Having a project before a local Township, I have have been following the same hearing and approval schedule as a proposed residential development. This development is very suited for a PUD, being mixed between single-family, duplexes and some attached condo's. Remember that an added benefit of a PUD is an area plan or preliminary site plan up front and part of the resolution. For some reason that I, as an outsider, am not privy to, this project of over 400-units is being taken through as a straight rezoning.
The catch is that the proposed rezoning district (multi-family) is so broad that it emcompasses duplexes, attached condo's and mobile home parks. So the Township is a little on edge about the mobile home parks, so the developer (via representative) says he will have deed restrictions drawn up from each of the prop. owners of the group of properties he has options on.
For several reasons (my dog ate it!!!), these deed restrictions couldn't get done by the time the Board was to hear and act on the proposal. The developer and representative make speechs as to the cost of land, viability of MHP's, has never done one and doesn't like MHP developments, etc.
The Township has been advised by their attorney that they can't 'condition' DR's. The developer says "we've worked in good faith with the Township, blah, blah" The Board approves the rezoning with the "understanding" that deed restrictions are being worked on and submitted to the Township when recorded. I couldn't believe it!!! As stated by the previous posting, note when the deeds will be recorded and the zoning approved.
The moral of the story is watch out. Typically developers wouldn't try to slide a multi-family or MHP in through a subversive route. However, with the private development world, it is all about options and the ability to take advantage when opportunity arises. The PUD allows the Commission more tools and more opportunity to view what they are getting themselves into and to put it literally on paper. The developer still has options, but the municipality retains a tool of checks and balances.
I ditto the "good luck!!!"