The HD Neighborhood Conservation Overlay District enables the adoption of special performance and development standards in combination with site development regulations of a base district for areas of special historical or architectural significance within the City of Seward. The district recognizes the importance of historically and architecturally significant districts to the character of Seward and provides for their conservation. The HD District applies standards and procedures to existing neighborhoods that are analogous to those applied to new development in PUD Districts.
The HD Overlay District provides an opportunity to establish and apply special development controls and standards for areas in Seward with special physical or design characteristics. Examples of these standards may include, but not be limited to:
A. 
Variations or substitutions of development regulations, including revised minimum and maximum setbacks, lot sizes, heights, and other regulations, based on the unique characteristics of the neighborhood.
B. 
Requirements for building design, materials, features, and orientations.
C. 
Special requirements or permissions for signage.
D. 
Limitations on maximum size and scale of buildings.
E. 
Limitations on location of parking, driveways, and other features that have an impact on the fabric of a traditional neighborhood.
A. 
Proposal. The creation of an HD Overlay District may be initiated by the Planning Commission, the City Council, or by petition of the owner or owners of 51% of the property area within the proposed district.
B. 
Requirements for application. An application for the creation of an HD Overlay District must include:
(1) 
A statement describing the proposed district's special historical or architectural characteristics and stating the reasons for proposal of the district.
(2) 
A map indicating the boundaries of the proposed HD Overlay District, specifying the base district(s) included within these boundaries.
(3) 
An inventory of the land uses, buildings or historically important sites located within the boundaries of the proposed district.
(4) 
A future land use plan for the district.
(5) 
Supplemental site development regulations, design criteria, and performance standards that apply to the proposed district.
A. 
The Planning Commission and City Council shall review and evaluate each HD Overlay District application.
B. 
The Planning Commission, after proper notice, shall hold a public hearing and act upon each application.
C. 
The Planning Commission may recommend amendments to HD District applications.
D. 
The recommendation of the Planning Commission shall be transmitted to the City Council for final action.
E. 
The City Council, after proper notice, shall hold a public hearing and act upon any ordinance establishing an HD Overlay District.
F. 
The ordinance adopting the HD District shall include a statement of purpose, a description of district boundaries, and a list of supplemental site development regulations and performance standards.
G. 
Upon approval by the City Council, each HD Overlay District shall be shown on the Zoning Map, identified sequentially by order of enactment and referenced to the enacting Ordinance.
H. 
Any protest against an HD Overlay District shall be made and filed as provided by Nebraska state statutes, and amendments thereto.
Building or other development permits issued by the City in an HD District shall be consistent with the adopted HD District Ordinance and shall follow all procedures for review that are established by the City.