Allendale Charter Township
City Zoning Code
City Zoning Code
ARTICLE 10
R-4 Medium Density Multiple Family Residential/Office District
§ 470-10.01 Description and purpose.
This zone is intended to serve as a buffer or transitional zone between the various low-density residential and nonresidential zones. It is intended to accommodate medium density multifamily residential uses and those nonresidential uses of an administrative or professional nature, which are necessary to the normal conduct of a community's activities. It is specifically designed, however, to prohibit the introduction of commercial establishments of a retail nature.
§ 470-10.02 Permitted uses.
Land in the R-4 Zone may be used by right for the following purposes only:
§ 470-10.03 Uses requiring special approval.
The following uses may be authorized by the Planning Commission, subject to compliance with the procedures and standards established for special use permits in Article 20 of this chapter.
Any use permitted by special use permit in the R-3 Zoning District.
Offices for generally recognized professions such as doctors, dentists, optometrists, psychologists, attorneys, architects, engineers, surveyors, and urban planners.
Medical clinics, mental health clinics.
Offices, galleries, or studios of artists and those employed in the graphic arts.
Offices for one or more of the following fields: executive, administrative, clerical, stenographic, accounting, insurance, real estate, stockbrokers, banks, and similar enterprises.
Research laboratories provided that no heavy mechanical equipment is used in the normal operation of the laboratories, and provided that the character of its research would not make it objectionable because of sights, sounds, odors, and traffic congestion produced.
Hospitals.
Group housing, if within the group housing overlay zone as defined in § 470-3.15, including: dormitory, fraternity or sorority house, boarding or rooming house, student cooperative, and emergency shelter.
Funeral homes.
§ 470-10.04 Height regulations.
[Amended 8-12-2013 by Ord. No. 2013-16]
Building height, as defined herein, shall not exceed 35 feet.
§ 470-10.05 Area regulations.
All buildings, structures, or additions thereto shall comply with the following requirements:
Front yard. The uniform setback provisions of § 470-3.03B shall apply to all residential buildings, structures, and additions. If a uniform setback does not exist, the front yard setback shall be not less than 40 feet, except that when adjacent to a primary street, the front yard setback shall be not less than 50 feet, and when adjacent to a major arterial street, the front yard setback shall be not less than 60 feet. Notwithstanding the provisions of the immediately preceding sentence, (i) a lot (see definition in § 470-32.13) which is of record as of July 28, 1998, or (ii) any lot included in a proposed plat, building envelope or site in a proposed site condominium, or building site located in any other type of development which is on file with the Township as of July 28, 1998, shall only be required to have a front yard setback of 40 feet; and shall not be required to have a front yard setback of 50 feet if on a primary street or 60 feet if on a major arterial street.
Side yard. The side yard regulations are as follows:
Two-family. On interior two-family lots, total side yards of 20 feet are required; no yard shall be less than seven feet. On corner lots, a side yard of 40 feet is required along the street side of the lot; a side yard of seven feet is required on the opposite side of the lot.
Other uses. On interior lots used for any use other than single or two-family homes a minimum side yard of 20 feet is required. On corner lots, a side yard of 40 feet is required along the street side of the lot; a side yard of 20 feet is required on the opposite side of the lot.
Rear yard. There shall be a rear yard of not less than 35 feet.
Lot area and width. The lot area and width regulations are as follows:
Two-family. The minimum lot area for a two-family dwelling in this zone shall be 12,000 square feet and a minimum width of 100 feet at the front setback line, provided, however, that the minimum lot area for lots not served with public sewer shall be 30,000 square feet, and a minimum width of 200 feet at the front setback line.
Multiple-family. The minimum lot area for multiple family dwellings shall be 3,630 square feet per dwelling unit with a minimum lot area of 15,000 square feet and a minimum width of 100 feet at the front setback line.
Offices and all other uses. The minimum lot area and width for all other uses shall be 15,000 square feet with a minimum lot width of 100 feet at the front setback line.
§ 470-10.06 Minimum floor area.
[Amended 8-12-2013 by Ord. No. 2013-16]
Each dwelling unit in this zone shall have a minimum floor area as required below.
Efficiency. A minimum of 500 square feet per unit.
One bedroom unit. A minimum of 600 square feet per unit.
Two bedroom unit. A minimum of 800 square feet per unit.
Three bedroom unit. A minimum of 1,000 square feet per unit.
Additional bedrooms will require an additional 100 square feet per bedroom per unit. For a minimum of 24 feet of the length of the structure, each dwelling unit shall have a minimum width of 24 feet.
§ 470-10.07 Additional regulations.
[Amended 4-8-2013 by Ord. No. 2013-2; 8-12-2013 by Ord. No. 2013-16]
Land and/or buildings in the R-4 Zone may be used for purposes listed above provided that public water and public sanitary sewer utilities are installed and provided that all uses are conducted wholly in a permanent, fully enclosed building.
In the R-4 Zone density shall be regulated by bedrooms per acre. The maximum density is 36 bedrooms per net site acreage as defined herein.