Whats the difference between a use permit, a special permit, a community unit plan and a planned unit development?
In addition to the many zoning “districts,” Lincoln and Lancaster County rely on special provisions in their zoning regulations to better accomplish policies in the Comprehensive Plan, to deal with newer trends in land development and to more carefully review proposals for certain uses that can be problematic in some parts of the community. Most uses in each zoning district are permitted “as of right”. That means the listed uses in each district are permitted without the public hearings and board approvals. But certain uses in certain districts are only allowed by “special permit”. Most special permits can be approved by the Planning Commission, while others require Planning Commission recommendations but final action by the elected board. In either case, they can only be approved after a public hearing with prior notification to nearby owners and proper advertisement. Examples of special permits include daycare facilities over a certain size in residential districts, alcohol sales in
