The net area of land to be included in a group housing project shall be at least three acres. Developers of a group housing project must submit their plans to the planning and zoning board for study. The planning and zoning board shall hold a public hearing and shall make recommendations to the board of aldermen for their consideration and determination.

The planning and zoning board shall apply the requirements of this ordinance to the housing project as a whole in such manner that will insure substantially the same character of occupancy, maximum intensity of use, and minimum standard open spaces as permitted by this ordinance in the district in which the proposed project is to be located.

In considering the project, the planning and zoning board shall in no case authorize a use prohibited in the district in which the housing project is to be located, except that buildings for administration and maintenance of the project may be included; not a building height in excess of that permitted. The minimum distance between a building and a street line shall comply with the front yard requirement of the district. No point of any building shall be nearer than 20 feet to an adjacent building except that ten feet minimum clearance will be permitted where there is a corner relationship, not less than 25 feet from any boundary line of the project. The board may require such additional restrictions and safeguards as they deem necessary to fulfill the purpose and intent of the zoning ordinance.

Ample open space shall be provided for recreational space, outdoor drying yards, arrangements of lawns and planting, etc., in addition to that required for off-street parking.

(See Section XXVI, “Off-Street Parking and Loading.”)

A permit for a group housing project shall be issued by the zoning authority upon approval of the project by the board of aldermen.