PUDs consist of unitary site plans that promote the creation of open spaces, mixed-use housing and land uses, environmental preservation and sustainability, and development flexibility.
[9] The usage of PUDs in new American communities have been, in part, the result of some international influence; British towns, like Reston, England, in the 1950s attempted to increase their economic base through the integration of industrial elements into the area.
[11]: 550 Notably, sidewalks and streets of PUDs tend to be more active and safer, both at day and night, and experiences reduced congestion during peak times.
[14] PUDs can be considered a legal alternative to large lot, single-family zoning for how the land area can increase residential housing available while maintaining a small impact on local property taxes.
[1] Homes, however, often visually feature garages instead of front porches, as they are placed in the periphery, relative to small strip malls created through other PUD initiatives.
[7]: 702 Larger-sized PUDs, generally greater than 1000 acres, can control sprawl-related issues, yet may also strain the management capacity of local developers.
[7]: 707 Approval for such provisions can be satisfied by one of the following: satisfying a minimum acreage requirement relative to a specific number of dwelling units or a direct percentage of gross acreage; approval from a planning board on the proposed location of the public, open space; or cosigned maintenance agreements between residents —regardless of whether it be by a municipality or an organized residential community, like a homeowner' association or a community trust.
[8]: 92 Street patterns can be used to change the neighborhood character of a residential community, particularly by allowing developers to flexibly arrange buildings without having to adhere to non-PUD zoning regulations.
[16] Existing street and block patterns, historic preservation, and reservation of ground-floor streetfronts for non-residential, commercial uses are also considered when a community approves a PUD.
[11]: 556 The flexibility to include multiple amenities—like utilities, recreational facilities, schools, and parks—within a development unit is representative of how untraditional, Euclidean zoning practices can increase the mixed-use capability of a given piece of land.