(A) Uses of structures for temporary dwelling. No structure shall be used for dwelling purposes that does not meet the State of Michigan Building Code requirements for a dwelling unit.
(B) Accessory buildings. Authorized accessory buildings may be erected as a part of the principal building or may be connected to it by a roofed-over porch, patio, breezeway, or similar structure, or they may be completely detached. If attached to the principal building, an accessory building shall be made structurally a part of it and shall comply in all respects with the requirements applicable to the principal building. An accessory building not attached and not made a part of the principal building, as provided in the preceding statement, shall not be nearer than ten feet from any other separate structure on the same lot.
(1) Accessory uses and garages. In residential districts, the number of motor vehicles for which structural space may be provided as accessory to an authorized use shall not exceed the following:
(a) R-1A residential districts, four motor vehicles, one of which may be a commercial vehicle not exceeding one-ton rated capacity, and one and one-half tons if the residence is part of an agricultural operation.
(b) R-1B residential districts, three motor vehicles, one of which may be a commercial vehicle not exceeding one-ton rated capacity, and for each 5,000 square feet by which the lot exceeds the minimum lot area required, space for one additional motor vehicle may be provided.
(c) R-M1 districts and group housing developments, two motor vehicles for one-family and two-family dwellings and for each family or household group housed in a multiple-family dwelling structure, but not more than one of these two motor vehicles may be a commercial vehicle not exceeding one ton rated capacity. Space in a garage accessory to a multiple-family residence or a motel shall be rented only to occupants of the dwelling.
(d) A parking area of ten feet by 20 feet shall be considered as adequate storage space for each authorized motor vehicle. Additional space may be provided in a garage for uses incidental to a garage function or for hobby workshops and storage areas.
(2) Lot coverage. The total lot coverage of accessory buildings shall not exceed 15% in the R-1A and R-1B districts and 30% in all other districts.
(3) Setbacks. The required setbacks for accessory structures shall be as follows, for all zoning districts.
(a) In a front yard. No accessory building shall project into any front yard. For corner lots, the secondary street frontage shall be considered a side yard.
(b) In a side or rear yard. No accessory building, including detached garages, shall be closer than four feet to a side or rear lot line.
(C) Fences, walls, and screens.
(1) No fence, wall, or structural screen, other than plant materials, shall be erected higher than eight feet on any residential property in the village.
(2) Fences in front yards.
(a) M-1 District. In the M-1 District, fences in a front yard shall not exceed six feet in height, and shall not obscure the vision of drivers at intersections or on driveways.
(b) All other districts. Fences in the front yard of any property in a district other than M-1 shall not exceed three feet in height, shall be decorative in nature, and shall be constructed of wood, vinyl, or decorative materials. Chain link fences are prohibited in front yards outside of the M-1 District.
(3) No fence, hedge, or other screen planting shall extend into the public-right-of-way.
(4) No hedge or other screen planting or other plant material shall exceed a height of three feet in any residential front yard within the front yard.
(D) Trash dumpsters.
(1) Location. Dumpsters shall be permitted in the side or rear yard, provided that:
(a) No dumpster shall extend closer to the front of the lot than any portion of the principal structure.
(b) The dumpster shall not encroach on a required parking space.
(c) The dumpster must be clearly accessible to servicing vehicles.
(2) Concrete pad. Dumpsters shall be placed on a concrete pad. The concrete pad should extend a minimum of three feet in front of the dumpster enclosure.
(3) Enclosure. Dumpsters shall be enclosed on three sides with a permanent wall or fence, not less than six feet in height or at least six inches above the height of the enclosed dumpster, whichever is taller. The fourth side of the dumpster screening shall be equipped with an opaque, lockable, gate that is the same height as the enclosure around the other three sides. The minimum standards described above may be exceeded. Attractive materials such as brick are encouraged.
(4) Site plan requirements. The location and method of screening of dumpsters shall be shown on all site plans and approved by the Planning Commission. Shared dumpsters used by multiple businesses are permitted.
(E) Lighting.
(1) Light fixture design.
(a) Overhead light poles may not exceed 25 feet in height.
(b) Exterior light sources greater than five feet high from grade shall be fully shielded and directed downward at a 90 degree angle. Single-family residences shall be exempt from this requirement.
(2) Maximum light intensity.
(a) The maximum intensity of light anywhere on a site may not exceed 20 footcandles. Lots in the VC District shall not be required to demonstrate compliance with this standard in order to obtain site plan approval. However, this standard shall be enforced in the VC District if a complaint is filed with the village and the property is deemed to be out of compliance with this standard.
(b) The maximum light spillage from private property onto a public right-of-way shall be one footcandle. Lots in the VC District shall be exempt from this requirement.
(c) The maximum light spillage from one property onto another shall be 0.5 footcandles. Lots in the VC District shall be exempt from this requirement.
(3) Exceptions. Temporary lighting, such as holiday decorations, construction lighting, and emergency lighting shall be exempt from the above requirements, provided that the light source in question does not remain in place for more than 60 days.
(4) Waivers. The Planning Commission may modify or waive any or all of the above requirements based on the specific conditions of a site, provided that negative impacts on surrounding properties are minimal.
(F) Landscaping.
(1) Landscaping adjacent to the right-of-way.
(a) Street trees. Properties in the B-1, B-2, M-1, RM-1, and VC districts must have one tree per 50 feet of road frontage. The required trees may be located in the right-of-way if necessary due to the design of the site, but shall be maintained by the adjacent private property owner.
(b) Sidewalks. Sidewalks must be installed along all road frontages where they do not currently exist.
(c) Pavement adjacent to the right-of-way. In the event that a paved parking lot abuts the right-of-way line, a five-foot wide greenbelt planted with a continuous, three-foot-high hedge of evergreen shrubs, must be added to physically separate the parking lot from the right-of-way. The greenbelt must be installed along the entire frontage of the parking lot, except for driveway entrances. Parking lots in the VC district existing prior to August 1, 2021 shall be exempt from this requirement.
(2) Landscaping within parking lots. Parking lots with greater than 20 spaces must provide landscaped islands to channelize traffic flow and reduce the amount of non-permeable surface. Parking lots in the VC district existing prior to August 1, 2021 shall be exempt from this requirement. Parking lot islands shall meet the following requirements:
(a) Landscaped islands shall occupy at least 5% of the total parking lot area.
(b) Each landscaped island shall be at least 100 square feet.
(c) Each landscaped island shall contain one tree.
(3) Landscaping between Residential and Non-Residential Districts. Where a B-1, B-2, M-1,
or VC district abuts, or is immediately across a public right-of-way from, an R-1A, R-1B, or RM-1 district, one of the following options must be constructed along the property line:
(a) A six-foot high opaque wall constructed of brick or vinyl.
(b) A continuous hedge of evergreen trees, at least six feet high.
(c) A landscaped buffer zone at least 20 feet wide along the entire length of the property line, containing one tree and three shrubs per 15 feet of length.
(4) Waivers. The Planning Commission may modify or waive any or all of the above requirements based on the specific conditions of a site, provided that negative impacts on surrounding properties are minimal.
(Ord. 146, passed 3-2-1998; Ord. 230, passed 12-9-2014; Ord., passed 8-10-2021) Penalty, see § 153.999