open space, recreational areas and communally owned facilities.
      (1)   Common open space, recreational areas and communally owned facilities be guaranteed by a restrictive covenant describing the areas and facilities and their maintenance and improvement, running with the land for the benefit of residents of the planned residential development or adjoining   or both.
      (2)   The applicant must submit to the the legal documents which will produce the aforesaid guaranties and, in particular, will provide for restricting the use of common areas and facilities for the designated purposes.
   (E)   Maintenance. Planned residential developments be approved subject to the submission of an instrument or instruments setting forth a plan for permanent care and maintenance of permanent open spaces, recreational areas, , rights-of-way and communally owned facilities which would be legally enforceable. The developer create a homeowners' association and submit bylaws and rules and regulations governing the association. The developer be required to include in every deed he or she makes that membership be mandatory for each home buyer.
      (1)   The provisions include, but not be limited to, the :
         (a)   The homeowners' association must be set up before the homes are sold.
         (b)   The open space restrictions must be permanent not just for a period of .
         (c)   The association must be responsible for liability insurance, local taxes and the maintenance of recreational and other designated facilities.
         (d)   Homeowners must pay their pro rata share of the cost; the assessment levied by the association can become a lien on the .
         (e)   The association must be able to adjust the assessment to meet changed needs.
      (2)   No such instrument be acceptable until approved by the Town Attorney as to legal form and effect and the as to suitability for the proposed uses.
   (F)   Procedures for application and review. An applicant desiring to develop a planned residential development adhere to the procedures:
      (1)   Preapplication conference. Prior to submission of an application for a   to the , the applicant arrange a preapplication conference with the Planning Board and its staff.
         (a)   The applicant submit to the Planning Board a sketch development plan and a brief description of the proposed development strategy. The sketch plan and development strategy show and describe the layout of the planned residential development, depicting proposed areas and types of residential development, open spaces and recreation areas and .
         (b)   The preapplication conference is designed to inform the developer of the local government's regulations and policies concerning development alternatives and to inform the local government of the developer's intentions, enough to be able to give him or her some informal, nonbinding feedback on the acceptability of his or her ideas. The greater the level of common understanding between the developer and the local government that can be achieved at the preapplication conference stage, the smoother the remaining steps of the review process will be.
      (2)   Major   . Upon completion of the preapplication conference with the Planning Board, the applicant submit to the a application for a   in accordance with § 154.180.
      (3)   Development plan. After the preapplication conference and upon submission of a application for a   , the applicant submit a development plan to the . A second copy of the development plan be submitted to the Planning Board for review and recommendations. The   not issue a   until it has received recommendations from the Planning Board. If no action is taken by the Planning Board within 45 days of the meeting at which the Planning Board first considers the plan, it be deemed to have recommended approval of the plan, and the may proceed to act upon the application.
      (4)   The Planning Board review the plan for conformance with the land standards of this section, the sketch plan and strategy presented in the preapplication conference and the requirements of the plan which include the information and supporting documentation:
         (a)    documents.
            1.   A legal description of the total site proposed for development, including a statement of present and proposed ownership.
            2.   The zoning district or districts in which the project is located.
            3.   A general statement of objectives to be achieved by the planned residential development through the particular approach proposed by the applicant.
            4.   A development schedule indicating approximate beginning and completion dates of the development, including any proposed stages.
            5.   A statement of the applicant's intentions with regard to the future selling and/or leasing of all or portions of the planned residential development.
            6.   Quantitative data for the : proposed total number of , parcel sizes, gross and total amount of open space.
            7.   Plan for maintenance of common areas, recreation areas, open spaces, utilities, and/or vehicular circulation facilities.
         (b)   Site plan and supporting maps. A map or maps drawn to an appropriate scale, with the date of preparation and North point, include the information:
            1.   Existing site conditions, including contours at 5-foot vertical intervals, watercourses, identified flood hazard areas and any unique natural or man-made features.
            2.   Boundary lines of the proposed development, proposed lot lines and plot designs.
            3.   The locations, dimensions and arrangements of all open spaces and areas devoted to planting, lawns, trees or similar purposes, with a description including the height and of all trees or planting to be used for .
            4.   Proposed location and use of all existing .
            5.   The location, use, plan and dimension of each or to be constructed.
            6.   Location and size of all areas to be conveyed, dedicated or reserved as common open space, parks, recreational areas, sites and similar public and semipublic uses.
            7.   The existing and proposed and/or vehicular circulation facilities, including off- parking areas, service areas, loading areas and major points of access to public rights-of-way, notations of proposed ownership of and/or vehicular circulation facilities (public or private) and ; documentation from Henderson County Emergency Medical Services and the Mills River Fire Chief of the adequacy of the development's facilities for emergency medical and fire services.
            8.   Approximate location of proposed utility systems, including documentation approving the proposed water and sewer systems from the appropriate local and agencies. Water and sewer documentation must reflect the current development name and densities, be issued within the past 6 and state that the public entity intends to accept both flow and maintenance. Documentation of an approved sedimentation and erosion control plan also be submitted.
            9.   Location and/or notation of existing and proposed and rights-of-way.
            10.   Information on adjacent land areas, including land use, zoning classifications, public facilities and any unique natural features.
         (c)   Additional information. Any additional information required by the Mills River Town Council in order to evaluate the impact of the proposed PRD development. The may waive a particular requirement if, in its opinion, the inclusion is not essential to a proper decision on the project. The advice and recommendation of the Planning Board is one of an advisory capacity, and the has final authority on granting or denying a   .
      (5)   The   submit a copy of its decision on a specific planned residential development to the Planning Board.
      (6)   Amendments to the development plan. Minor changes in the location, siting or character of and may be authorized by the , if required by engineering or other circumstances not foreseen at the time the final development program was approved; provided, however, that no change authorized by the under this section may increase the size of any or by more than 10%, nor change the location of any or by more than 10 feet in any direction, nor make any changes beyond the minimum or maximum requirements set forth in this chapter. All other changes in the planned residential development, including changes listed below, not be made without resubmission of the planned residential development according to the procedures, in this section:
         (a)   A change in the use or character of the development.
         (b)   An increase in overall .
         (c)   An increase in intensity of use.
         (d)   Alteration of the traffic circulation system.
         (e)   A reduction in approved open space.
         (f)   A reduction of off- parking and loading space.
(Ord. passed 3-1-2004; Am. Ord. passed 7-29-2004; Am. Ord. 10-13-2005; Am. Ord. 00038, passed 11-21-2006; Am. Ord. 00041, passed 4-26-2007; Am. Ord. 2021-06, passed 4-22-2021)