Planned unit development (P.U.D.) districts may be established to promote and encourage flexibility and innovation of land development, cluster development, the allocation and maintenance of open areas, and to meet those changes in land use demand and technology consistent with the best interests of the county.

The P.U.D. district is designed to produce a comprehensive development more appropriate than that resulting from traditional lot-by-lot land use development while retaining for the county adequate development controls over projects which, due to size, complexity, location, character and/or the unique development opportunity of the site, are considered to have potentially significant or unique implications to the public health, safety and welfare.

The P.U.D. district classification is intended to:

The uses permitted in a P.U.D. district shall be primarily residential and/or resort uses and those secondary uses supportive of and compatible with residential and resort uses as determined by the planning commission to be consistent with the general plan or applicable area plan and determined to be compatible with the overall concept of the planned development. Said secondary uses shall be in the category of recreational uses (e.g., parks, equestrian trails, corrals, stables, tennis courts, golf courses, ski lifts and runs), certain agricultural uses, (e.g., cultivation of undeveloped areas, community gardens, grazing/rangeland), and limited neighborhood convenience and recreational commercial uses.

Each person proposing to construct a planned development in a P.U.D. district shall secure a planned development permit as per Chapter 18.116 to cover the total development of the site and all proposed uses prior to securing any other county permits and prior to initiation of any development. Allowed uses for the land addressed in an approved P.D. permit shall be specified upon approval of the permit. All P.U.D. districts need not allow the same uses.

Except as otherwise specified in approval of a P.D. permit as per Chapter 18.116 and/or as specified in the general plan or applicable area plan, zoning regulations, development guidelines and special provisions shall be:

Open space, for the purposes of this chapter, shall be considered as land used for outdoor-oriented recreation, agriculture, resource protection, amenity, buffers and may, if consistent with the overall design of the project, include roads and road rights-of-way and utility easements crossing open space areas. Open space shall be freely accessible to all residents of the development, except in the case of agricultural lands where access may be specifically restricted; and is protected by the provisions of this title and the subdivision ordinance to ensure that it remains in appropriate open space usage. Open space does not include the yards or lots of dwelling or lodging units, land occupied by buildings not directly associated with outdoor-oriented recreational uses, and parking areas. Open space should be left and maintained in a natural state except in the case of appropriate landscaping, recreational uses and/or agricultural uses.

Open space areas should be situated or clustered in such a manner as to satisfy policies and development standards specified in the general plan or applicable area plan.

If the sequence of construction of various portions of the development is to occur in stages, then the open spaces and the recreational facilities proposed for the entire development shall be developed, or committed thereto, in proportion to the number of dwelling units constructed. At no time during the construction of the project shall the number of constructed dwelling units per acre of developed land exceed the maximum density per acre.

Dwelling design should reflect the following factors where buildings are proposed as part of the development program:

Setbacks. Front, side, and rear setback requirements for structures shall be considerate of the overall plan for the site development. Zero lot lines may be allowed provided factors such as access, safety, circulation and privacy are provided for.

Vehicular circulation and access design should reflect the following factors:

Walks, service roads, and recreational trails, e.g., bicycle, equestrian, should be designed so as to provide convenient access to recreation, service, parking and other common areas.

Parking shall reflect the following factors:

When the P.U.D. district is affixed as a secondary zoning to a primary zoning designation, such primary zoning will govern land use until such time as a planned development permit (P.D. permit) is approved by the county pursuant to Chapter 18.116. Upon approval of the P.D. permit, the primary zoning shall be terminated and superseded by the P.U.D. zoning district without further application from the property owner.