A site plan shall be approved or approved with conditions, only upon a finding of compliance with the following standards:
(A) The site plan must comply with all standards of this section and all applicable requirements of this chapter, as well as with all other applicable city, county, state and federal laws and regulations.
(B) The site must be designed in a manner that is harmonious, to the greatest extent possible, with the character of the surrounding area.
(C) The site must be designed to minimize hazards to adjacent property and to reduce the negative effects of traffic, noise, smoke, fumes and glare to the maximum extent possible.
(D) The site plan does not have a negative impact on the provisions of human services, housing, transportation needs, and access to food in the community.
(E) The site plan protects the natural environment and conserves natural resources and energy to the extent possible in light of the proposed development.
(F) Unless a more specific design standard is required by the city through a different ordinance or regulation, all uses and structures subject to site plan review shall comply with the following design standards:
(1) Traffic circulation.
(a) The site plan shall comply with the applicable zoning district requirements for minimum floor space, height of building, lot size, yard space, density and all other requirements as set forth in the City of Charlevoix Zoning Ordinance, unless otherwise provided.
(b) Vehicular and pedestrian circulation. Safe, convenient, uncontested, and well-defined vehicular and pedestrian circulation shall be provided for ingress/egress points and within the site. A pedestrian circulation system shall be provided and shall be as insulated as completely as reasonably possible from the vehicular circulation system. The number, location and size of access and entry points, and internal vehicular and pedestrian circulation routes shall be designed to promote safe and efficient access to and from the site, as well as circulation within the site. In reviewing traffic features, the number, spacing and alignment of existing and proposed access points shall be considered relative to their impact on traffic movement on abutting streets and adjacent properties.
(c) Walkways from parking areas to building entrances.
1. Internal pedestrian walkways shall be developed for persons who need access to the building(s) from internal parking areas and shall be designed to provide access from these areas to the entrances of the building(s)
2. The walkways shall be designed to separate people from moving vehicles.
3. These walkways shall have a minimum width of five feet with no car overhang or other obstruction.
4. The walkways must be designed in accordance with the Michigan Barrier Free Design Standards.
5. The walkways shall be distinguished from the parking and driving areas by use of any of the following materials: special pavers, bricks, raised elevation or scored concrete. Other materials may be used if they are appropriate to the overall design of the site and building and acceptable to the review authority.
(2) Storm water. Storm water retention and drainage systems shall be designed so the removal of surface water will not adversely affect neighboring properties or public storm water drainage systems. Unless impractical, storm water shall be removed from all roofs, canopies and paved areas by an underground surface drainage system. Low impact design solutions such as rain gardens and green roofs are encouraged. The proposed project will meet the City of Charlevoix Storm Water Ordinance. Applicants are required to submit a grading and drainage plan, demonstrating stormwater can be contained and managed on the subject property if no municipal stormwater system exists. If a municipal stormwater system exists, the Director of Public Works or consulting engineer representing the city shall review the grading and drainage plan to determine if the existing infrastructure can adequately handle the stormwater runoff. Applicants may be required to install stormwater management features to mitigate impacts to the municipal stormwater system.
(3) Snow storage. Proper snow storage areas shall be provided so to not adversely affect neighboring properties, vehicular and pedestrian clear vision, and parking area capacity.
(4) Landscaping. The landscape shall be preserved in its natural state, insofar as practical, by minimizing unnecessary tree and soil removal. Any grade changes shall be in keeping with the general appearance of neighboring developed areas. Provision or preservation of landscaping, buffers or greenbelts may be required to ensure the proposed uses will be adequately buffered from one another and from surrounding property.
(5) Screening. Where non-residential uses abut residential uses, appropriate screening shall be provided in accordance with § 153.171 to shield residential properties from noise, headlights and glare.
(6) Lighting. Lighting shall be designed to minimize glare on adjacent properties and public streets. As a condition of site plan approval, reduction of lighting during non-business hours may be required.
(7) Utility service. All utility service shall be underground, unless impractical due to engineering difficulties.
(8) Exterior uses. Exposed storage areas, machinery, heating and cooling units, service areas, loading areas, waste storage areas, utility buildings and structures, and similar accessory areas shall be located to have a minimum negative effect on adjacent properties and shall be screened, if reasonably necessary, to ensure compatibility with surrounding properties.
(9) Emergency access. All buildings and structures shall be readily accessible to emergency vehicles.
(10) Water and sewer. Water and sewer installations shall comply with all city specifications and requirements.
(11) Signs. Permitted signs shall be located to avoid creating distractions, visual clutter and obstructions for traffic entering or exiting a site.
(Prior Code, § 5.120) (Ord. 822, passed 10-19-2020; Ord. 842, passed 12-18-2023)