[Added effective 7-1-1955]
[Amended effective 4-20-1971; 3-27-1974; 8-25-1978]
A.
Purpose and intent. It is the intent of the planned residential development
regulations to allow flexibility in the design and layout of multifamily
dwellings in specified zones, consistent with the general pattern
of land use and population density. Such multifamily dwellings are
intended to provide for persons who seek the convenience of multifamily
living with the amenities associated with single-family detached units.
The provisions of these regulations are intended to ensure that all
uses and structures will be compatible with adjacent residential areas
and will maintain the character of the neighborhood in which they
are located.
B.
Regulations for planned residential development.
(1)
Planned residential development shall be permitted by Special Permit in accordance with the provisions of Article 140, § 118-1450, Special Permits, and shall comply with the additional standards set forth herein:
(a)
In planned residential development, premises shall be used and
buildings shall be erected which are used or intended to be used for
multifamily dwellings and are designed in a townhouse- or garden-apartment-type
construction.
(b)
A planned residential development consisting solely of elderly
housing units, as defined, shall be permitted subject to the standards
set forth herein, except where hereafter provided.
[Added effective 9-29-1978]
(c)
The entire planned residential development shall be located
in B, C and D Residence Zones in the City of Norwalk, and no other.
[Amended effective 2-2-1979]
(d)
Planned residential developments shall be in single ownership,
including condominium ownership.
(e)
The number of multifamily dwellings allowed by § 118-400, Planned Residential Developments, in the B Residence Zone shall not exceed one thousand eight hundred six (1,806) units, which are existing or approved as of December 31, 1990, and in the C Residence Zone shall not exceed six hundred thirty-eight (638) units, which are existing or approved as of March 1992.
[Added effective 6-30-1989; amended effective 5-25-1990; 12-7-1990; 3-27-1992]
C.
Additional standards for planned residential developments. Planned
residential developments shall be subject to the following additional
standards:
(1)
No main building shall be nearer to any other main building
other than twenty (20) feet; provided, however, that if the overlapping
wall of two (2) main buildings is not greater than ten (10) feet the
distance between buildings at this point need not be greater than
ten (10) feet.
(2)
A half-story under the pitched roof of the building shall not
be occupied for living quarters or storage purposes and may be excluded
from the computation of the number of stories. A half-story located
in part below the center-line elevation of the street may be occupied
for living quarters and, if so used, shall be included in the computation
of the number of stories.
[Amended effective 7-30-1982]
(3)
In a B Residence Zone, each dwelling unit shall have a minimum
floor area of seven hundred fifty (750) square feet, except that each
elderly housing unit shall have a minimum floor area of five hundred
(500) square feet. In C and D Residence Zones, each dwelling unit
shall have a minimum floor area of five hundred (500) square feet.
In determining the minimum floor area, common stairs, common foyers
and the like shall be excluded. A minimum of one-half (1/2) of the
units shall have four (4) rooms or more, excluding bathrooms, except
for elderly housing wherein every unit shall have a minimum of two
(2) rooms, excluding bathrooms. Each dwelling unit shall have a fully
equipped bathroom with a minimum area of thirty-five (35) square feet,
one (1) room with a minimum area of two hundred (200) square feet,
and no bedroom shall have an area less than one hundred (100) square
feet.
[Amended effective 9-29-1978]
(4)
Open space and recreational facilities shall be dispersed in
such a way as to ensure the health, safety and convenience of the
residents for whose use they are intended. The site plan shall indicate
the manner of development, for example, barbecue fireplaces, picnic
tables, play equipment, swimming pools, tennis courts, landscaping,
walkways, etc. All areas of a site not used for building, parking,
walks, drives, etc., shall be suitably landscaped. New construction
shall be designed and carried out in a manner which results in the
least defacement to the existing landscape features of the site. All
open spaces shall be deemed to be required open space on said parcel
and shall not thereafter be reduced or encroached in any manner.
(5)
Pedestrian walkways a minimum of three (3) feet in width shall
be provided between buildings and between buildings and public highways
so as to discourage the use of driveways for pedestrian use.
(6)
Public sewer facilities shall be utilized and adequate provision
for storm drainage shall be made, as determined by the Commission.
(7)
Where provided, outdoor refuse areas or containers and laundry
drying yards shall be screened from view from adjacent streets and
properties.
D.
Accessory uses and structures. Accessory uses and structures which
are incidental to and customarily associated with the principal use
of the premises shall be permitted, subject to approval by the Commission.
E.
Lot and building requirements.
[Amended effective 2-2-1979; 3-1-1985; 6-12-1987; 1-29-1988]
(1)
See Schedule of Residential Uses and all other applicable sections
of these requirements.
(a)
A planned residential development consisting solely of elderly
housing units, as defined, shall be permitted subject to the following
provisions:
[1]
Minimum required lot area shall be four thousand (4,000) square
feet per dwelling unit in a B Residence Zone and two thousand (2,000)
square feet per dwelling unit in C and D Residence Zones. Minimum
lot size shall be two (2) acres.
[2]
Recreation area required shall be one hundred seventy-five (175) square feet per dwelling unit subject to § 118-400C(4).
[3]
All setback and lot requirements, other than Subsection E(1)(a)[1] and [2] above, shall pertain as outlined in the Schedule of Residential Uses.
(b)
Where the Commission finds that existing vegetation or natural
changes in topography effectively screen visibility from adjacent
properties or where the abutting land use is nonresidential, the Commission
may allow structures to locate to within forty (40) feet of the side
and rear property lines. In such areas, the existing vegetation or
natural changes in topography shall be preserved and supplemented
with fences, walls, berms and dense landscaping which, in the determination
of the Commission, adequately screen the planned residential development
from adjacent properties the year round.
(2)
Parcels which contain a body of water, a designated inland wetland
or watercourse or tidal wetland shall include only fifty percent (50%)
of said body of water or designated wetland area in arriving at the
maximum number of dwelling units permitted.
F.
(1)
Parking facilities and driveways shall not be closer than twenty-five
(25) feet to the street or property lines.
[Amended effective 3-1-1985]
(2)
The surface and subsurface of driveways must conform to the
following minimum requirements:
[Amended effective 4-12-1985]
(a)
A base of twelve (12) inches of bank-run gravel or eight (8)
inches of processed aggregate.
(b)
A wearing course of bituminous concrete that is two and one-half
(2 1/2) inches thick after compaction or two (2) courses of bituminous
concrete one and one-fourth (1 1/4) inches thick each, after
compaction.
(c)
All materials and methods of construction shall be in accordance
with the State of Connecticut, Department of Transportation, Standard
Specifications for Roads, Bridges and Incidental Construction, Form
811, as amended.
