The TND Traditional Neighborhood Design District is intended to encourage innovative mixed-use residential environments that reflect the planning and development patterns in place when Seward was initially developed. The TND District produces environments which manage automobiles but maintain a scale and set of linkages that promote pedestrian travel and civic space. These theories of urban design have been classified as "New Urbanism," although they transport the patterns of development of traditional Seward into new settings. The TND regulations included in this article are intended to capture the essence of this design technique, while avoiding excessive requirements that will discourage the use of the concept. The Seward regulations are intended to capture the general concept and vision of traditional neighborhood design, without being so prescriptive as to inhibit the use of the concept or discourage design flexibility.
The minimum size of a TND District shall be 10 acres.
A. 
The application and adoption process shall be the same as those established by PUD Planned Unit Development Districts.
B. 
All applications for a TND subdivision must be accompanied by a TND development plan, in addition to other documents required by this chapter. This plan shall illustrate the distribution of land uses throughout the subdivision; the location and design of public spaces, streets, and alleys; the location and nature of special design features; architectural controls; and other information necessary to communicate the concept of the TND subdivision. The TND subdivision plan shall be a part of the approved subdivision. Subsequent building and development permits shall be issued by the City only in consistency with the TND development plan.
C. 
Articles of Incorporation and/or covenants for a homeowners' association or other provision assuring maintenance or operation of all common spaces shall be submitted with the TND application.
A. 
Mixed land uses.
(1) 
Retail, service, civic, office, and various types of residential land uses may be combined within a TND development, notwithstanding the use regulations of the underlying zoning district. The distribution and location of land uses shall be consistent with the TND plan submitted for the subdivision.
(2) 
The gross floor area of commercial area permitted within a TND shall not exceed 10,000 square feet per 100 people projected to live in the development. For the purpose of calculating projected population, the following factors shall be used:
(a) 
Single-family detached: 3.5 people per unit.
(b) 
Single-family attached: 2.75 people per unit.
(c) 
Townhouses: 2.5 people per unit.
(d) 
Multifamily: 2.0 people per unit.
(3) 
Parks and public open spaces shall make up at least 10% of the total area of the TND development.
A. 
The average site area per unit of a TND shall be established by the underlying zoning district. However, the density of individual parts of the TND may exceed the average density.
B. 
Overall density permitted by the underlying zoning district of the TND may be increased as follows for specific amenities: 10% for the provision of a centrally located town square of at least one acre for each 25 acres of developed area; 10% for the provision of approved ornamental lighting throughout the TND subdivision; and 10% for the development of a central community boulevard. Cumulative density bonuses shall not exceed 25% of the density permitted by the underlying zoning district.
A. 
Lot dimensions. Individual lot size dimensions, including minimum width, may be reduced to 75% of the requirement of the underlying zoning district. Any savings on lot size shall be devoted to public space, including but not limited to town squares, small parks, greenways, and community facilities.
B. 
Lot setbacks.
(1) 
Lot setbacks may be varied from those otherwise specified for the zoning district. Typically, the front yard setback should respect a build-to line that is not less than five feet nor greater than 20 feet. Different setbacks may be incorporated as part of the TND District approval. Setback limits must be established on the preliminary and final plat.
(2) 
The distance across a street from building face to building face shall not exceed 100 feet except along a community street or boulevard.
(3) 
The setback from any garage entrance to any circulation way, including an alley, must be at least 20 feet unless the project design makes other specific provisions for dedicated off-street parking. Garage access from the rear of lots by way of an alley is encouraged.
A. 
Street continuity. All streets within a TND District connect to other streets within the district, forming a continuous network. All streets and alleys shall terminate at other streets within the TND District and shall connect to other streets on the edge of the district.
B. 
Street and block characteristics.
(1) 
The design of the street system shall create an open network that creates blocks with a length of no more than 660 feet.
(2) 
Street loops and culs-de-sac may be included as part of the street system design. However, no street with a single point of access onto a connecting street should be longer than 200 feet.
(3) 
Street or right-of-way widths may be varied for local streets within TND subdivisions as provided in Article 40, Circulation System Design.
C. 
Pedestrian system. Each project within a TND District shall include a complete pedestrian system, providing access to all residential lots or sites and major activity centers within the project. In addition, each project shall provide direct access to any public multiuse recreational trails that run through or are adjacent to the project site.
D. 
Community streets and boulevards. Community streets and boulevards are streets that are designed as central open space features within a TND development. The incorporation of these facilities within a TND is strongly encouraged and receives a density bonus, as provided in § 410-26.5. Characteristics of such a street include:
(1) 
Alignment that generally runs more than 50% of the longest dimension of the development.
(2) 
Orientation to a main activity center in the development, including parks and neighborhood greens, civic facilities, commercial activity centers, or designed landmarks.
(3) 
Extensive street landscaping and parallel sidewalks and trails.
(4) 
Thematic lighting and street furniture.
(5) 
A street section which incorporates a median or wide sidewalk setbacks. A median's width should be equal to 1.00 times the width of either individual street channel. If the road channel is undivided, the distance between sidewalk and curb should be equal to at least 50% of the curb-to-curb width.