(A) Camping on vacant, non-riparian properties. Camping or the occupancy or use of tents, campers, motor homes or the storage thereof is prohibited on vacant, non-riparian lots or parcels of record within the AG, R-1, R-1A, R-2 or R-3 Districts, except under the following circumstances:
(1) The lot is adjacent to a lot or parcel on which there is an occupied dwelling and both lots are under the same ownership;
(2) The camping, use or storage is located within a campground as permitted and authorized under the provisions of this chapter; or
(3) On a vacant, non-riparian parcel or tract in excess of ten acres in size, camping is permitted under the following provisions except that camping is permitted without interruption during deer hunting seasons established by the state for any state-wide or special Zone 3 archery or firearm deer hunting season.
(a) Not more than four camping units consisting of any combination of tents, motor homes, travel trailers or campers shall be permitted on the lot or parcel at any given time.
(b) The camping activity shall be limited to the owner of the parcel and to guests of the parcel owner, without remittance.
(c) Camping is permitted without interruption during deer hunting seasons established by the state for any state-wide or special Zone 3 archery or firearm deer hunting season. During all other times of the year no period of occupancy may exceed 14 consecutive days. Unless the camping unit is owned or licensed by the property owner, the unit shall be removed from the premises after each period of permitted occupancy. Each period of use or permitted occupancy must be separated from the next by at least 14 days.
(d) All tents, campers and motor homes must be located behind the line of any nearby structures and at least 20 feet from all property lines.
(e) The camping unit shall not have fixed connections to electricity, water, gas or sanitary sewage.
(B) Camping on vacant lots having frontage (riparian lands).
(1) It is recognized that certain vacant riparian lots within the township have an intrinsic outdoor recreational quality and character that makes seasonal camping an attractive interim or alternative use for the lot. Care must be taken however, to ensure that any such allowed activity, whether temporary or permanent, would not diminish the character and value of adjacent and nearby single-family residential use home sites.
(2) Camping on vacant lots having lake frontage may therefore only be authorized subject to a site plan review by the Zoning Administrator. In such cases, and as approved by the Zoning Administrator, the Zoning Administrator shall limit the number, location and duration of camping and RV storage activity commensurate with the size and character of the site and the use and character of the surrounding residential lots and area.
(3) In reviewing an application to allow the use of a vacant lot for such use, the Zoning Administrator may not approve an activity that exceeds the limiting standards contained in § 157.051 of this chapter and shall consider the following in deciding whether to authorize the use permit:
(a) The number and location of proposed campsites or recreation vehicles on the site;
(b) The size, width and depth of the parcel lot or parcel;
(c) Setbacks and screening;
(d) The existence of nearby developed residential dwellings, the distances to adjacent developed home sites;
(e) Accessibility and parking constraints;
(f) Potential impacts on adjoining property values;
(g) The duration of the proposed camping activity;
(h) Whether or not the activity will entail the prolonged storage of recreation vehicles on the site and whether such storage would have a negative impact on adjoining properties; and
(i) The existence or non-existence of similar camping or storage activity on nearby non- riparian lots as permitted under division (B)(1) above.
(Prior Code, Ch. XV, § 12.19) (Ord. 1977-1, passed 10-10-1977; Ord. 2005-1, passed 5-9-2005; Ord. 2-2014, passed 8-11-2014) Penalty, see § 157.999