It is the intent of this chapter to encourage flexibility in development of land in order to promote its most appropriate use; to improve the design, character, and quality of new development; to allow densities not otherwise possible under the prevailing zone regulations; to facilitate the adequate and economical provision of streets and utilities; and to preserve the natural and scenic features of open space.

(Prior code § 17.48.010)

Planned unit development (PUD) review and approval shall be as follows:

A.

A minimum of thirty days prior to the date of formal submittal of a PUD the applicant shall meet with planning director to review the procedure, documentation and requirements necessary for full and complete processing. The procedure schedule is as follows:

1.

Submittal of a PUD zone change request;

2.

Public hearing and recommendation of city zoning commission;

3.

Public hearing before and decision to grant or deny PUD zone change request by city council.

B.

On the date established for submittal of preliminary plats, in accordance with Laurel's subdividing procedures, the applicant shall submit twenty copies of the PUD site plan and twenty copies of written statement, together with all fees to the planning office.

C.

Within ten working days after the date of formal submittal, the planning director shall convene a design conference between the applicant and representatives from local governmental units having a substantial interest in the location, land use or other features of the proposed PUD. Within the same thirty days after the design conference and after receiving the recommendation of the city-county planning board the zoning commission shall hold a public hearing on the PUD and make recommendations to the city council.

D.

Within thirty days after the design conference, the application shall be reviewed by the city-county planning board and recommendations based on the comments from the design conference and the criteria contained in the subdivision regulations shall be forwarded to the zoning commission. The comments from the design conference shall be forwarded to the planning board, zoning commission and developer within five working days after the conference.

E.

The planning director shall prepare a written report on the conclusions, findings and recommendations of the zoning commission and planning board, and submit the same together with site plans, required documentation, and comments received from other governmental agencies or the public hearing before the planning board.

(Prior code § 17.48.020)

A complete site plan showing the major details of the proposed planned unit development prepared at a scale of not less than 1"= 100' shall be submitted in sufficient detail to evaluate the proposed land utilization, building design, and other features of the planned unit development. The site plan must contain insofar as is possible as is applicable, the following minimum information:

A.

Names of the Proposed Development. Names and addresses of the owners and the designers of the site plan, his seal; and

B.

Vicinity Sketch Map. A vicinity sketch map showing names and locations of property lines, adjacent streets and roads and the approximate location of adjacent property within five hundred feet of the planned unit site; and

C.

Areas which are to be conveyed, dedicated or reserved as common park areas, including public parks and recreational areas, and as sites for schools and other public buildings; and

D.

The location and dimension of all vehicular points of ingress and egress, drives, channelizations and traffic circulation; and

E.

The location of pedestrian entrances, exits, walks and walkways; and

F.

A general landscape plan showing the spacing, sizes and specific types of landscaping material; and

G.

Utility and Drainage Plans. Utility and drainage plans shall be provided including all information required to determine that water, sewer, sanitary disposal and storm drainage improvements will be made and located in accordance with the city's requirements; and

H.

Contour intervals of five feet; and

I.

The location and size of all existing and proposed buildings, structures and improvements; and

J.

The maximum heights of all buildings, density or dwellings, and proposed land uses; and

K.

Any areas subject to over a one hundred year flood cycle; and

L.

Location of solid waste collection facilities.

(Prior code § 17.48.030)

A written statement, ten copies of which must be submitted with the preliminary site plan, must contain the following information:

A.

Copies of any special agreement, conveyances, restrictions or covenants, which will govern the use, maintenance and continued protection of the planned unit and any of its common parks or open spaces; and

B.

A statement of the present ownership and legal description of all the land included in the planned unit; and

C.

An explanation of the objectives to be achieved by the planned unit, including building descriptions, sketches, or elevations as may be required to describe the objectives; and

D.

A development schedule indicating the approximate date when construction of the planned unit or stages of the planned unit can be expected to begin and be completed.

(Prior code § 17.48.040)

All PUD applications shall implement the purposes of this chapter and in addition meet the following standards and requirements:

A.

In cases of conflict between standards of any other provisions of this title and standards of this chapter, the standards of this chapter shall apply;

B.

Demonstrate that the PUD is consistent with the purposes and objectives of the city comprehensive plan and any other officially adopted plan;

C.

The PUD's relationship to its surroundings shall be considered in order to avoid adverse effects caused by traffic circulation building bulk, insufficient screening, noise, dust or other common nuisances;

D.

If a PUD is proposed to be constructed or developed in phases, it must be demonstrated that each phase is independent of the other phases and contains sufficient parking, open space and other facilities to provide for the needs of the projected population of that phase;

E.

The minimum acreage for a PUD shall be five acres.

(Prior code § 17.48.050)

The maximum allowable density in each planned unit development shall be as approved by the city council.

(Prior code § 17.48.060)

A.

Minimum useable open space and common park areas are lands used for scenic, recreational, landscaping or conservation purposes, and shall not include road easements, dedicated or private road right-of-ways, driveways, parking areas, or required screening or other buffering between residential and nonresidential land uses.

B.

Not less than twenty percent of the net land area shall be developed and maintained as common open space and shall be evenly distributed throughout the development.

(Prior code § 17.48.070)

A.

Nonresidential land uses may be permitted in a PUD district but such land must be for the express service and convenience of the residents of the PUD. Commercial uses allowed in a PUD shall be limited to the uses permitted as a matter of right in the neighborhood commercial limited (NCL) zone.

B.

No building permit for a PUD district may be issued for any nonresidential uses except those permitted as a matter of right in a NCL zone, until at least twenty-five percent of the total number of approved dwelling units have been constructed. A minimum of twenty-five gross acres must be reserved for residential land uses before any commercial uses allowed outright in a NCL zone may be incorporated into a PUD.

C.

The planning board and zoning commission must be satisfied that the site plan for a PUD has met each of the following criteria or can demonstrate that one or more of them is not applicable, and that a practical solution consistent with the public interest has been achieved for each of these elements:

1.

That there is an appropriate relationship to the surrounding area. The buffer zone must be kept free of buildings, obstructions, and must be landscaped, screened or protected by natural features, so that adverse effects on surrounding areas are minimized;

2.

Circulation, in terms of an internal street circulation system designed for the type of traffic generated, is safely separated from living areas. Private internal streets may be permitted if they can be used by police, fire department vehicles for emergency purposes, and by other city and county departments to provide basic services. Bicycle traffic shall be considered and provided for when the site is used for an area for living purposes. Proper circulation in parking areas in terms of safety, convenience, separation and screening;

3.

Usable open space in terms of: preservation of natural features including trees, drainage areas, recreation, views, density, relief, convenience and function;

4.

Variety in terms of: housing type, densities, facilities, and open spaces;

5.

Privacy in terms of the needs of: individuals, families, and adjacent properties;

6.

Pedestrian traffic in terms of: safety, separation, convenience, access to points of destination and attractiveness;

7.

Building types in terms of: appropriateness of density, site relationship and bulk; and

8.

Building design in terms of: orientation, spacing, materials, color and texture, storage, signs and lighting.

(Prior code § 17.48.080)

A.

The city council shall approve or deny all PUD applications referred to it by the planning board and zoning commission. The council may approve the application in whole or in part, with or without modifications and conditions, or deny the application.

B.

All approved site plans, special agreements, restrictions, covenants, including any modifications, or conditions shall be endorsed by the city clerk-treasurer. The applicant shall file the approved PUD site plan and such other agreements with the county clerk and recorder. Thereafter, no building or structure shall be erected, and no land shall be used for any purpose other than shown on the officially recorded PUD site plan or in accordance with any conditions required thereon.

C.

Once approved the planning director shall indicate on the official map that an amendment for a PUD has been granted for the tracts included in the site plan.

(Ord. 97-2 § 4 (part), 1997; prior code § 17.48.090)

A.

Major changes in the plan of development or other documents similarly approved and recorded shall be considered the same as a new petition and reapplication shall be made in accordance with the procedures for a new application.

B.

Minor changes in the development may be approved by the planning director; provided, that such changes: do not increase densities, heights of buildings, structural materials, other boundaries, land uses, or the location and/or amount of land devoted to open space, parks or other common facilities.

(Prior code § 17.48.100)

A PUD shall be started within twelve months following approval of the development of the city council, and must be substantially complete within five years from the starting date. A PUD shall be reviewed annually by the planning director and an oral report made to the city council.

(Prior code § 17.48.110)