Norwalk City Zoning Code
ARTICLE 40
Planned Residential Developments
§ 118-400 Planned residential developments.
[Amended effective 4-20-1971; 3-27-1974; 8-25-1978]
A.
Purpose and intent. It is the intent of the planned residential development regulations to allow flexibility in the design and layout of multifamily dwellings in specified zones, consistent with the general pattern of land use and population density. Such multifamily dwellings are intended to provide for persons who seek the convenience of multifamily living with the amenities associated with single-family detached units. The provisions of these regulations are intended to ensure that all uses and structures will be compatible with adjacent residential areas and will maintain the character of the neighborhood in which they are located.
B.
Regulations for planned residential development.
(1)
Planned residential development shall be permitted by Special Permit in accordance with the provisions of Article 140, § 118-1450, Special Permits, and shall comply with the additional standards set forth herein:
(a)
In planned residential development, premises shall be used and buildings shall be erected which are used or intended to be used for multifamily dwellings and are designed in a townhouse- or garden-apartment-type construction.
(b)
A planned residential development consisting solely of elderly housing units, as defined, shall be permitted subject to the standards set forth herein, except where hereafter provided.
[Added effective 9-29-1978]
(c)
The entire planned residential development shall be located in B, C and D Residence Zones in the City of Norwalk, and no other.
[Amended effective 2-2-1979]
(d)
Planned residential developments shall be in single ownership, including condominium ownership.
(e)
The number of multifamily dwellings allowed by § 118-400, Planned Residential Developments, in the B Residence Zone shall not exceed one thousand eight hundred six (1,806) units, which are existing or approved as of December 31, 1990, and in the C Residence Zone shall not exceed six hundred thirty-eight (638) units, which are existing or approved as of March 1992.
[Added effective 6-30-1989; amended effective 5-25-1990; 12-7-1990; 3-27-1992]
C.
Additional standards for planned residential developments. Planned residential developments shall be subject to the following additional standards:
(1)
No main building shall be nearer to any other main building other than twenty (20) feet; provided, however, that if the overlapping wall of two (2) main buildings is not greater than ten (10) feet the distance between buildings at this point need not be greater than ten (10) feet.
(2)
A half-story under the pitched roof of the building shall not be occupied for living quarters or storage purposes and may be excluded from the computation of the number of stories. A half-story located in part below the center-line elevation of the street may be occupied for living quarters and, if so used, shall be included in the computation of the number of stories.
[Amended effective 7-30-1982]
(3)
In a B Residence Zone, each dwelling unit shall have a minimum floor area of seven hundred fifty (750) square feet, except that each elderly housing unit shall have a minimum floor area of five hundred (500) square feet. In C and D Residence Zones, each dwelling unit shall have a minimum floor area of five hundred (500) square feet. In determining the minimum floor area, common stairs, common foyers and the like shall be excluded. A minimum of one-half (1/2) of the units shall have four (4) rooms or more, excluding bathrooms, except for elderly housing wherein every unit shall have a minimum of two (2) rooms, excluding bathrooms. Each dwelling unit shall have a fully equipped bathroom with a minimum area of thirty-five (35) square feet, one (1) room with a minimum area of two hundred (200) square feet, and no bedroom shall have an area less than one hundred (100) square feet.
[Amended effective 9-29-1978]
(4)
Open space and recreational facilities shall be dispersed in such a way as to ensure the health, safety and convenience of the residents for whose use they are intended. The site plan shall indicate the manner of development, for example, barbecue fireplaces, picnic tables, play equipment, swimming pools, tennis courts, landscaping, walkways, etc. All areas of a site not used for building, parking, walks, drives, etc., shall be suitably landscaped. New construction shall be designed and carried out in a manner which results in the least defacement to the existing landscape features of the site. All open spaces shall be deemed to be required open space on said parcel and shall not thereafter be reduced or encroached in any manner.
(5)
Pedestrian walkways a minimum of three (3) feet in width shall be provided between buildings and between buildings and public highways so as to discourage the use of driveways for pedestrian use.
(6)
Public sewer facilities shall be utilized and adequate provision for storm drainage shall be made, as determined by the Commission.
(7)
Where provided, outdoor refuse areas or containers and laundry drying yards shall be screened from view from adjacent streets and properties.
D.
Accessory uses and structures. Accessory uses and structures which are incidental to and customarily associated with the principal use of the premises shall be permitted, subject to approval by the Commission.
E.
Lot and building requirements.
[Amended effective 2-2-1979; 3-1-1985; 6-12-1987; 1-29-1988]
(1)
See Schedule of Residential Uses and all other applicable sections of these requirements.
(a)
A planned residential development consisting solely of elderly housing units, as defined, shall be permitted subject to the following provisions:
[1]
Minimum required lot area shall be four thousand (4,000) square feet per dwelling unit in a B Residence Zone and two thousand (2,000) square feet per dwelling unit in C and D Residence Zones. Minimum lot size shall be two (2) acres.
[2]
Recreation area required shall be one hundred seventy-five (175) square feet per dwelling unit subject to § 118-400C(4).
[3]
All setback and lot requirements, other than Subsection E(1)(a)[1] and [2] above, shall pertain as outlined in the Schedule of Residential Uses.
(b)
Where the Commission finds that existing vegetation or natural changes in topography effectively screen visibility from adjacent properties or where the abutting land use is nonresidential, the Commission may allow structures to locate to within forty (40) feet of the side and rear property lines. In such areas, the existing vegetation or natural changes in topography shall be preserved and supplemented with fences, walls, berms and dense landscaping which, in the determination of the Commission, adequately screen the planned residential development from adjacent properties the year round.
(2)
Parcels which contain a body of water, a designated inland wetland or watercourse or tidal wetland shall include only fifty percent (50%) of said body of water or designated wetland area in arriving at the maximum number of dwelling units permitted.
F.
(1)
Parking facilities and driveways shall not be closer than twenty-five (25) feet to the street or property lines.
[Amended effective 3-1-1985]
(2)
The surface and subsurface of driveways must conform to the following minimum requirements:
[Amended effective 4-12-1985]
(a)
A base of twelve (12) inches of bank-run gravel or eight (8) inches of processed aggregate.
(b)
A wearing course of bituminous concrete that is two and one-half (2 1/2) inches thick after compaction or two (2) courses of bituminous concrete one and one-fourth (1 1/4) inches thick each, after compaction.
(c)
All materials and methods of construction shall be in accordance with the State of Connecticut, Department of Transportation, Standard Specifications for Roads, Bridges and Incidental Construction, Form 811, as amended.