Long Beach Municipal Code Div. III Planned Unit Developments

A. The City hereby establishes a residential planned unit development (PUD) zoning district, and associated procedures and development standards.

B. The name of the PUD zoning district shall be Residential, Planned Unit Development district. The zoning symbol shall be "RP" followed by a numerical value indicating dwelling units per acre (DU/ac) for each site (examples: RP-6, RP-12, RP-25, etc.).

(ORD-15-0037 § 4, 2015)

The Residential PUD zoning district is established to achieve the following objectives:

A. Provide greater flexibility and encourage opportunities for innovative residential development through the application of site planning and subdivision techniques not otherwise permitted in the zoning and subdivision regulations;

B. Establish a procedure for development and recycling of larger parcels of land that are unused or underutilized, and reduce or eliminate rigidity that otherwise may prevent these sites from being fully utilized due to the application of traditional development standards intended for typical lots;

C. Encourage creative design and development according to good urban planning principles, with efficient use of land, a mixture of densities, diverse housing opportunities, and on-site community facilities;

D. Encourage integration of urban and natural amenities within developments;

E. Facilitate developments with higher levels of amenities, building design, and quality in internal street layout and access than would occur under traditional residential development standards and subdivision practice on large parcels of land;

F. Encourage opportunities for innovative and sustainable land development techniques that will be given reasonable consideration for approval;

G. Encourage preservation of serviceable existing structures of historic value or cultural merit by providing opportunities to use them imaginatively for purposes other than for which they were originally intended.

(ORD-15-0037 § 4, 2015)

The following procedures are established for application for a PUD.

A. Rezoning. A PUD is a type of residential zoning district. Creation of a PUD shall require a zone change, and application for such by the developer.

B. Site Plan Review. At the time an application for a PUD zone change is submitted, the applicant also shall file an application for Site Plan Review for the development project proposed for said PUD, which shall be considered concurrently with the PUD request. No rezoning to a residential PUD shall be considered without concurrent consideration of the Site Plan Review associated with the requested PUD rezoning.

C. Subdivision Tract Map. As part of any application for a PUD, any land proposed for a PUD shall be subdivided as necessary to create lots suitable for the PUD, and as such shall comply with all applicable requirements of Title 20 (Subdivisions) of the Long Beach Municipal Code, and the Subdivision Map Act (Government Code Section 66410-66413.5).

D. Site. The area of each PUD shall be coterminous with a discrete PUD development site and corresponding Site Plan Review submittal.

E. Approval body. Regardless of whether a Site Plan Review application is subject to staff level or Planning Commission approval, all PUD requests shall require a hearing for review and recommendation of approval or denial by the Planning Commission, followed by a hearing by the City Council to act on the rezoning request and other associated permits.

(ORD-15-0037 § 4, 2015)

The following procedures are established for modifications to an approved PUD:

A. Changes to development plans. The issuance of any building permit, demolition permit, grading permit, utility connection, license, or other approval shall require the construction plans to be consistent with the development plan approved for the PUD by the approval body. Changes to any approved PUD shall require City approval, subject to the following procedure:

1. Minor changes before or during PUD construction. The Zoning Administrator may authorize minor changes to an approved development plan before or during construction of the overall PUD project, if the changes are required because of conditions that were unknown at the time the plan was approved, and the zoning administrator determines that the changes are consistent with the standards of this Chapter and the findings made in connection with approval of the PUD.

2. All other changes. Changes to the development plan before or during construction of the overall PUD project, other than the minor changes the Zoning Administrator can approve, shall require review by the Site Plan Review Committee, or Planning Commission, as applicable, under the procedures of Section 21.21.405 (Modification of permits). This includes increases in building height, reductions in setbacks, significant reconfiguration of internal streets or connections to the public right-of-way, or any other items that, in the judgment of the Zoning Administrator, may significantly differ from the substance or intent of the original PUD approval.

B. Future modification of the PUD. After construction of the PUD project is completed, any changes to the PUD (including all structures and other site improvements) shall require City approval, subject to the following procedure:

1. Minor changes. Any requested alteration or modification to structures or site improvements may be administratively approved by the Zoning Administrator if, in the judgment of the Zoning Administrator, the proposed change is minor in nature, and is within the scope and intent of the original PUD approval.

2. All other changes to the PUD. Any other alteration, modification, or expansion of structures or site improvements shall be reviewed by the Site Plan Review Committee, or Planning Commission, as appropriate. The reviewing body may approve or deny the request, and may impose additional conditions of approval as necessary to ensure that any approved change is consistent with the intent and development standards of the original approval for the PUD.

3. Compliance with development standards. In all cases, alterations, modifications or other expansions within the PUD shall comply with the development standards set forth in this Chapter, and as set forth in the specific approval for the PUD. Any request that is not in conformance with these standards shall require application for a Standards Variance, under the procedures established in Chapter 21.25.

(ORD-15-0037 § 4, 2015)

The Planning Commission and City Council may approve a PUD only when positive findings are made that the project is consistent with the following criteria. In granting such approval, the approval body may impose and enforce any conditions of approval it deems necessary to carry out the purposes of the General Plan and the Zoning Regulations.

A. The PUD will provide a project of high quality design, adhering to good urban planning principles and consistent with the design guidelines of this Chapter, and will make efficient use of the available land;

B. The PUD will provide a higher level of amenities and community facilities to residents than would otherwise be obtained through individual development of similar housing units;

C. The PUD is appropriately sited and integrated into the surrounding urban and natural fabric;

D. The PUD has a fully-integrated, complete internal street system that is functional and considerate of all units within the PUD, and is appropriately connected to the public street system;

E. The PUD provides a high quality of building design, and the architectural theme is well-developed and consistent across the PUD; and

F. The PUD project is in compliance with all City sustainability standards applicable to the size and scope of the development.

(ORD-15-0037 § 4, 2015)

The following development standards are established for all PUDs, to ensure that each PUD provides a higher level of design quality and on-site improvements than would be obtained through individual lot development of a traditional subdivision. Deviation from these development standards shall require a Standards Variance, under the procedures established in Chapter 21.25. For any other pertinent development standards not set forth in this Section, conformance shall be provided per the relevant provision(s) of the Zoning Regulations. In cases of where the development standard is not specified, or its application is unclear, or the standard appears to conflict with the standards of this Section, the Zoning Administrator shall have the authority to determine the appropriate standard.

A. Minimum PUD site area. A PUD shall contain a minimum contiguous site area of 5 acres. Application for a PUD on a site between 4.5 and 5 acres may be allowed at the discretion of the Zoning Administrator if he/she finds that all other standards set forth herein for PUDs can be satisfactorily met in conformance with the intent of these regulations. However, the approval body acting on the PUD request shall then have the authority to deny the request based on a finding of insufficient area.

B. Internal integration. A PUD is intended to be internally integrated and connected within itself, and the site area shall not be divided by a public street, highway, or freeway, or a railroad right-of-way, or stream, river, or flood control channel.

C. Setbacks, height, and other development standards. Minimum building setbacks, separation between buildings, maximum building height, minimum private open space, lot size, and other development standards shall be provided as set forth in Table 31-8.

D. Street and sidewalk widths. The widths of the streets, sidewalks, alleys, and other rights-of-way and easements shall be provided as required in Chapter 20.08 (Design Standards) and Chapter 21.47 (Dedication, Reservation, and Improvement of Public Rights-of-way), except in cases where waivers from these standards are obtained according to the appropriate procedures specified in Chapter 20.08 and Chapter 21.47, with the goal of providing a design adhering to quality urban planning principles, in conformance with the PUD design standards contained in Section 21.31.350.

E. Minimum unit size and width. Each dwelling unit in a PUD shall have a minimum size of 1,200 square feet of habitable floor area, and a width of at least 16 feet.

F. Minimum common open space. Each PUD shall provide a minimum of fifteen percent of the site area as common usable open space, in functional, active recreation area(s).

G. Parking. Each dwelling unit shall be provided with parking as required in Chapter 21.41 of the Zoning Regulations. One guest parking space shall be provided for each four dwelling units, based on the number of units in the development as a whole. Guest parking spaces may be provided as open parking or on-street parking within the PUD, at the discretion of the approval body, notwithstanding Section 20.08.080 (Private Streets).

H. Detached garages and accessory structures. Detached garages and other detached accessory structures shall be prohibited. This does not include accessory structures in common areas (not individual ownership lots) used for utilities, maintenance, storage, or other accessory purposes to serve the common interest within the PUD.

I. Driveways. Each garage shall be provided with a driveway either twenty (20) feet or more in length, or six (6) feet or less in length.

J. Projections and structures in required yards. Projections and structures in required yard areas shall be permitted as set forth in Table 31-3 of this Chapter, except as otherwise specified in this Division and Table 31-8.

K. Homeowner's Association. Each PUD shall have a Homeowner's Association (HOA), established by Covenants, Conditions & Restrictions (CC&Rs). In addition to any responsibilities specified in the CC&Rs, the HOA shall be responsible for the operation, upkeep, and maintenance of all commonly-owned improvements, and enforcement of all CC&Rs. The approval body (Planning Commission or City Council) shall have the authority to add or modify CC&Rs as necessary to ensure the PUD will comply with these development standards and the design guidelines contained in Section 21.31.350.

(ORD-23-0052 §§ 2, 3, 2023; ORD-15-0037 § 4, 2015)

The following design guidelines are established for all PUDs, to provide basic objectives for quality urban design to which each PUD should conform. A PUD's consistency with these design guidelines is relevant to the required findings set forth for PUDs in Section 21.31.330. It is the intent of these design guidelines for each PUD to provide a higher level of quality in architecture, site planning, and amenities than would otherwise be obtained through individual lot development of a traditional subdivision.

A. Landscaping. A PUD should be provided with landscaping as specified in Chapter 21.42 of the Zoning Regulations, and should, for landscaping purposes, be held to the standards for sites located in R-3 or R-4 zoning districts. All landscaping within the PUD should be composed of drought-tolerant, low-water-requirement trees, shrubs, and groundcover. Turf may be used in conformance with the water efficient landscaping requirements of Chapter 21.42 (Landscaping Standards) of the Zoning Regulations.

B. Street widths. Street widths within the PUD should comply with the requirements of Chapter 20.08 and Chapter 21.47 to the extent feasible. However, streets are encouraged to be the minimum widths allowed by the Fire Department, Building and Safety Bureau, and Public Works Department, provided that the requirements of each reviewing department is met, and that any appropriate waivers of standards are obtained according to the procedures specified in Chapter 20.08 or 21.47, as appropriate. The purpose of this guideline is to encourage site planning that adheres to good urban planning principles, to promote pedestrian- and bicycle-oriented development, and to reduce vehicle speeds within the PUD.

C. Sidewalks. Sidewalks should be provided on both sides of all through or circulatory private roads within a PUD, and should be at least 5 feet wide. Sidewalks also are strongly encouraged on both sides of any interior secondary alleys or drives, at a width of at least 4 feet.

D. Parkways. A PUD should be provided with a landscaped parkway between main interior circulation streets and the sidewalk. The parkway should be wide enough to sustain a mature tree (four feet), and should be landscaped in accordance with Chapter 21.42 of the Zoning Regulations.

E. Guest Parking. Notwithstanding Section 20.08.080 (Private Streets), guest parking should be provided as on-street parking on the internal streets of the PUD, if the streets are privately-owned and maintained. On-street parking by residents should be strongly discouraged, and the PUD's Homeowner's Association (HOA) should provide the necessary enforcement against on-street parking by residents.

F. Pedestrian and bicycle connectivity. Connectivity to and within the PUD for pedestrians and bicycles is strongly encouraged, and should be provided to the greatest extent feasible. Separate pedestrian/bicycle entrances to the PUD should be provided independent of vehicular entrances, especially if the PUD is adjacent to a park, bike path, pedestrian trail, or other public amenity that is not directly accessible from the PUD by motor vehicles.

G. Architecture. A PUD should make use of architecture that is of the highest quality, and gives the PUD a distinct visual identity. Architecture should adhere to a common theme and architectural vocabulary among the PUD's buildings, both private residences and community facilities. The use of interesting, creative, distinctive building materials, elements, and details is strongly encouraged.

H. Exterior edges. The PUD should present attractive exterior edges to the surrounding community, neighborhood, and public rights-of-way. Utility or maintenance structures, storage or utility areas, and uninteresting building elevations, should not be exposed to the public viewshed outside the PUD.

I. Outdoor area for common usable open space. At least fifty percent (50%) of the common usable open space for the PUD should be provided in outdoor areas, rather than indoor community rooms, workout rooms, and the like.

Table 31-8 PUD Building Development Standards

Notes:

a) Front, interior side/rear, and private street side/rear setbacks on irregular corner or gore-shaped lots may deviate from these standards at the discretion of the approval body.

(ORD-23-0052 §§ 4, 5, 2023; ORD-15-0037 § 4, 2015)

Residential PUDs are intended to be primarily residential in nature. In addition to the restrictions set forth for the RP district in Table 31-1, the land uses in a PUD shall be restricted as follows:

A. Residential uses. Each dwelling unit, whether built as a detached or attached single-family dwelling, or duplex, or triplex, or unit within a multifamily building, is intended to be a traditional one-family dwelling unit (as defined in Section 21.15.930), and all other types of residential uses are prohibited.

B. Accessory Dwelling Units. Accessory dwelling units shall be prohibited in a PUD.

C. Community facilities and parks. Community facilities and parks may be approved as part of the PUD at the time of PUD approval. Changes or additions to these uses after the fact shall require approval from the relevant approval body.

(ORD-17-0031 § 8, 2017; ORD-15-0037 § 4, 2015)