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Planned Unit Development
Rural town plans typically express the goal of preserving rural character and promoting a pattern of clustered development surrounded by working or open lands. This widely-supported goal, however, is frequently not translated into zoning and subdivision regulations, which instead mandate a conventional, large-lot residential development pattern.

For many years, planned unit development (PUD) provisions have been promoted as a way to implement community goals for preservation of rural character, working farm and forest lands, and open spaces. This type of development is referred to by a variety of terms such as cluster development, planned residential development (PRD), or conservation subdivision. The purpose of PUD provisions is to provide property owners the flexibility to plan for the development of their land in a manner that clusters new homes onto small lots while preserving large tracts for agricultural use or as undeveloped open space.
Basic PUD provisions allow the appropriate municipal panel to modify minimum lot sizes and dimensions, while limiting the density of development on a property at what would be allowed under zoning district standards. Basic PUD provisions can be expanded upon using a variety of techniques to implement community goals and to encourage (or require) their use. The purpose of PUDs is to provide property owners flexibility and the opportunity to develop their land in a unique manner.

When drafting PUD standards, think creatively. Review the town plan and define the purposes that PUD provisions should be implementing. Brainstorm how the regulations could promote desired development patterns in various parts of the community. Think about:

  • Whether PUDs should be mandatory in certain parts of the community or for certain categories of subdivisions.
  • What percentage of land should remain undeveloped.
  • How to use density bonuses as an effective incentive for development that meets community goals.
  • Enabling transfers of development rights through multi-lot PUDs.

Explore the resources below for guidance on developing innovative PUD provisions, sample language, and links to innovative uses of PUD provisions in Vermont municipalities.

 

Resources

Project Documents Downloads & Links
Planned Unit Development Provisions chapter from the Northwest Project final report. (644 kb)

The Northwest Project Planned Unit Development Provisions PowerPoint presentation. (1.4 mb PowerPoint / 1.2 mb PDF) or
Sample Regulations Downloads & Links
Bennington, VT Planned Unit Development provisions. (72 kb)
Charlotte, VT Planned Unit Development provisions. (108 kb)
Colchester, VT Transfer of Development Rights provisions. (76 kb)
Norwich, VT Planned Unit Development provisions. (84 kb)
Orwell, VT Planned Unit Development provisions. (192 kb)
Warren, VT Transfer of Development Rights provisions. (28 kb)
Other Resources Downloads & Links

Vermont Planning Information Collaborative

(www.vpic.info)

  • Vermont Land Use Planning Implementation Manual. Topic Paper #22: Planned Unit Development. (624 kb)
or

Vermont League of Cities and Towns

(www.vlct.org)

  • Resource Library (includes copies of regulations from municipalities around Vermont)
  • Subdivision Primer. Materials from a VLCT workshop. (1.2 mb)
 or