(A) The nautical mile is of special public interest because of its unique location along the St. Clair River as a focal point of community redevelopment activities. The Nautical Mile District (NMD) is intended to encourage the redevelopment of the Nautical Mile in a compatible mixture of housing, recreation, entertainment, commercial, office, cultural, public and hotel uses through the flexible application of land regulatory standards. Such uses may be located in various combinations of mixed-use and single-use development. It is also the intent of the District to encourage a high quality of private development with reasonable public amenities to improve the overall living, working, shopping and recreational environment of the Nautical Mile. The Nautical Mile encompasses property as designated by the City’s Zoning Map. The Nautical Mile District is an overlay district and does not replace or restrict the range of uses allowed in the underlying use district. The overlay district provides additional development options and standards which must be met.
(B) The establishment of special development regulations is designed to achieve the following objectives:
(1) Ensure that development is guided by provisions of the Marine City Master Plan and other policy documents, as may be adopted by the City, supporting the overall redevelopment program of the Nautical Mile;
(2) Encourage the development of public parks and recreation facilities which recognize and enhance the unique waterfront location, public needs and amenities of Nautical Mile;
(3) Provide commercial activity which will serve as an attraction draw to the regional trade area and meet the needs of local residents for convenient shopping;
(4) Ensure that all new construction and renovation is designed and located in a manner which capitalizes upon the unique waterfront environment and the mid-19th to mid-20th Century charm of the district;
(5) Provide for unification of the area through landscaping, signage, lighting and street furniture;
(6) Ensure that the location, design, visual appearance and construction of individual buildings and structures is consistent with overall design objectives and redevelopment efforts; and
(7) Encourage the preservation of historic structures and resources within the district.
(Prior Code, App., § 2000) (Ord. 88-1, passed 3-17-1988; Am. Ord. 2019-002, passed 2-21-2019; Am. Ord. passed 10-21-2021)