Planned Unit Development Info

What is a ‘Planned Unit Development’?

A Planned Unit Development, or PUD, is a development that is exempted from some Village regulations or minimum standards in exchange for that same development providing/including other features that exceed some Village regulations or minimum standards. 

Typical examples of exemptions that a developer might propose in a PUD are:  higher residential density than Village rules allow; buildings that are taller or closer to property lines than Village rules allow; a mixture of uses (such as residential and commercial uses in the same building) that are prohibited by Village rules; or roads that are more narrow than Village rules allow or that are privately owned and maintained rather than publicly owned and maintained.   Typical examples of features that a PUD might provide that exceed Village requirements in exchange for the requested exemptions include:  higher quality exterior finishes on buildings; greater landscaping; or more land dedicated for parks and open space.  

What is the Process for Proposing a Planned Unit Development and Seeking Village Review and Approval?

The Village of Belleville utilizes a three-step process for reviewing and considering proposed Planned Unit Developments. 

The first step of the PUD Review Process is for the developer to hold a pre-petition conference with the Village Administrator and the Village Engineer. It is recommended that the applicant discuss their proposal with the Plan Commission.  The Pre-petition Conference for the proposed Planned Unit Development process provides the Village with information such as:

  • The location of the proposed Planned Unit Development; 
  • General project themes and images, or what the project will ‘look like’;
  • Proposed uses and structures, such as residential and/or commercial;
  • An outline of those Village standards from which the proposal is seeking to be exempted as well as those Village standards that the proposal will exceed in exchange for the requested exemptions
Following the pre-petition conference, the applicant shall file a petition with the Village Administrator to seek approval of a zoning change to the PUD district. After a 7-point Information Statement for the petition is submitted to the Village, the developer or applicant can submit the next requirement for the PUD Review Process—a General Development Plan—for review by both the Plan Commission and the Village Board.  Also at the time that the submittal of the petition the applicant shall make a deposit to cover the costs of reviewing and processing the petition. The General Development Plan—or GDP—for the proposed Planned Unit Development provides the Village with additional, more detailed, information.  

  • More details regarding the initial information submitted with the petition;
  • A ‘General Development Plan Drawing’ that shows how the PUD will be constructed.  This drawing will show building placements, open space, roadways, stormwater management areas, parking areas, and other details;
  • Landscaping plans;
  • Signage plans; and, 
  • An explanation of the relative benefits and adverse impacts of the proposed PUD.
If the Plan Commission and the Village Board both approve the proposed ‘General Development Plan’, the developer or applicant subsequently submits the third and final requirement for the PUD Review Process—a Specific Implementation Plan—for review by both the Plan Commission and the Village Board.  The Specific Implementation Plan—or SIP—for the proposed Planned Unit Development provides the Village with information such as: 

  • Specific details on each of the separate components of the whole development, such as elevations and architectural renderings for each proposed building and specific landscaping and signage plans;
  • Legal details such as the proposed organization for the property-owners association (if one is proposed), deed restrictions, covenants, and provisions for the ownership and maintenance of common facilities (such as private roads);  
  • Proof of financing capability pertaining to the construction and maintenance of public-works elements of the proposed PUD (such as storm water detention basins…) 
The expected timeline for the PUD process will take about seven months or longer, including the following ordinance requirements

  • Meeting with the Village Administrator and Village Engineer;
  • Submittal of petition to the Village with information statement and review deposit;
  • Submittal of complete and sufficient GDP, at least six weeks prior to a public hearing;
  • Plan Commission (PC) holds public hearing, reviews the proposal and forwards written reports recommending the GDP be approved, disapproved and approved with conditions and giving their reasons for its recommendation on the GDP to the Board;
  • Within thirty days of receipt of the PC’s report, Village Board approves, disapproves or approves with conditions the proposed GDP;
  • Submittal of complete and sufficient SIP, at least six weeks prior to a public hearing;
  • PC holds public hearing, reviews the proposal and forwards a written reports recommending the SIP be approved, disapproved and approved with conditions and giving their reasons for its recommendation on the proposed SIP to the Village Board;
  • Within thirty days of receipt of the PC’s report, Village Board approves, disapproves or approves with conditions the proposed SIP;
  • Upon approval of the SIP, the applicant shall record the PUD plans, commitments and contractual agreements with the county register of deeds within sixty days.
PUD Implementation Plan Application Form  
PUD General Development Plan Application Form