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The hearings official shall approve, approve with conditions, or deny a tentative PUD application with findings and conclusions. Decisions approving an application, or approving with conditions, shall be based on compliance with the following criteria:

(1) The PUD is consistent with applicable adopted policies of the Metro Plan.

(2) The PUD is consistent with applicable adopted refinement plan policies.

(3) The PUD will provide adequate screening from surrounding properties including, but not limited to, anticipated building locations, bulk, and height.

(4) The PUD is designed and sited to minimize impacts to the natural environment by addressing the following:

(a) Protection of Natural Features.

1. For areas not included on the City’s acknowledged Goal 5 inventory, the preservation of significant natural features to the greatest degree attainable or feasible, including:

a. Significant on-site vegetation, including rare plants (those that are proposed for listing or are listed under State or Federal law), and native plant communities.

b. All documented habitat for all rare animal species (those that are proposed for listing or are listed under State or Federal law).

c. Prominent topographic features, such as ridgelines and rock outcrops.

d. Wetlands, intermittent and perennial stream corridors, and riparian areas.

e. Natural resource areas designated in the comprehensive plan diagram as “Natural Resource” and areas identified in any city-adopted natural resource inventory.

2. For areas included on the City’s acknowledged Goal 5 inventory:

a. The proposed development’s general design and character, including but not limited to anticipated building locations, bulk and height, location and distribution of recreation space, parking, roads, access and other uses, will:

(1) Avoid unnecessary disruption or removal of attractive natural features and vegetation, and

(2) Avoid conversion of natural resource areas designated in the comprehensive plan to urban uses when alternative locations on the property are suitable for development as otherwise permitted.

b. Proposed buildings, road, and other uses are designed and sited to assure preservation of significant on-site vegetation, topographic features, and other unique and worthwhile natural features, and to prevent soil erosion or flood hazard.

(b) Tree Preservation. The proposed project shall be designed and sited to preserve significant trees to the greatest degree attainable or feasible, with trees having the following characteristics given the highest priority for preservation:

1. Healthy trees that have a reasonable chance of survival considering the base zone or special area zone designation and other applicable approval criteria;

2. Trees located within vegetated corridors and stands rather than individual isolated trees subject to windthrow;

3. Trees that fulfill a screening function, provide relief from glare, or shade expansive areas of pavement;

4. Trees that provide a buffer between potentially incompatible land uses;

5. Trees located along the perimeter of the lot(s) and within building setback areas;

6. Trees and stands of trees located along ridgelines and within view corridors;

7. Trees with significant habitat value;

8. Trees adjacent to public parks, open space and streets;

9. Trees located along a water feature;

10. Heritage trees.

(c) Restoration or Replacement.

1. For areas not included on the city’s acknowledged Goal 5 inventory, the proposal mitigates, to the greatest degree attainable or feasible, the loss of significant natural features described in criteria (a) and (b) above, through the restoration or replacement of natural features such as:

a. Planting of replacement trees within common areas; or

b. Re-vegetation of slopes, ridgelines, and stream corridors; or

c. Restoration of fish and wildlife habitat, native plant habitat, wetland areas, and riparian vegetation.

To the extent applicable, restoration or replacement shall be in compliance with the planting and replacement standards of EC 6.320.

2. For areas included on the city’s acknowledged Goal 5 inventory, any loss of significant natural features described in criteria (a) and (b) above shall be consistent with the acknowledged level of protection for the features.

(d) Street Trees. If the proposal includes removal of any street tree(s), removal of those street tree(s) has been approved, or approved with conditions according to the process at EC 6.305.

(5) The PUD provides safe and adequate transportation systems through compliance with the following:

(a) EC 9.6800 through EC 9.6875 Standards for Streets, Alleys, and Other Public Ways (not subject to modifications set forth in subsection (10) below).

(b) Pedestrian, bicycle and transit circulation, including related facilities, as needed among buildings and related uses on the development site, as well as to adjacent and nearby residential areas, transit stops, neighborhood activity centers, office parks, and industrial parks, provided the city makes findings to demonstrate consistency with constitutional requirements. “Nearby” means uses within 1/4 mile that can reasonably be expected to be used by pedestrians, and uses within 2 miles that can reasonably be expected to be used by bicyclists.

(c) The provisions of the Traffic Impact Analysis Review of EC 9.8650 through 9.8680 where applicable.

(6) The PUD will not be a significant risk to public health and safety, including but not limited to soil erosion, slope failure, stormwater or flood hazard, or an impediment to emergency response.

(7) Adequate public facilities and services are available to the site, or if public services and facilities are not presently available, the applicant demonstrates that the services and facilities will be available prior to need. Demonstration of future availability requires evidence of at least one of the following:

(a) Prior written commitment of public funds by the appropriate public agencies.

(b) Prior acceptance by the appropriate public agency of a written commitment by the applicant or other party to provide private services and facilities.

(c) A written commitment by the applicant or other party to provide for offsetting all added public costs or early commitment of public funds made necessary by development, submitted on a form acceptable to the city manager.

(8) Residents of the PUD will have sufficient usable recreation area and open space that is convenient and safely accessible.

(9) Lots proposed for development with single-unit detached dwellings shall comply with EC 9.2790 Solar Lot Standards or as modified according to subsection (10) below.

(10) The PUD complies with all of the following:

(a) EC 9.2000 through 9.4170 regarding lot dimensions, solar standards, and density requirements for the subject zone and overlay zone. Within the /WR Water Resources Conservation Overlay Zone, no new lot may be created if more than 33% of the lot, as created , would occupy either:

1. The combined area of the /WR conservation setback and any portion of the Goal 5 Water Resource Site that extends landward beyond the conservation setback; or

2. The /WQ Management Area.

(b) EC 9.6500 through EC 9.6505 Public Improvement Standards.

(c) EC 9.6706 Development in Flood Plains through EC 9.6709 Special Flood Hazard Areas – Standards.

(d) EC 9.6710 Geological and Geotechnical Analysis.

(e) EC 9.6730 Pedestrian Circulation On-Site.

(f) EC 9.6735 Public Access Required.

(g) EC 9.6750 Special Setback Standards.

(h) EC 9.6775 Underground Utilities.

(i) EC 9.6780 Vision Clearance Area.

(j) EC 9.6791 through 9.6797 regarding stormwater flood control, quality, flow control for headwaters area, oil control, source control, easements, and operation and maintenance.

(k) All other applicable development standards for features explicitly included in the application except where the applicant has shown that a proposed noncompliance is consistent with the purposes set out in EC 9.8300 Purpose of Planned Unit Development.

An approved adjustment to a standard pursuant to the provisions beginning at EC 9.8015 of this land use code constitutes compliance with the standard.

(11) The proposed development shall have minimal off-site impacts, including such impacts as traffic, noise, stormwater runoff and environmental quality.

(12) The proposed development shall be reasonably compatible and harmonious with adjacent and nearby land uses.

(13) If the tentative PUD application proposes a land division, nothing in the approval of the tentative application exempts future land divisions from compliance with state or local surveying requirements.

(14) If the proposed PUD is located within a special area zone, the applicant shall demonstrate that the proposal is consistent with the purpose(s) of the special area zone.

(15) For property with the /SR Site Review Overlay Zone, the PUD complies with any additional site-specific criteria that were specified at the time the /SR designation was applied to the property.

(Section 9.8320, see chart at front of Chapter 9 for legislative history from 2/26/01 through 6/1/02; amended by Ordinance No. 20266, enacted November 12, 2002, effective December 12, 2002; Ordinance No. 20351, enacted November 14, 2005, effective January 1, 2006; Ordinance No. 20353, enacted November 28, 2005, effective January 1, 2006; Ordinance No. 20369, enacted June 14, 2006, effective July 14, 2006; Ordinance No. 20417, enacted August 11, 2008, effective July 7, 2009; Ordinance 20430, enacted March 9, 2009, effective June 10, 2009; Ordinance No. 20521, enacted January 13, 2014, effective March 1, 2014; Ordinance No. 20569, enacted November 14, 2016, effective December 17, 2016; Ordinance No. 20584, enacted July 17, 2017, effective August 24, 2017; Ordinance No. 20667, enacted May 24, 2022, effective June 25, 2022; Ordinance No. 20679, enacted November 30, 2022, effective January 1, 2023.)