The purpose of the planned unit development is to provide more desirable environments through the application of flexible and diversified land development standards under a master plan, and to implement the goals of the city comprehensive plan. The PUD district is intended to encourage the appropriate mix of residential and commercial/office uses in a unified development with an interconnected system of roads, sidewalks, and paths as well as managed access points along existing roads in order to maximize safety and the efficiency of existing roads. Pavement widths of internal and external roads shall minimize paving requirements as described in the comprehensive plan while accommodating projected traffic generated from the district.

Planned developments allow for a higher density of development and a more efficient use of the land. Benefits of a PUD include proximity of living units to employment, less infrastructure costs, more efficient provision of services, less environmental impact, and provision of attractive housing opportunities and amenities. Through a planned unit development district approach, the regulations of this division are intended to accomplish the purposes of zoning and other applicable regulations to the same extent as regulations of conventional districts, however allowing mixed uses and flexibility in the design of development.

(Ord. No. 20-4, 11-24-20)

The goal of a planned unit development district is to encourage a development form and character that is aesthetically pleasing and is different from conventional suburban development by providing the following characteristics:

(1)

Pedestrian orientation;

(2)

Neighborhood friendly streets and paths;

(3)

Interconnected streets and transportation networks;

(4)

Parks and open space as amenities;

(5)

Neighborhood centers;

(6)

Buildings and spaces of appropriate scale;

(7)

Relegated parking;

(8)

Mixture of uses and use types;

(9)

Mixture of housing types and affordability;

(10)

Environmentally sensitive design; and

(11)

Clear boundaries with any surrounding rural areas.

An application is not necessarily required to possess every characteristic of the planned unit development district in order to be approved. The size of the proposed district, its integration with surrounding districts, or other similar factors may prevent the application from possessing every characteristic.

(Ord. No. 20-4, 11-24-20)

In the planned unit development district, all uses permitted by-right or by special use permit in the residential, commercial, and industrial districts may be permitted. Additional uses specifically enumerated in the final master plan may be permitted at the discretion of the city council. Specific uses may also be excluded. Any use desired but not documented in the approved master plan requires an application to amend the master plan.

(Ord. No. 20-4, 11-24-20)

A variety of housing types and non-residential uses are strongly encouraged. The mixture of uses shall be based upon the uses recommended in the comprehensive plan. This mixture may be obtained with different uses in different buildings or a mixture of uses within the same building.

(Ord. No. 20-4, 11-24-20)

(a)

Minimum area required for the establishment of a planned unit development district shall be five acres.

(b)

Additional area may be added to an established planned unit development district if it adjoins and forms a logical addition to the approved development. The procedure for the addition of land to the planned unit development district shall be the same as if an original application was filed and all requirements shall apply except the minimum lot area requirement as set forth above.

(Ord. No. 20-4, 11-24-20)

Open space promotes attractive and unique developments that are also environmentally conscious. Planned unit developments shall include the following:

(1)

Not less than 20 percent of total acreage shall be open space, whether dedicated to public use or retained privately;

(2)

If the percentage of total acreage in open space is increased above 20 percent, then a corresponding percentage increase is allowed in the density up to a maximum of 50 percent increase in density;

(3)

A minimum usable area of 5,000 square feet every five acres shall be provided for active or passive recreational activities;

(4)

Open space shall be dedicated in a logical relationship to the site and in accordance with any guidance from the comprehensive plan regarding significant open space;

(5)

Improvements shall be configured to accommodate permitted, accessory and conditional uses in an orderly relationship with one another, with the greatest amount of open area and with the least disturbance to natural features.

(Ord. No. 20-4, 11-24-20)

(a)

The gross and net residential densities shall be shown on the approved final master plan by area and for the development as a whole in dwelling units per acre, and shall be binding upon its approval. The overall gross density so approved shall not exceed 20 dwelling units per acre, unless the density is increased with the provisions of section 50-91(2).

(b)

Non-residential density should be expressed in terms of total square footage by area and for the development as a whole. There is no maximum square footage for non-residential uses but the proposed uses should be in proportion to the overall intent and functionality of the planned district concept.

(Ord. No. 20-4, 11-24-20)

Within the planned unit development district, minimum setback ranges shall be specifically established during the review and approval of the master plan. Specific setbacks may be approved administratively in the site plan process if they are in conformance with the established ranges, or a modification to the master plan will be required if the provided setbacks are not within the established ranges. The following guidelines shall be used in establishing the building spacing and setbacks:

(1)

Areas between buildings used as service yards, storage of trash, or other utility purposes should be designed so as to be compatible with adjoining buildings;

(2)

Building spacing and design shall incorporate privacy for outdoor activity areas (patios, decks, etc.) associated with individual dwelling units whenever feasible; and,

(3)

Yards located at the perimeter of the planned unit development district shall be a minimum of 20 feet.

In no case shall setbacks interfere with public safety issues such as sight distance and utilities, including other public infrastructure such as sidewalks and open space.

(Ord. No. 20-4, 11-24-20)

In the planned unit development district, the maximum building height shall be:

(1)

Single-family residences: 45 feet.

(2)

Multi-family residences, commercial and office buildings, and hotels: 60 feet.

(3)

Exceptions to height limitations in section 50-43(c) shall apply.

(4)

All accessory buildings shall generally be less than the main building in height.

(Ord. No. 20-4, 11-24-20)

Within the planned unit development district, the applicant shall establish parking regulations for consideration by the city council. The proposed regulations should be based on a parking needs study or equivalent data. Such regulations shall reflect the intent of the comprehensive plan to decrease impervious cover by reducing parking requirements, considering alternative transportation modes and using pervious surfaces for spillover parking areas. Shared parking areas, especially with non-residential uses is encouraged.

(Ord. No. 20-4, 11-24-20)

All new utility lines, electric, telephone, and telecommunication lines shall be placed underground.

(Ord. No. 20-4, 11-24-20)

(a)

The applicant shall file an application for rezoning with the zoning administrator. The application shall consist of three primary sections: a narrative, an existing conditions map, and a master plan prepared by a registered professional engineer, architect, or surveyor.

(1)

Narrative.

a.

A general statement of objectives to be achieved by the planned district including a description of the character of the proposed development and the market for which the development is oriented;

b.

A list of all adjacent property owners;

c.

Site development standards including, but not limited to density, setbacks, maximum heights, and lot coverage;

d.

Utilities requirement and implementation plan;

e.

Phased implementation plan;

f.

Comprehensive sign plan;

g.

Statements pertaining to any architectural and community design guidelines shall be submitted in sufficient detail to provide information on building designs, orientations, styles, and exterior lighting plans;

h.

Statement pertaining to the proposed arrangement for all common area maintenance responsibility including internal streets, walkways, and open space.

(2)

Existing conditions map.

a.

Topography, including steep slopes (>15 percent);

b.

Water features;

c.

Roadways;

d.

Structures;

e.

Tree lines;

f.

Major utilities;

g.

Significant environmental features;

h.

Existing and proposed ownership of the site along with all adjacent property owners.

(3)

Master plan. The proposed master plan shall be of sufficient clarity and scale to accurately identify the location, nature, and character of the proposed planned unit development district. At a minimum, the master plan shall include the following:

a.

Proposed layout of the planned unit development district including the general location of uses, types of uses, and density range of uses;

b.

Methods of access from existing public streets to proposed areas of development;

c.

General road alignments;

d.

General alignments of sidewalks, bicycle and pedestrian facilities;

e.

A general water layout plan indicating the intended size and location of primary lines and the general location of fire hydrants;

f.

A general sanitary sewer layout indicating the size and location of primary lines, and the location of pump stations; and

g.

A general plan showing the location and acreage of the active and passive recreation spaces, parks and other public open areas.

(b)

Additionally, a storm water management plan and a traffic study are also required to be submitted as part of the application package. The storm water management plan should detail both storm water quantity and quality mitigation measures and best practices. The traffic study should quantify existing and projected traffic levels on all adjacent streets, and at all proposed entrances.

(c)

The city attorney shall review any property owners or other association charter and regulations prior to final site plan approval in particular to assure that all common area maintenance including streets and storm water management facilities are maintained.

(d)

The planning commission shall review the proposed master plan for the proposed planned unit development district in light of the goals enumerated in the comprehensive plan, consider it at a scheduled public hearing, and forward its recommendation along with the proposed master plan to the city council for consideration. The city council shall hold a public hearing thereon, pursuant to public notice as required by the Code of Virginia, § 15.2-2204, after which the city council may make appropriate changes or corrections in the ordinance or proposed amendment. However, no land may be zoned to a more intensive use classification than was contained in the public notice without an additional public hearing after notice required by the Code of Virginia, § 15.2-2204. As allowed for a zoning amendment application, the planning commission may request to hold a joint public hearing with the city council if it so chooses. An ordinance to adopt a PUD shall be enacted in the same manner as all other ordinances. The plan approved by the city council shall constitute the final master plan for the planned unit development district.

(e)

Once the city council has approved the final master plan, all accepted conditions and elements of the plan shall constitute proffers, enforceable by the zoning administrator.

(f)

A final site plan shall be submitted to the city engineer and it shall be in substantial conformance with the approved final master plan. Such final site plan may include one or more sections of the overall planned unit development district, and shall meet all applicable federal, state, and city regulations.

(Ord. No. 20-4, 11-24-20)

Where sections of the zoning or subdivision ordinance are deemed to be in conflict with the goals of the final master plan, the rezoning application shall be considered a waiver or modification to these sections and so specified in the final master plan.

(Ord. No. 20-4, 11-24-20)