(a) Purpose. The Building Zone Development District (BZ) regulations are based on the premise that the ultimate quality of a built environment or development proposal is determined by the way in which such land uses are executed. In many cases, the subdivision regulations and standard zoning district regulations do not adequately regulate the location and density of dwellings that are appropriate in the Village of Waite Hill. The Building Zone Development District permits the formation of unique development standards, including greater residential density than would otherwise be permitted, that are appropriate for a given site in exchange for constructing all buildings in the building zones shown on the Zoning Map.
(1) The purposes of the Building Zone Development District regulations are to:
A. Allow the creation of development standards that respect the unique characteristics, natural quality and beauty of the site and the immediate vicinity and protect the community's natural resources by avoiding development on, and destruction of, sensitive environmental areas.
B. Ensure that the development project is properly integrated into its surroundings and is compatible with adjacent development through appropriate development controls.
C. Establish objective criteria for plan review that ensures conformity to community standards.
(2) The review procedures for Building Zone Development Districts are designed to encourage:
A. Unified development projects that exhibit creative planning and design in ways that cannot be achieved through a standard zoning district or subdivision regulation, yet are consistent with all of the Village's goals and are compatible with contiguous land uses and the intent of this Zoning Code.
B. Imaginative architectural design.
C. Flexibility in building types.
D. Proper relationships between buildings, between developments and between structures and the land.
E. The development of the land in an orderly, coordinated and comprehensive manner consistent with accepted land planning, landscape architecture practices and engineering principles according to approved site plans.
(b) Application. The Building Zone Development District regulations assist in accomplishing these purposes by establishing review steps that combine the request for a zoning district change with the site plan review process, and when applicable, the subdivision process. Subsequent plan review following the zoning district change also requires simultaneous review of subdivision plats.
(1) Each Building Zone Development District shall be considered a separate and unique zoning district wherein a preliminary site plan, including associated text depicting the specific development standards and development commitments, is adopted simultaneously with the adoption of the Building Zone Development District designation. The preliminary site plan shall apply only to the property within that particular Building Zone Development District.
(2) The preliminary site plan adopted at the time of rezoning to the Building Zone Development District shall be prepared in accordance with the provisions of this Chapter and the requirements contained herein.
(c) Ownership. The Building Zone Development District shall be an integrated, unified development project and the entire project area shall be in single ownership or joint ownership and/or control at the time the application is made for the BZ designation so that all property owners are applicants throughout the site plan review process. Any transfer of land within the development after an application has been filed and/or approved shall not alter the applicability of the regulations contained herein. A preliminary site plan approved in accordance with these regulations for a Building Zone Development District shall be binding upon the owners, their successors and assigns and shall limit and control the issuance and validity of all certificates of zoning compliance.
(Ord. 2011-14. Passed 4-9-12.)