The purpose of the Planned Development (PD) District is to provide a means for encouraging ingenuity, imagination and flexibility in the planning and designing of medium and large-scale developments where traditional base zoning districts may be too restrictive for the range of proposed uses or design. The PD regulations provide a controlled flexibility by utilizing objectives and performance standards rather than rigid design requirements, the intent being to encourage developments that possess greater amenities and/or provide greater environmental protection than standard zoning district requirements. It is not the intent of the PD to allow applications to circumvent the intent of this code or to permit residential density, uses, housing types, or street and utility layouts which conflict with plans and policies adopted by the City, or the character of the area. It is furthermore the purpose of the PD regulations to:
(a) To provide more desirable living, shopping, and working environments by helping to achieve the goals of the City's plans in a manner that allows for the comprehensive review of a medium to large-scale development;
(b) To encourage creative and high-quality developments that are compatible with surrounding land uses, achieve a high degree of pedestrian-vehicular separation, and contribute to the overall quality of Mount Vernon;
(c) To provide for a flexible arrangement of buildings, densities and a variety of housing types to meet the needs of the residential market;
(d) To encourage the creation of open space and the development of recreational facilities and neighborhood commercial facilities in a generally central location within reasonable distance of any residential components of the development;
(e) To promote a harmonious design amongst the various elements and uses within the development while mitigating any potential negative impact on surrounding properties;
(f) To allow phased construction with the knowledge that subsequent phases shall be approved as originally planned and approved by the City;
(g) To ensure that there are adequate services and infrastructure to serve the proposed development; and
(h) To reserve adequate land areas for schools, parks and other public uses.
(Ord. 2024-032. Passed 7-22-24.)