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ARTICLE 7. PLANNED DEVELOPMENT DISTRICTS <br />PLANNED DEVELOPMENT DISTRICTS <br />7.1 Planned Development Districts, Generally <br />Planned Development (PD) districts may be established for specialized <br />purposes where tracts suitable in location, area and character for the use and <br />structures proposed are to be planned and developed on a unified basis. <br />Suitability of tracts for the development proposed shall be determined <br />primarily by reference to the Comprehensive Plan, but due consideration shall <br />be given to the existing and prospective character of surrounding <br />development. <br />Planned Development districts may be used in all areas covered by the Joint <br />Planning Agreement among Orange County, the Towns of Carrboro and <br />Chapel Hill and the Orange Water and Sewer Authority. To this end suitable <br />incentives, in the form of bonuses, over and above the intensity of permitted <br />development under traditional lot -by -lot development, shall be provided. <br />The Planned Development technique may be used in the University Lake, <br />Cane Creek and part of the Upper Eno Watershed areas, to protect these <br />important water supply reservoir areas from degradation. <br />The Planned Development technique may be used in the rural portions of <br />Orange County where the size or complexity, or both, of the proposed <br />development warrant its use. <br />The Planned Development technique offers distinct advantages to the public, <br />while affording private property owners greater flexibility in the development of <br />their land, the opportunity for the application of new and ingenious <br />development techniques and more prudent use of time, money and effort. <br />The public benefits include more efficient and effective use of land, more <br />efficient use of energy, the reduction of the costs of continuing maintenance <br />responsibilities and a higher average level of amenity in all types of <br />development. <br />PD districts shall be so related to the general development pattern and the <br />objectives of the Comprehensive Plan as to provide for comfort and <br />convenience of residents, facilitate protection of the character of surrounding <br />neighborhoods, and reduce automotive traffic congestion by a reasonably <br />close relationship (either in distance or in time) between origins and <br />destinations of persons living, working or visiting in such developments, or by <br />availability of mess transit. Housing, commercial and service facilities and <br />principal places of employment shall be so related by physical proximity, by <br />major street networks, or by mass transit as to promote these objectives. <br />7 -1 <br />