Article VII. Planned Unit Development

* - Smaller sites may be permitted when it is found that the proposed PUD is compatible with existing development in the area and does not disrupt the orderly expansion of the transportation system of the Town.

** - The Town Council may consider projects with a density of up to 25% more than the maximum stated in this table upon a finding that such increased density is in keeping with the existing or intended character of the neighborhood (as expressed in the Comprehensive Plan or, if applicable, any adopted Small Area Plans) and that any potential detrimental impacts from such increased density are ameliorated to the satisfaction of the Council.  Additionally, if residential use is part of a vertically-mixed use project (i.e., non-residential uses are present on the ground floor with residential units on non-ground floors), there shall be no limit on the residential density.

*** - The Town Council may consider projects with less than the minimum open space required as specified in this Table, upon a finding that unique circumstance or conditions exist which warrant such a reduction and further provide that the applicant addresses the open space requirement in another acceptable means.

**** - In the PUD General sub district, for any residential units proposed in excess of the maximum residential density permitted in base residential zoning districts (3.5 du/ac), at least 25% must be devoted to affordable housing, or the developer may contribute a fee-in-lieu to an entity to be determined by the Town.

H.        APPLICATION PROCEDURES

The following procedures shall be followed with respect to all applications for PUD District Zoning:

(1)        The application for PUD District zoning shall be accompanied by a sketch plan prepared in accordance with the requirements as specified herein.

The sketch plan shall be to scale and contain sufficient information to establish the identity of proposed uses in general terms (i.e. residential, retail, office, etc. – the identity of specific tenants is not required), grades and approximate dimensions, and locations of proposed structures, streets, parking areas, walkways, easements and property lines.  It shall include the following information:

a.         Proposed development layout.

b.         Proposed reservations for parks, parkways, playgrounds, school sites and other open spaces.

c.         Proposed location of commercial and industrial uses within the PUD areas, including all associated off-street parking.

d.         Types of dwelling and portions of the area proposed therefore.

e.         Proposed location of dwelling and parking areas.

f.          A tabulation of the total number of acres in the proposed project and the percentage thereof designated for each of the proposed dwelling types, neighborhood retail businesses, other nonresidential uses, off-street parking, streets, parks, schools, and other reservations, including a tabulation of the gross square footage of all buildings by use.

g.         A tabulation of overall residential density per gross residential acre.

h.         Preliminary plans and elevations of the several dwelling types.

i.          Conceptual plan of proposed vehicular, pedestrian and bicycle circulation systems.

j.          Forest Stand Delineation as described in the Town of Easton's Forest  Conservation Ordinance.

k.         A metes and bounds description of the area subject to the PUD application.

l.          A 3-dimensional depiction of the project in a manipulatible file format (e.g., Google Sketchup).

m.        A narrative description of how the proposed plan provides greater benefits to the Town than would development carried out in accordance with the underlying zoning requirements.

n.         A specific listing of any development standards that are proposed to be uniquely established (i.e., different than required by the base zoning district) for the PUD.

(2)        Planning and Zoning Commission Review and Action.

The Planning and Zoning Commission shall review the material submitted and following the presentation from the applicant, shall forward a recommendation to the Mayor and Town Council.  The Planning and Zoning Commission’s transmittal to the Town Council may include recommended changes to the PUD Sketch Plan or recommended conditions of approval that the Commission deems necessary to better insure compliance with the Comprehensive Plan.  In reaching its conclusion as to the merits of the project, the Commission shall make recommendations addressing the following:

a. Whether the proposed PUD development conforms to the Town of Easton Comprehensive Plan;

b. Whether the proposed PUD development conforms with all provisions of the Town of Easton Zoning Code which are not proposed for modification subject to the request;

c. Whether the proposed PUD development complies with all Town engineering and design regulations and standards;

d. Whether the proposed PUD development complies with any other applicable Town, County, State, or Federal regulations, policies or plans, except those standards proposed for modification.  If the standards of any jurisdiction other than the Town of Easton are proposed for modification, any PUD project approval, should it subsequently be granted by the Town Council, shall be subject to the applicant successfully obtaining approval of said modification and demonstrating proof of such approval to the Town’s satisfaction.

e. Whether the proposed PUD will be superior to or more innovative than conventional development and how it will provide greater public benefit without additional probable significant adverse impacts to public health, safety or the environment, than would be available through the use of conventional zoning and/or development standards.

The Planning and Zoning Commission’s initial review shall be subject to the contiguous property notification requirements as specified in Section 901.1 G of this Ordinance.  Review of plans which represent a resubmission based on Planning and Zoning Commission comments shall not require new notification letters to be sent for the subsequent meeting(s) unless said meeting occurs six months or more after the Commission’s meeting on the previous submission.

(3)        Mayor and Town Council Action.

A.        Upon receiving the written report of the Planning and Zoning Commission, the Town Council shall conduct a public hearing upon the application for a PUD Map amendment.  The Council shall consider, but not be bound by, the recommendations and comments of the Planning and Zoning Commission.  The Town Council shall make written findings of fact with regard to the following matters:

1. Whether the proposed PUD development conforms to all applicable standards set out in this Ordinance for such uses, structures and projects;

2. Whether the proposed PUD will be superior to or more innovative than conventional development and how it will provide greater public benefit without additional probable significant adverse impacts to public health, safety or the environment, than would be available through the use of conventional zoning and/or development standards.

3. Whether the Town Council concurs or differs with the Recommendations submitted by the Planning and Zoning Commission in conjunction with the application.

4.         Whether the proposed PUD development conforms to the Town's Comprehensive Plan, including those provisions of the Comprehensive Plan relating to the design and location of commercial projects of a nature similar to those proposed in the application;

5.         Whether the proposed PUD development, in conjunction with existing and reasonably anticipated development in the neighborhood surrounding the site for the proposed PUD, will not interfere with the adequate and orderly provision of public services to the area;

6.         Whether the proposed PUD development, in conjunction with existing and reasonably anticipated development in the neighborhood surrounding the site for the proposed PUD development, will not cause unacceptable traffic congestion or hazards either in or near the site for the proposed PUD development or elsewhere in the Town or Talbot County;

7.         Whether the proposed PUD development is planned in such a manner as to protect features of historical, cultural, or ecological importance;

8.         Whether the proposed PUD development is compatible with existing development in the surrounding neighborhood and with development reasonably anticipated to occur in the neighborhood in terms of size, scale, design, and appearance or, if the proposed PUD development is not so compatible, the proposed PUD design contains adequate screening, landscaping and similar features to protect the surrounding neighborhood; and

9.         Whether the proposed PUD development unreasonably adversely affects the value of property in the neighborhood surrounding the site.

In making findings of fact as to the issues set forth above, there shall be no general presumption that an application for a PUD use at a particular location is valid, is compatible with surrounding uses, inures to the general benefit of the Town or is in compliance with the Town’s Comprehensive Plan.  Instead, each application will be evaluated according to its specific development plan in its particular location.

B.   If the Town Council makes an affirmative finding of fact as to each of the criteria listed above, the Council may enact an ordinance granting the proposed PUD application.  The fact that an application for a PUD Zoning Map Amendment complies with the specific requirements listed above shall not require the Town Council to grant the application.  The ordinance shall be subject to approval by the Mayor in accordance with the provisions of the Town Charter relating to mayoral vetoes.  In determining whether or not to enact an ordinance, the Council may consider, in addition to the factors outlined above, other factors it deems appropriate including but not limited to the degree to which the proposed PUD development: 

1.   helps accomplish the coordinated, adjusted, and harmonious development of the Town and its environs in accordance with present and future needs;

2.   promotes health, safety, morals, order, convenience, prosperity, and general welfare; including among other things, adequate provisions for traffic, the promotion of public safety, adequate provision for light and air, conservation of natural resources, the prevention of environmental pollution, the promotion of the healthful and convenient distribution of population;

3.   exemplifies good civic design and arrangement and the stewardship of the Chesapeake Bay and the land as a universal ethic;

4.   encourages the conservation of resources, including a reduction in resource consumption; 

5.   is located in at a location suitable for it given existing and reasonably foreseeable development; and

6. encourages appropriate and sustainable economic growth.

The "change/mistake" rule, as codified in Maryland Land Use Article Section 4.05 is not applicable to PUD Zoning Map Amendment applications.    

The Town Council shall have the authority to impose conditions upon the grant of a PUD Zoning Map Amendment application and may require the recordation of covenants and restrictions, in a form approved by the Town Attorney, to assure compliance with said conditions or with any of the provisions of the Ordinance.

The Town Council’s initial review shall be subject to the contiguous property notification requirements as specified in Section 901.1 G of this Ordinance.  Review of plans which represent a resubmission based on Council comments shall not require new notification letters to be sent for the subsequent meeting(s) unless said meeting occurs six months or more after the Council’s meeting on the previous submission.

Approved PUD applications shall require the execution of a Public Works Agreement outlining the standards and responsibilities associated with the public works for the proposed project.  Such agreement shall be prepared in a format acceptable to the Town Attorney.

If the Town Council votes to deny the PUD application, no application for a PUD Zoning Map Amendment will be accepted for filing by the Town for a period of one year after the date of the Council’s decision or the date of finality of any judicial review of the Council’s decision, whichever is later.

(4)        Site Plan Review and Action.  Upon Mayor and Town Council approval of a PUD District Zoning Map amendment, the applicant shall prepare and submit a development and a final site plan or a preliminary and final subdivision plat in accordance with the site plan requirements specified in Subsection 901.3.B of this Ordinance and/or the requirements of the Town of Easton Subdivision Regulations.   The design of the preliminary and final site plan and/or subdivision shall be consistent with the ordinance granting the PUD application.

I.          AMENDMENTS TO APPROVED PUD APPLICATIONS

A property owner of a site subject to a PUD District may request an amendment to the terms and conditions of the District.  Any request for an amendment shall be in writing and shall include the information specified in §701.G.  If the Town Planner determines that the proposed amendment (1) does not involve a material change to the design approved by the Town Council and (2) otherwise complies with the terms of this Ordinance, the amendment request shall be approved by the Town Planner.  Any other amendment shall be subject to review by the Planning and Zoning Commission and Town Council according to the procedures set forth in this §801. 

Material changes shall include the following:

•           Proposed increase in residential density, 

•           Proposed increase of non-residential floor area (less than 5% increase above existing total approved for the building in question, as specified in the original PUD, may be considered non-material), 

•           Changes of use that are determined to be more intense, 

•           Elimination of an approved project amenity,

•           Any proposed change which alters a condition of the PUD approval,

•           Substitution of an amenity with a non-comparable amenity.

•           Other changes of a similar scope or magnitude. 

Non-material changes may include the following:

•     Proposed substitution of species provided for landscaping (provided the new species serves the same function the original species was intended to serve).

•     Relocation of residential units provided there are no environmental, traffic, etc., impacts as a result of such action.

•     Relocation of site infrastructure (e.g. utilities, stormwater management) provided said relocation creates no adverse impact.

•     Proposed change in architectural style or type from that which was indicated on approved PUD plans, subject to Planning Commission approval of said change (unless the PUD approval specifies a condition(s) concerning such architectural style or feature, in which case such a revision would constitute a material change).

•     Addition of a park, open space or recreational amenity.

•     Substitution of one project amenity with a comparable amenity.

•     Other changes of a similar scope or magnitude.

If the Town Planner determines that a proposed amendment is a non-material change, he/she shall retain the right to have said amendment reviewed and approved/denied by the Planning and Zoning Commission.

All previously approved PMR (planned major retail) projects shall become PUDs and amendments to such projects shall follow the process outlined above.