Chapter 17.10 — PLANNED UNIT DEVELOPMENT ZONES

Article I

Planned Unit Development Zone

The planned unit development zone is intended to promote appropriate land uses and to encourage the highest possible quality of design and environment through the creation of performance standards applied to specific development and recorded as conditions and covenants against the land.

The planned unit development process is intended to provide a more flexible method whereby appropriately located land areas can be developed, employing more innovative and imaginative land planning concepts than would be possible through the strict application of conventional zoning and subdivision regulations. It is intended that planned residential developments will exhibit excellence in design, site arrangements, integration of uses and structures, and protection to the integrity of surrounding developments, although such developments may deviate in certain respects from the zoning maps, zone regulations, or subdivision regulations. A planned unit development may include a combination of different dwelling types and a variety of land uses which complement each other and harmonize with the existing and proposed land uses in the vicinity, providing it is determined all the regulations and objectives of this chapter have been met.

The planned unit development zone is proposed to be applied to areas under single or unified ownership or control. (Prior code § 27-45.1; Ord. 21-1722 § 2)

The planned unit development zone procedure shall not apply unless the proposed development is reasonably related to the elements of the general plan as they pertain to the subject area. Where concurrent subdivision or subparcelling into individual lots or the dedication of any streets is involved, conformity to related ordinances of the City is required, and the procedure shall be concurrent with and supplementary thereto. The PUD zone procedure shall not apply to any lot having a net area of less than one-half acre.

(Prior code § 27-45.2; Ord. 21-1722 § 2)

Before filing any application for a planned unit development, the prospective applicant shall submit preliminary plans and sketches and basic site information for consideration and advice as to the relation of the proposal to general developmental objectives to be attained in the area and as to the policies of the Commission and Council with reference thereto. (Prior code § 27-45.3; Ord. 21-1722 § 2)

Every application for a planned unit development shall be on a form as prescribed by the Deputy City Manager, Community Development and be accompanied by the following:

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City of Norwalk, CA

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• A. A legal description or boundary survey map of the property. (A tentative subdivision map may be substituted for this requirement if the applicant proposes to subdivide the property.)

• B. A general development plan with at least the following details shown to scale and dimensioned:

  1. The proposed land ownerships, the uses, dimensions and locations of all proposed structures and of areas reserved for vehicular and pedestrian circulation, open spaces, landscaping, recreation, or other public uses.

  2. Architectural drawings and sketches showing the design and character of the proposed uses and their relation to one another.

  3. Height and approximate location of all proposed walls and fences and a statement setting forth the method by which such walls and fences shall be preserved and maintained.

  4. Location and design of automobile parking areas and signs.

  5. Type of surfacing proposed for walks and driveways.

  6. Preliminary plans showing the proposed method for control and disposal of water flowing into, across or from the development.

  7. Tables showing the total number of acres and their distribution by use, and the percentage of the whole designated for dwellings of different types, nonresidential uses, streets, off street parking, public uses and open spaces.

  8. A time schedule for the proposed development with evidence of the intent and the ability of the applicant to carry out the plan.

  9. Such other pertinent information as the Deputy City Manager, Community Development may require to complete the evaluation of the intent and impact of the proposal.

  10. A fee as set by resolution of the City Council to cover partial expenses involved in processing such application.

(Prior code § 27-45.4; Ord. 21-1722 § 2)

The regulations of the planned unit development zone are intended to permit a diversity of uses, relationships and heights of buildings and open spaces in planned groups while insuring substantial compliance with the spirit, intent and provisions of this code. (Prior code § 27-45.5; Ord. 21-1722 § 2)

Planned unit developments shall maintain development standards which, in the aggregate, shall be at least equivalent to the standards prescribed by the regulations for the base zone. Where development standards for the planned unit development conflict with those of the base zone such standards shall supersede the comparable standards of the base zone. In addition, property development standards in excess of the minimum standards set forth in this title shall be imposed

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as conditions of approval where it is determined that they are necessary to insure that the purpose and intent of this title are achieved and the planned unit development will maintain harmony and compatibility with abutting or nearby uses of property. (Prior code § 27-45.6; Ord. 21-1722 § 2)

The Commission shall not recommend approval of the proposal unless it finds that the planned unit development zone as applied for is or may be conditioned to be, in full conformance to the general purposes of this title, and in particular:

• A. That the location, design and proposed uses are compatible with the character of existing development in the vicinity;

• B. That the plan will produce internally an environment of stable and desirable character, and not tend to cause any substantial traffic congestion on surrounding streets;

• C. That the standards of development applicable to the planned unit development zone are consistent with the general plan and other official plans of the City.

• (Prior code § 27-45.7; Ord. 21-1722 § 2)

All proposed development in a planned unit development zone shall be subject to review by the Planning Commission in accordance with Chapter 2.16 of the Norwalk Municipal Code. (Prior code § 27-45.8; Ord. 21-1722 § 2)

Applications for a planned unit development zone shall be considered amendments to the Norwalk Municipal Code and shall be processed according to applicable provisions of such Code. Concurrently with the adoption of a planned unit development zone, the City Council shall require of the applicants such guarantees as may be appropriate to insure the accomplishment of any public improvements, such grant of easement and development rights, and such arrangements for maintenance of common spaces as are relevant in the case. (Prior code § 27-45.9; Ord. 21-1722 § 2)

After adoption, and prior to the issuance of any building permit, a final development plan shall be prepared, and a final subdivision map or parcel map recorded, if either is involved. The final development plan shall conform to the ordinance adopting the planned unit development zone and shall show to scale all buildings, off-street parking facilities, landscaping, finished grades and such other detail as will suffice to indicate conformance to all the features, conditions and characteristics upon which the approval was predicated. The final plan shall be recorded in the office of the County Recorder of Los Angeles and a notation of reference thereto shall be made forthwith upon the official zoning map. No permit shall thereafter be issued for any building, structure, or use except in full conformance to the final plan. A violation of any part of the plan or of any condition of the approval shall constitute a violation of this title. The City Council may, however, by resolution extend any specified time limit for starting or completing the development upon the showing of good faith and effort to comply therewith. Prior to final

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approval by the City Council, the applicant shall submit to the City Attorney a draft of CC&Rs which shall apply to the subject development as required and shall be concurrently recorded with the County Recorder along with the conditions of approval and map of the subject development. (Prior code § 27-45.10; Ord. 21-1722 § 2)

The Planning Commission shall, upon its own motion, initiate proceedings to reclassify the area included in an adopted planned unit development zone to such zone as deemed appropriate by the Planning Commission if no development has occurred in pursuance of the adopted plan: (a) within 12 months after the date of adoption of the planned unit development zone; or (b) upon expiration of any extension of the time for starting develop. Notice of hearings shall be the same as that used for adoption of the planned unit development zone. (Prior code § 27-45.11; Ord. 21-1722 § 2)

• A. Any planned unit development zone which has been adopted and made effective by the recordation of CC&Rs as required, may be revised under the same procedure as required for the filing and approval of a new planned unit development zone as provided herein. No planned unit development zone approval may be revised under the provisions of this article which would have the effect of changing the total land use concept or placement and type of buildings on the entire property from that which was approved originally, nor shall such procedure be used where provisions have been made for city staff approval of minor modifications. A revision to any planned unit development zone may be applied for to permit a change in any of the conditions of approval, a change in the standards of development, and any partial change in the land use concept or placement and type of buildings.

• B. The following procedure shall be used to revise a planned unit development zone:

  1. Any property owner whose property is subject to an existing planned unit development zone or his or her authorized representative may make an application for a planned unit development zone revision. Where such an application could propose to revise a planned unit development zone of which the applicant's property represents only a portion, all other property owners within the planned unit development zone shall receive, prior to the public hearing, the legal notice, staff report, and any other documentation pertinent to the case. The consent of other property owners within the planned unit development zone shall not be required for the filing of an application for revision.

  2. Revisions shall retain the case number of the original planned unit development zone followed by the number of the revision.

  3. Required advertising and notification of the case shall be as provided by using the boundaries of the entire planned unit development zone as originally approved in determining the required 300 foot radius.

  4. Any planned unit development zone case processed under this chapter shall require the adoption of an ordinance by the City Council and the recordation of a notice of revised planned unit development zone regulations which shall include the legal

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City of Norwalk, CA

ZONING

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description of the property affected by the revision as well as any conditions of approval made a part of the revision. In the case of a revision, recordation of the original CC&Rs shall not be required; only modifications made to the original CC&Rs shall be recorded.

(Prior code § 27-45.12; Ord. 21-1722 § 2)

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City of Norwalk, CA