The City of Shakopee has been using Planned Unit Development (PUD) Overlays.  These overlays are not their own zoning districts but overlay underlying zoning.  Shakopee is one of the few remaining cities in the region using PUD in this fashion.  The intent of a PUD is to allow greater flexibility for larger projects and in return, the community gets a mix of uses and typically other benefits including a higher level of design.  PUD Overlays have been used for some large single family projects without the design requirements.

PUD Zoning will allow the developments to be put into the code.  If you were looking for the requirements for XYZ PUD, those requirements would now appear in the code as a PUD Zone.  Currently, the PUD Overlays show has a line on the zoning map with no other additional information.  PUD Zoning is a better long term protection for the community.  It allows the Planning Commission and the City Council to revisit any development to ensure compliance while also allowing future City Council's to amend the specific PUD Zoning District through a zoning modification public process.

PUD Zoning is a national standard. It allows for great flexibility as long as a project complies with the Comprehensive Plan.  PUD Zoning should only be used for a single use development like a single family subdivision to allow for protection of a natural resource like historic trees or watershed.  It should not be used to grant variances to standards without any substantial benefit to the public.  Staff is proposing a enhancements to create a more traditional neighborhood development zoning category to assist with issues that Planning Commission and Council have seen with requests for variances. 

The Planning Commission unanimously agreed to move the new PUD Zoning changes forward to Council with a recommendation for approval.