Land located within the natural vegetation zone shall be subject to the following development standards:
(A) Units and buildings not permitted; structures permitted. No dwelling unit or other principal building and no accessory building may be constructed within the natural vegetation zone. The following structures may be permitted:
(1) Flood control or bank protection structures permitted or constructed by authorized state or federal agencies.
(2) Pedestrian or vehicular bridges when designed and constructed in a manner that minimizes impact on the riparian feature.
(3) Boardwalk access to or through wetlands when constructed in accordance with a permit issued by the Michigan Department of Environmental Quality.
(4) One pump house per lot housing a pump used for irrigation when setback at least 15 feet from the high water mark, and having a maximum ground coverage of nine square feet.
(B) On-site sanitary waste treatment systems. On-site sanitary waste treatment systems are prohibited within the natural vegetation zone.
(C) Predominately natural condition. The area within the natural vegetation zone shall be kept in a predominantly natural condition. Clearing or removal of existing trees shrubs and groundcover shall be limited to the following:
(1) Removal of isolated diseased or dead trees and damaged trees that are in an unstable condition and that pose a safety hazard. The stumps and root structures of removed trees shall be left in place.
(2) Removal of noxious plants and shrubs, including poison ivy, poison sumac and poison oak and other plants regarded as common nuisance in § 2, Public Act 359 of 1941 as amended and species that are recognized as highly invasive, as contained on a list of invasive species maintained on file in the office of the Township Clerk.
(3) Planting of native species that are contained on a list of native species maintained on file in the office of the Township Clerk is permitted.
(4) Limited removal of vegetation in order to provide a filtered view of the riparian feature from adjacent property and to provide reasonable private access to the riparian feature. The term filtered view connotes the maintenance or establishment of woody vegetation of sufficient density to screen the riparian feature from adjacent property, while also providing for bank stabilization and erosion control and to serve as an aid to infiltration of surface runoff. The vegetation need not be so dense as to completely block the view of the riparian feature. To that end the following standards shall apply:
(a) Sufficient live root system and vegetation must be retained to provide for bank stabilization and erosion control, to encourage infiltration of runoff, and to provide shading of the water surface.
(b) Existing vegetation between a height of three feet above the ground and the ground surface shall remain undisturbed and in a natural condition except as otherwise provided for herein.
(c) Select pruning and removal of vegetation above a height of three feet shall be permitted.
(d) Existing vegetation may be removed and/or managed, including maintaining a turf lawn, in an area with a maximum width of 15 feet to, and ten feet along, one or both sides of the riparian feature. Within this corridor a paved or unpaved trail or path with a maximum width of nine feet is permitted.
(e) Clearing that is required to construct the exempt structures permitted in § 157.421(b) above, is permitted.
(D) Prohibited activities. The following activities are prohibited in the natural vegetation zone:
(1) Storage of motorized vehicles or petroleum products;
(2) Storage or use of toxic or hazardous materials;
(3) Storage of herbicides or pesticides;
(4) Storage of fertilizer;
(5) Placement of fill or dumping of any refuse;
(6) Concentrated drainage flow by ditches, under drains or other similar systems;
(7) Topsoil, sand and gravel extraction.
(Ord. passed - -2007)