Section 11-1504. PLANNED UNIT DEVELOPMENT EVALUATION STANDARDS (DC)

 

1504.1Planned unit development applications for sites within the DC Overlay District shall be evaluated and approved, disapproved, or modified according to the standards in this section. These standards are inclusive, but not exhaustive in nature; it is not expected that an application will exemplify all the standards or achieve all of them in a superior fashion.

 

1504.2To the extent an application proposes benefits beyond the requirements of this chapter, the relative value of the public benefits offered, the degree of flexibility or other development incentives requested, and the potential adverse impacts, if any, to be accepted or mitigated, shall all be judged, balanced, and reconciled according to the specific circumstances of each case.

 

1504.3The applicant shall have the burden of proof to justify the granting of the application according to these standards.

 

1504.4The Zoning Commission shall approve planned unit development applications only if found not inconsistent with the Comprehensive Plan and generally compatible with any other directly applicable city-wide and neighborhood plans.

 

1504.5The site plan and design of the project shall provide present and future occupants with a living or working environment and amenities superior to those that can be achieved by applying the other provisions of the Zoning Regulations. Flexibility in the siting, design, type, and location of buildings is encouraged. Superior planning and design include, but are not limited to:

 

(a)Provision of open space, which should preserve original gardens and backyard open spaces and provide light, air, and privacy to adjacent buildings;

 

(b)Effective and safe vehicular and pedestrian circulation with:

 

(1)Full use of the alleys as a service area for vehicles;

 

(2)Streets unimpeded by service stops; and

 

(3)Sidewalks and public space inviting to pedestrians and free of vehicular parking;

 

(c)Superior architectural design in the subject building or complex considered in and of itself and in relationship to the surrounding buildings and environment within six hundred feet (600 ft.) within the DC Overlay District;

 

(d)Retention of the entire fabric and scale of historic buildings, to the extent the proposed planned unit development directly affects historic landmarks or contributing historic buildings in the local historic district;

 

(e)Retention of housing, the conversion of residential use of nonresidential uses in Special Purpose and Mixed Use Districts, and the provision of low and moderate income housing;

 

(f)Superior landscaping;

 

(g)Other project amenities that are demonstrated to contribute to the quality of life in the planned unit development or in the surrounding neighborhood; and

 

(h)Project amenities shall be located on the site of the planned unit development or in the surrounding neighborhood. In some instances, additional amenities may be located in the adjacent or nearby public space; provided, that the public agency responsible for the space concurs with the proposed amenity and has executed a development agreement with the applicant regarding construction and maintenance of the amenity. For the purpose of this overlay district, "surrounding neighborhood" shall be defined as the subject square or the adjoining square within the DC Overlay District.

 

source

Final Rulemaking published at 39 DCR 495, 497 (January 24, 1992); as amended by Final Rulemaking published at 47 DCR 9741-43 (December 8, 2000), incorporating by reference the text of Proposed Rulemaking published at 47 DCR 8335, 8454 (October 20, 2000).