Development standards

The following shall be the minimum standards for all MPDs. Where deemed necessary, the city council may impose stricter standards in order to serve the objectives of this chapter.

• A. Frontage and Setbacks. Requirements for frontage and setbacks within the site shall be determined by the city council subsequent to planning commission recommendation with the following stipulation: The front yard requirements of the underlying zone shall apply where the boundary of the proposed MPD abuts an existing public street or any street intended to be dedicated to the city. These restrictions shall not apply to an existing public street where the developer can secure city approval to abandon said street prior to construction of the phase(s) or section(s) within which the street is located.
  • 1. Minimum Lot Requirements. An individual lot for each structure is not required, but may be provided at the developer's option. There is no minimum area requirement and lot boundaries may coincide with structure boundaries. If individual lots are provided, there shall be no requirement that the lot front on a street except as provided for above.
• B. Maximum Coverage. Maximum coverage for all MPDs shall be sixty (60) percent with the following exception:
  • 1. Areas designated on the final overall district plan for single-family dwelling units shall be limited to thirty-five (35) percent maximum lot coverage.
  • 2. Density shall be approved or rejected on the basis of intensity of uses expressed by floor area ratios (FAR). The relationship between uses and overall area ratio allowable shall be related to the character of the proposal and its impact on the surrounding environment and city facilities. The city council, subsequent to planning commission recommendation, shall have the right to impose density limitations. In all cases, the burden of proof shall be on the applicant to show that existing or proposed facilities can support the requested additional impact of the proposed development.
• C. Building Height. The height limitation of the underlying zone shall apply except:
  • 1. Where, based on the overall district plan and the existing surrounding development, the city council, subsequent to planning commission recommendation, deems the height limitation of the underlying zone either excessively or insufficiently restrictive. In such cases, the height limitation of the underlying zone may be waived or further restricted.
• D. Building Spacing. The minimum distance between buildings shall be twenty-five (25) feet except where the lot boundary coincides with the structural boundary, in which case, an approved firewall shall be provided. Single and two-family dwelling structures shall be exempt from this requirement.
• E. Drainage. All MPDs shall provide for the adequate drainage of all surface waters in accordance with Chapter 15.28 of the code. Any drainage facility shall conduct water to an approved location and in a manner approved by the director of public works.
• F. Buffers. All applications for MPD zoning shall show, on the site plan, a fifty (50) foot buffer strip at the perimeter of the property. Location of structures is prohibited in this area and landscaping is required with the following exceptions:
  • 1. Where the proposed land use is sufficiently similar to the surrounding land uses, the setback requirements set forth in Section 17.20.120 shall prevail. In such case, a fifty (50) foot buffer strip shall be provided on the site where this land use abuts another which is distinctly different.
  • 2. Where an existing building is located within fifty (50) feet of the property boundary, but is specifically planned for renovation and reuse in the ODP.
  • 3. Where a particular part of the property is planned for development conforming with the requirements of Section 17.20.120 including existing streets or streets which are planned to be deeded to the city upon completion.
  • 4. Where provision of a fifty (50) foot buffer would not further the goals of creating a harmonious and integrated development, the city council may, subsequent to planning commission recommendation, reduce or waive this requirement.
• G. Landscaping. Appropriate landscaping shall be provided in all MPDs. Wherever practicable preservation of the existing vegetation and such unique features as stone walls is encouraged. Additional screening for aesthetic purposes or noise reduction may also be required.
  • 1. Peripheral Buffer Areas. All peripheral buffer areas shall be landscaped by use of trees, shrubs, walls, berms or any other appropriate material to:
    • a. Adequately screen the MPD from adjacent or nearby developments, or
    • b. Enhance the visual aesthetics of the overall development.
  • 2. Parking Lots. Off-street parking areas of five thousand (5,000) square feet or more shall be landscaped in accordance with the following minimum requirements:
    • a. Trees. Shall be provided at the ends of each parking row and at one hundred fifty (150) foot intervals within each row. The minimum caliper of each tree shall be three inches with a minimum clear trunk of five feet to the first branch. All required trees shall be at least twelve (12) feet in overall height when planted. All required trees shall be thornless honey locust, pin oak or an approved equal of a deciduous variety. All planting areas containing trees shall be curbed and have a minimum width of four feet.
  • 3. Guarantee. The developer shall guarantee all introduced vegetation through one full winter and shall replace any and all plantings determined by the building inspector to be dead or irreversibly damaged.
• H. Parking and Loading. The off-street parking and loading requirements of Sections 17.64.010 and 17.68.010 shall apply with the following exception:
  • 1. Where the applicant can document differing parking schedules of two or more closely sited land uses, the city council, subsequent to planning commission recommendation, may relax the parking requirements in the MPD to allow for shared parking facilities among those uses shown to have most of their parking need at significantly different times of the day or week. In such cases, the parking requirement during the overlap hours must be satisfied.

    Parking areas must be located within reasonable proximity to the uses they are intended to serve.

(Prior code § 30-34(b))