Planning Development Base Zones

Provides flexibility regarding the design and mix of residential use types within planned residential communities. May incorporate supporting and complementary nonresidential uses to serve the needs of the residents of the development. Incorporates comprehensive pedestrian and bicycle circulation networks often separated from vehicular roadways and integrates open spaces and amenities within and adjacent to the overall development. 

Minimum lot area*

  • Gross acres; density exceeds 8 du/acre – 5
  • Gross acres; density 5 to 8 du/acre – 10
  • Gross acres; density less than 5 du/acre – 20

Minimum dwelling units per net acre (all dwellings)* – 1

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Accommodates and promotes high-quality, vibrant, lower- to moderate-density, mixed-use development. Incorporates a well-integrated mix of complementary uses. Well-connected within the development and adjacent communities. Incorporates buildings, open spaces, amenities, and design features intended to foster inviting, walkable, safe, interactive, and human-scale environments.

Minimum floor area ratio (nonresidential development)* – 0.25

Minimum dwelling units per net acre (all dwellings)* – 10

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Accommodates and promotes moderate-intensity activity centers that, while encouraging and supporting mixed-use development and pedestrian-friendliness, are more auto-oriented in character. Includes a well-integrated mix of complementary uses. Emphasizes walkability and bike-ability in designated core areas.

Minimum dwelling units per net acre (all dwellings)*

  • All dwellings; Core – 15
  • Mixed-use buildings; Edge – 10
  • Other residential; Edge – 5

Minimum floor area ratio*

  • Nonresidential development; Core – 0.5
  • Nonresidential and mixed-use buildings; Edge – 0.25

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Intended to promote and provide vibrant, complimentary, mixed-use, and transit-accessible development. Provides multiple direct, safe multimodal connections (vehicular, transit, bicycle, and pedestrian) between developments and communities. Incorporates design features intended to create inviting, walkable, safe, and interactive environments complemented by distinctive public spaces and a range of housing options. A minimum of one-quarter of the gross floor area (GFA) shall be provided for residential development at build-out, and there shall be at least three different residential housing types. At least half of the GFA of the zone shall be provided for nonresidential development at build-out. Each PD Zone is granted by the District (County) Council along with a PD Basic Plan and Conditions of Approval. Development within PD Zones must follow the Zoning Ordinance or Council—approved alternate regulations, in addition to PD Zone-specific regulations.

Minimum dwelling units per net acre*

  • All dwellings; Core – 10
  • Mixed-use buildings; Edge – 10
  • Other residential; Edge – 10

Minimum floor area ratio*

  • Nonresidential development; Core – 0.5
  • Nonresidential and mixed-use buildings; Edge – 0.25

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Intended to provide the highest-density mixed-use development in the County; vibrant, high-density, mixed-use, transit-accessible development that supports the County’s economic development goals and enhances opportunities for alternative transport. Intended to capture the majority of the County’s future residential and employment growth and development. Embodies key principles of walkable urbanism with varied connections to regional transportation. A minimum of 15 percent of the GFA of the zone shall be provided for residential development at build-out in at least three different residential housing types. At least half of the GFA of the zone shall be provided for nonresidential development at build-out.

Minimum dwelling units per net acre*

  • All dwellings; Core – 30
  • Mixed-use buildings; Edge – 20
  • Other residential; Edge – 20

Minimum floor area ratio*

  • Nonresidential development; Core – 1
  • Nonresidential and mixed-use buildings; Edge – 0.25

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Accommodates and promotes high-quality, mixed-use development at locations that are not designated activity centers and may not be as well-served by transit and other forms of transportation. Implements County policies, as specified in approved area master plans and sector plans, for mixed-use development at appropriate locations to meet community needs. Intended to incorporate multimodal connectivity within the development, includes a complementary mix of uses, and ensures high-quality design.

Minimum dwelling units per net acre (all dwellings)* – 6

Minimum floor area ration (nonresidential development)* – 0.5

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Promotes high-quality, primarily nonretail employment, institutional, office, and limited retail uses to foster economic growth and development. Intended to provide uses and densities needed to support such development. Allows for and encourages limited residential and mixed-use development to reduce dependency on the automobile and support walkable urbanism. Encourages development of buildings that can be easily altered as the range of tenants and regional market for employment-related development evolves over time.

Minimum dwelling units per net acre (all dwellings)* – 12

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