What are planned unit developments?

Posted on by Sara Murphy

The Buncombe County zoning ordinance defines two types of planned unit developments, Levels I and II, that are subject to the county’s land use and subdivision ordinance standards.  These projects consist of building clusters that are specially designed and don’t have to follow normal zoning rules. According to the county’s ordinance, PUDs offer “substantial advantages for greater flexibility and improved marketability through the benefits of efficiency which permit flexibility in building siting, mixtures of housing types and land use.”

A Level I PUD can include:

  • More than four principal buildings or uses on a single lot
  • Principal buildings of 25,000 square feet or more
  • Residential complexes with more than eight units
  • Subdivisions of more than 10 lots, including areas set aside for open space and/or amenities, with smaller than usual lot sizes and setbacks

Level I PUDs can be residential only, mixed residential and nonresidential, or nonresidential. Allowable uses include the following:

  • Healthcare facilities
  • Private or public utility stations and pumping stations
  • Water and sewage plants and water storage tanks
  • Recreational projects
  • Schools
  • Vacation rental complexes

Level II PUDs are designated only for commercial and industrial uses. These developments include any single lot with more than four principal buildings and/or any principal building of 50,000 square feet or more. Level II PUD examples include retail trade, professional and business offices, warehouses and manufacturing facilities.

SHARE

Thanks for reading through to the end…

We share your inclination to get the whole story. For the past 25 years, Xpress has been committed to in-depth, balanced reporting about the greater Asheville area. We want everyone to have access to our stories. That’s a big part of why we've never charged for the paper or put up a paywall.

We’re pretty sure that you know journalism faces big challenges these days. Advertising no longer pays the whole cost. Media outlets around the country are asking their readers to chip in. Xpress needs help, too. We hope you’ll consider signing up to be a member of Xpress. For as little as $5 a month — the cost of a craft beer or kombucha — you can help keep local journalism strong. It only takes a moment.

About Sara Murphy
Sara Murphy lives in Leicester. Her work has appeared in 100 Days in Appalachia, Facing South, Polygon, and Lifehacker.
View all posts by Sara Murphy →

Before you comment

The comments section is here to provide a platform for civil dialogue on the issues we face together as a local community. Xpress is committed to offering this platform for all voices, but when the tone of the discussion gets nasty or strays off topic, we believe many people choose not to participate. Xpress editors are determined to moderate comments to ensure a constructive interchange is maintained. All comments judged not to be in keeping with the spirit of civil discourse will be removed and repeat violators will be banned. See here for our terms of service. Thank you for being part of this effort to promote respectful discussion.