This chapter shall be known and may be cited as the "Planned Unit Development Ordinance".
(Ord. 84-238 § 1, 11-5-1984)
The purposes of this chapter are as follows:
A.
To allow greater flexibility and to encourage more innovative design for the development of residential areas than is generally possible under conventional zoning and subdivision regulations;
B.
To encourage more economical and efficient use of land, streets, and public services;
C.
To preserve and create usable open space and other amenities superior to conventional developments;
D.
To preserve important natural features of the land, including topography, natural vegetation, and views;
E.
To encourage development of a variety of housing types and densities. Townhouse development is particularly encouraged;
F.
To encourage energy conservation, including the use of passive solar energy in project design and development to the extent possible;
G.
To provide incentives to developers of increased density, lower costs, and permissive variations in zoning and subdivision standards in return for higher quality living environments;
H.
To encourage infill development of problem areas or sites characterized by special features of geography, topography, size, shape, or historical legal nonconformity;
I.
To permit flexibility of design that will create desirable public and private open space; to vary the type, design, and layout of buildings; and to utilize the potentials of individual sites and alternative energy sources to the extent possible;
J.
To reduce public service costs and energy demands of development.
(Ord. 84-238 § 3, 11-5-1984)
A.
This chapter may be applied to those unincorporated areas of Cowlitz County that may be served by public and/or community water and/or sewerage or on-site sewage disposal system, where such on-site system conforms to State Health Regulations, and which are classified as rural residential-1, rural residential-2, rural residential-5, urban residential, or multiple-family under the Cowlitz County Zoning Code, or, in unzoned areas, classified as rural residential-1, rural residential-2, rural residential-5, low density urban residential, or high density urban residential under the Cowlitz County Comprehensive Plan.
C.
Condominium/townhouse developments authorized pursuant to the Horizontal Property Regimes Act, Chapter 64.32 RCW, shall proceed under the provisions of this chapter unless located in an area designated multifamily.
D.
Relationship to Other Ordinance Provisions. Developments approved pursuant to this chapter shall be superimposed upon the underlying zone and/or Comprehensive Plan classification; and the regulations of this chapter shall modify and supersede those regulations of the underlying zone and/or Comprehensive Plan classifications.
(Ord. 84-238 § 4, 11-5-1984; Ord. 89-171 § 1, 10-2-1989)