03-20-1997 Regular Meeting of the La Porte Planning and Zoning Commission

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• • Overview A Planned Unit Development (P.U.D.) is both 1) a zoning district and 2) a specific procedure for establishing or developing a Planned Unit Development. As a Zoning District the purpose and intent of a P.U.D. is expressed in Section 8- 100 of the Zoning Ordinance. In summary; • to provide for grouping of land parcels for development as an integrated unit vs. traditional parcel by parcel piecemeal approach • to introduce flexibility of site design for conservation of open space by clustering buildings and activities through Conditional Use provisions • to promote control management, integrated planning, joint or common uses and maintenance of open spaces. As a procedure (Sec 8-401) to either establish or develop a P.U.D. there are s ecific submittals required for review and evaluation. The process is characterized by two phases which move from the general to the specific and as it does the project becomes more defined and more detailed submissions are required. Finally, after reviews and recommendations by the Planning and Zoning Commission and approval by City Council, the result is a Final Planned Unit Development Plan (Sec.10-101 (7)) which becomes an official file of the City of La Porte and consists of the following: ^ Conditional Use Permit(s) ^ the approved general plan(s) ^ any major or minor development site plans ^ preliminary and final subdivision plats ^ conditions, covenants, deed restrictions, dedications and controls No Building Permit or Development Authorization (as defined by the Development Ordinance) can be issued until all required components of a Final Planned Unit Development Plan have been approved (Sec.10-101 (8). Furthermore, deviations from the Planned Unit Development Plan (not permitted by provisions in Section 10) require review and recommendation of the Commission and subsequent approval of the City Council. The flexibility afforded the developer by the P.U.D. process is balanced by the thorough planning process, commitments made by the developer and subsequent reviews conducted by both the Planning and Zoning Commission and City Council.