A Planned Unit Development (PUD) or Planned Development District (PDD) generally consists of a large tract of land, governed by a Master Development Plan. This plan generally incorporates a mix of land uses (single family homes, apartments, condominiums, commercial uses, etc.), in addition to parks, schools, and other common elements. This flexibility in design standards encourages design creativity and preservation of natural amenities. Examples include Pheasant Run, Central Park, and Cherry Hill Village.
PUDs are optional and discretionary methods of development designed to permit flexibility in the regulation of land development. PUDs encourage innovation in land use and variety in design, layout, and type of structures to achieve economy and efficiency in the use of land and the utilization of unique characteristics and the natural resources found on specific sites. PUDs were utilized in Canton during the 1970s through the early 1990s.
A PUD was a contract entered into by the developer and the community. It specified a variety of elements, including; density, set backs, landscaping, land uses, etc. PUDs did not include a sunset provision in the agreements. In many cases the land uses agreed to when the agreement was struck no longer make sense. However, because these agreements run with the land and have no sun set provision the owners have a right to develop the projects today as envisioned 30 years ago.
The community adopted a new PDD ordinance in the early 1990s. The new ordinance addressed the flaws in the early PUD ordinance. PDDs sun set after 6 years and must include design excellence and community benefit.