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It is the objective of this zone to establish procedures and standards for the implementation of master or sector plan land use recommendations for comprehensively planned, multi-use centers located outside central business districts and transit station development areas. It is also intended that this zone provide a more flexible approach to the comprehensive design and development of multi-use centers than the procedures and regulations applicable under the various conventional zoning categories and other planned development zones. In so doing, it is intended that this zoning category be utilized to implement existing public plans and pertinent county policies in a manner and to a degree more closely compatible with said county plans and policies than may be possible under other zoning categories. The specific purposes of this zone are:
(a) To establish standards and procedures through which the land use objectives and guidelines of approved and adopted master or sector plans can serve as the basis for evaluating an individual multi-use center development proposal.
(b) To encourage orderly, staged development of large-scale, comprehensively planned, multi-use centers by providing procedures for the submission of a concept plan for an entire site and subsequent development plans for each stage of development, as identified on the concept plan.
(c) To provide, where appropriate, higher density residential uses integrated into the overall multi-use center.
(d) To ensure internal compatibility of residential and nonresidential uses by providing a suitable residential environment that is enhanced by the commercial, recreational, employment and institutional amenities within commercial and industrial components of the multi-use center.
(e) To assure compatibility of the proposed land uses with surrounding uses by incorporating higher standards of land planning and site design than could be accomplished under conventional zoning categories.
(f) To encourage and provide for open space not only for use as setbacks and yards surrounding structures and related walkways, but also conveniently located with respect to points of residential and commercial/industrial concentration so as to function for the general benefit of the community and public at large as places for relaxation, recreation, and social activity. It is also intended that open space and amenities be located so as to achieve the physical and aesthetic integration of the uses and activities within each development. In addition, structured parking within mixed-use planned developments is encouraged to help achieve the open space and amenities objectives of the zone. Where surface parking is necessary, the purposes of this zone may be achieved by the provision of additional landscaping.
(g) To encourage and provide for the development of comprehensive non-vehicular circulation networks, separated from vehicular roadways, which constitute a system of linkages among residential areas, open spaces, recreational areas, commercial and industrial areas and public facilities.
(h) To encourage and provide for efficient use of energy resources through shared facilities or other economies of scale or technology, including innovative fuels and district heating, etc.
(i) To preserve and take the greatest possible aesthetic advantage of existing trees and to minimize the amount of grading necessary for construction of a development.
This floating zone may be approved upon findings that the application is proper for the comprehensive and systematic development of the county, is capable of accomplishing the purposes of this zone, and is compatible with the general plan and the applicable master or sector plan. In order to enable the council to evaluate the accomplishment of the purposes set forth herein, a specific set of plans, submitted in accordance with division 59-D-1, is required for each mixed-use planned development, and the district council is empowered to approve such plans if they find them to be capable of accomplishing the above purposes and in compliance with the requirements of this zone.