The following planning criteria are established to guide and to control the planning, development and use of land in a Planned Development Area (PDA) District.
(a) Building Arrangements. The design criteria set forth in this section are intended to provide considerable latitude and freedom to encourage variety in the arrangement of the bulk and shape of buildings, open space and landscape features. The dwellings may be arranged in various groups, courts, sequence or clusters with open spaces organized and related to the dwellings so as to provide privacy and to form a unified composition of buildings and space.
Although latitude in design is provided and encouraged, the following design conditions should be assured in planned development areas:
(1) The adjoining properties shall be protected from loss of light, air and view because of the proximity of the bulk or shape of a neighboring building.
(2) Through skillful design, usability and accessibility of an open space on an adjoining lot shall be obtained, while privacy is assured within such adjoining dwelling.
(3) Required yards and setbacks should not be excessive so as to prevent the reasonable development of open land for landscaped features, recreation or other private uses.
(4) The latitude in design should also apply to the planning of landscape features, such as walls, fences, hedges and other features, to create a variety of common open spaces and private areas.
(b) Local Circulation System. Each dwelling shall be served by a local street or driveway, planned so as to exclude all through traffic. The vehicular circulation system and parking facilities shall be designed to fully accommodate the automobile with safety and efficiency without allowing it to dominate and destroy the form of the area.
Driveways for group developments and local streets shall be connected to major collector and local collector streets at locations where the traffic can be controlled and operated effectively with minimum interference to the capacity of the major and collector streets.
(c) Topography and Site Appearance. It is a requirement of this Zoning Code that such developments shall be designed to take advantage of the topography of the land in order to utilize the natural contours, to economize in the construction of utilities, to reduce the amount of grading and to maximize the conservation of trees and topsoil. The natural features and other distinctive characteristics of the site shall be integrated into the plan to create functional variations in the arrangements of buildings, open spaces and site features.
The service to a development area of all utilities shall be entirely under ground and shall be installed in compliance with appropriate ordinances and regulations of the City.
(d) Private Land. In the planning of one-family and townhouse developments in a variety of groups or clusters, land should be provided for the private outdoor use of the occupants at such locations as the entrance and garden side of the dwelling.
(e) Common Land. The common land shall be readily accessible and of such con dition, size and shape as to be usable for recreation, natural and landscaped areas. The integrity of the common land shall be guaranteed from further division or other changes through deed indenture by explicit prohibition of other than the intended uses and exempt from further amendment except upon prior approval by Council.
(f) Unified Boundary. The design at the development area boundaries shall be unified with adjoining development. Within the development area, extensive parking areas, service areas and other features likely to have adverse effects on surrounding property shall be screened against viewing from first stories outside the development. Screening shall also be provided against adverse views from within the development against lights, noise or other undesirable conditions in the surroundings.
(Ord. 1978-165. Passed 10-16-78.)
(Ord. 1978-165. Passed 10-16-78.)