Planned District (PD) Zoning District Overview
As of the effective date of the Concord Development Code, the city no longer accepts new applications for the Planned District (PD) zoning district. Existing residential developments with a PD designation retain that status until the property is redeveloped, at which point standard residential zoning standards apply based on the subject lot's area.
Purpose and Status of the Planned District (PD)
The Planned District (PD) zoning district was originally established to allow for development and site designs that responded to unique environmental conditions. By permitting varied setbacks and diverse lot sizes, the PD district aimed to further the general plan goals. However, due to a lack of sufficient written records to document development standards for many existing PD developments, the city has discontinued the use of the PD district for new approvals. Existing residential developments with a PD zoning designation will maintain this status unless they are redeveloped [Section 18.25.040].
Development Standards for Existing PD Residential Districts
For residential planned districts where no written record of specific development standards exists, the city mandates that the development standards for traditional zoning districts be used to determine lot coverage, setbacks, and building heights. This is accomplished by using the area of the subject lot to determine the equivalent zoning category [Section 18.25.040]. The following table summarizes the primary residential districts used to establish these equivalent standards:
Equivalent Residential District Standards (Reference Table)
| District Symbol | Name of District | General Plan Designation |
|---|---|---|
| RR-40, RR-20, RR-15 | Rural Residential | Rural Residential (< 2.5 du/net acre) |
| RS-12, RS-10, RS-8, RS-7.5, RS-7, RS-6, RS-5 | Single-Family Residential | Low Density (2.5 – 10 du/net acre) |
| RL | Low Density Residential | Low Density (2.5 – 10 du/net acre) |
| RM | Medium Density Residential | Medium Density (11 – 32 du/net acre) |
| RH | High Density Residential | High Density (33 – 100 du/net acre) |
Note: For detailed RR and RS standards, see [Section 18.30.030]. For RL, RM, and RH standards, see [Section 18.30.040].
Key Restrictions and Provisions
- Redevelopment: Existing PD-zoned properties must adhere to their PD zoning designation until the property is redeveloped [Section 18.25.040].
- Documented Standards: If a specific residential planned district has an existing, valid written record of development standards, those conditions of approval remain in effect and are not superseded by the general residential standards [Section 18.25.040].
- New Approvals: No new development shall be approved using the Planned District (PD) zoning district [Section 18.25.040].
Sections Cited
- Section 18.25.040 (Planned district (PD) zoning district)
- Section 18.30.030 (Table 18.30.030 – RR and RS districts – Development standards)
- Section 18.30.040 (Table 18.30.040 – RL, RM, and RH districts – Development standards)