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Rice Lake Reserve PUD and Preliminary Plat <br />Page 4 <br />district standards. The use of the PUD zoning also allows for a greater variety of uses, internal <br />transfers of density, construction phasing and a potential for lower development costs. In <br />exchange for this enhanced flexibility, the city has the expectation that the development plan will <br />result in a significantly higher quality and more sensitive proposal than would have been the case <br />with the use of other, more standard zoning districts. <br />In order to approve a PUD, the City must find that the applicant has demonstrated compliance <br />with the following criteria: <br />1. Provide for the establishment of PUD zoning districts in appropriate setting and <br />situations, to create and maintain a development pattern that complies with the City's <br />Comprehensive Plan. <br />2. Allow for the mixing of land uses within a development when such mixing of land <br />uses could not otherwise be accomplished. <br />3. Provide for variations to the strict application of the land use regulations in order to <br />improve site design and operation, while at the same time incorporating design <br />elements that exceed the City's standards to offset the effect of any variations. <br />4. Promote a more creative and efficient approach to land use within the City, while at <br />the same time protecting and promoting the health, safety, comfort, aesthetics, <br />economic viability and general welfare of the City. <br />Preserve and enhance natural features and open spaces including but not limited to the <br />width expansion of greenway corridors, conservation of wooded areas, development <br />of buffer areas, reduction of impervious surface, and utilization of joint facilities and <br />utilities. <br />6. Maintain or improve the efficiency of public streets and utilities. <br />7. Ensure the establishment of appropriate transitions between differing land uses. <br />In exchange for the proposed PUD, the applicant is proposing a more sensitive development <br />proposal than would have been the case with the use of the standard R-3 zoning district, <br />preservation of natural features with the trail system that meanders through the development, <br />installation of a stormwater reuse irrigation project within the development, and incorporating <br />architectural design guidelines for the homes in the development. Many of the homes are also <br />positioned for scenic overlooks over the stormwater ponds and wetlands. Staff has made a few <br />recommendations within the staff report that shall be incorporated into the development, for PUD <br />flexibility. <br />The 2040 Comprehensive Plan shows the land use being Low Density Residential (LD). The <br />rezoning/PUD is consistent with the Comprehensive Plan in terms of land use and density. Staff <br />believes that the general layout of the proposed Rice Lake Reserve PUD general plan will exceed <br />