§ 14.11. Planned developments.

Planned developments are of such substantially different character from other special uses that specified and additional standards and exceptions are hereby established to govern the recommendations of the Planning and Zoning Board and the action of the City Council.

1.

Use Exceptions. The Planning and Zoning Board may recommend and the City Council may authorize that there be in part of a planned development, and for the duration of the planned development, specified uses not listed as permitted uses in the district regulations herein applicable to the district in which said development is located, provided that the Planning and Zoning Board shall find:

a.

That the uses permitted by such exception are necessary or desirable and are appropriate with respect to the primary purpose of the development;

b.

That the uses permitted by such exception are not of such a nature or so located as to exercise an undue detrimental influence on the planned development or the surrounding neighborhoods;

c.

That the ground area of such development devoted to the uses permitted by said exception shall be as recommended by the Planning and Zoning Board but in no instance shall the uses permitted by such exception exceed 10 percent of the total ground area of such development.

2.

Bulk Regulations. In any planned development, the Planning and Zoning Board may recommend, and the City Council may authorize, exceptions to the bulk regulations set forth herein in the district regulations applicable to the district in which the planned development is located, provided that the Planning and Zoning Board shall find:

a.

That such exception shall be solely for the purpose of promoting a unified site plan no less beneficial to the residents or occupants of such development as well as the neighboring property than would be obtained by the bulk regulations of this comprehensive amendment for buildings developed on separate lots.

b.

That the overall floor area ratio, when applicable, would not exceed by more than 15 percent, the floor area ratio regulations of this comprehensive amendment for the district in which it is located.

c.

That in the part of the planned development containing only multiple-family residential uses, the minimum lot area per dwelling unit may be not more than 15% less than required for permitted uses in the district regulations applicable to the district in which the planned development is located.

Reduction of such lot area shall be recommended by the Planning and Zoning Board and approved by the City Council only when there is contained within the planned development permanent open areas, the area and location of which shall meet with the approval of the Planning and Zoning Board, and that such open space shall not be less than that which would pertain if developed on individual lots.

Such open areas shall be preserved over the life of the planned development, for use only by the residents of the planned development or dedicated to the City of Pontiac for school, park, playground or other public uses; and

d.

That in a planned development devoted to Multiple-Family residential uses, the Planning and Zoning Board may recommend and the City Council may approve, access to a dwelling by a driveway or pedestrian walk easement, however, off-street parking facilities for such dwellings shall be located not more than 200 feet from the dwelling served; [and] yards of lesser widths or depths than required for permitted uses in the district regulations applicable to the district in which the planned development is located [may be permitted]; provided

(1)

That protective convenants [covenants] are recorded which perpetuate access easements and off-street parking spaces for use by the residents of the dwellings served;

(2)

That spacing between buildings shall be consistent with the application of recognized site planning principles for securing a unified development and due consideration is given to the openness normally afforded by intervening streets and alleys.

(3)

Spacing between principal buildings within a part of a planned development where subsequent transfer of ownership is contemplated, shall be equivalent to such spacing as would be required between buildings by district regulations for the district in which it is located; and

e.

That in a planned business development, the following additional requirements are hereby specified:

(1)

All buildings shall be set back not less than thirty feet from all streets bounding the site;

(2)

Required off-street parking space shall be provided in the ratio of not less than ten parking spaces for every one thousand square feet of gross floor area;

(3)

All walks, streets and driveways within the planned development shall be paved with a hard surfaced material meeting the specifications of the City Engineer;

(4)

Any part of the planned development not used for buildings, loading and access ways, shall be attractively landscaped with grass, trees, shrubs or pedestrian walkways, according to a landscape plan as approved by the Planning and Zoning Board;

(5)

The buildings in the planned development shall be planned and designed as a unified and single project.

3.

Procedures for Application for Planned Development.

a.

The application filed with the City Clerk as set forth above (subsection 14.09-4 [14.10-4]) shall be introduced into the City Council and then forwarded to the Planning and Zoning Board with a request to hold a public hearing. The Planning and Zoning Board shall give notice and hold a public hearing as required herein for a special use. Pursuant to the Public hearing, the Planning and Zoning Board shall submit a written report to the City Council which shall set forth the Planning and Zoning Board's findings and recommendations with a record of the vote of each member.

b.

The City Council may disapprove, or grant the special use permit for a planned development by ordinance, but such permit shall not be approved except by a favorable vote of two-thirds of all the aldermen of the City of Pontiac, when the Planning and Zoning Board recommends denial of the request for a special use permit for planned development.

c.

The ordinance granting a special use for planned developments shall set forth all the requirements, special conditions and agreements made a part of the planned development. The plans and other documents required as part of the special use application shall be attached to and made a part of the ordinance granting the permit for planned development.

(Ord. No. 2000-O-030, § 3, 9-18-00)