The intent of the planned development permit process is to allow a variety of uses and developments within the town of Twisp while retaining the ability of the town to review and condition those developments that might without restriction infringe on other uses in the district or threaten the environmental or aesthetic attributes of the town. The planned development permit process allows review and the implementation of restrictions or conditions on a development by the town, pursuant to identified issues and standards, in order to achieve the following objectives:
(1)
Provide for flexibility in the design of land uses and activities to encourage more creative approaches to development, to result in more efficient, aesthetic, and environmentally responsive use of lands within the town;
(2)
Allow for public input and response by town citizens and interested persons, agencies and groups, to better assure that land uses and development within the town reflect the needs and desires of town citizens and are consistent with the public welfare of the town;
(3)
Permit creativity in design and placement of buildings, use of required open spaces, provision for on-site circulation plans, off-street parking and other site design elements that better utilize the potentials of special features of the property, including location, geography, topography, vegetation, size or shape, and scenic views;
(4)
Facilitate the provision of economical and adequate public improvements, including streets and utilities;
(5)
Minimize and/or mitigate the impacts of development on valuable natural resources and unique natural or existing features including but not limited to key wildlife habitats, riparian habitats, floodplain and other wetlands, mature tree stands, steep slopes, unique or aesthetically important views and vistas, and similar resources and features;
(6)
Minimize and/or mitigate the impacts of development on the public health, safety, welfare, aesthetic values, and other interests of the town;
(7)
Require the incorporation of public access to recreational opportunities, including trail systems, as a part of development activities;
(8)
Allow areas to be combined together for development that would otherwise be developed on a lot-by-lot basis, and to develop the area jointly with clustered or common features and structures and shared roads and utilities for more economic use of the land and better utilization of limited land and natural resources and maintenance of open space areas;
(9)
Assure that aesthetic values are considered in the architectural design of structures and in the overall development plans, and are a part of the review process of significant developments within the town;
(10)
Provide regulations for the planned development permit process which will give notice to developers of pertinent issues, concerns and limitations in planning of projects.
(Ord. 620 § 9(1), 2010)