The L low-density residential district is intended for application in those areas of Bath Charter Township where a noticeable amount of low-density, single-family residential development has occurred. While some large-lot subdivisions exist in this district, the majority of the residential growth has resulted via on-going individual lot splits. The L district is designed to accommodate residential opportunities for those who desire exurban residential living and are willing to assume the costs of providing many of their own services. Further, this district contains several large land holdings, owned by one individual or party of interest, which are strategically located relative to future residential expansion. For the individual lot split type of residential development, it is reasonable to require spacious lots, insuring a safe, potable water supply and treatment of waste water on the same lot, considering the excessive cost of extending public sewer or water to virtually any area of the township. For the larger, unified developments, such facilities will be necessary and this district includes properties to which such services could be readily provided.

Commentary. This district complements the development district in that it houses a specific segment of the population, those who desire exurban or suburban residential living. The use characteristics reflect this orientation; unlike the rural district, this district is expected to be subject to higher intensities of development in the future. It is intended to be built-up as growth occurs in the township, while the rural district is anticipated to remain predominantly vacant for the foreseeable future.

In the L low-density residential district, no building or land shall be used and no building erected except for one or more of the following specified uses, unless otherwise provided in this ordinance. Performance criteria in excess of those regulations governing yards, lot size and the like, may be specified for certain uses. Such provisions are cross-referenced to other sections herein.

A.

Single-family detached dwellings.

B.

Performance subdivision; see section 14.06.

C.

Religious institutions including churches, convents, parsonages, and other housing for religious personnel; see section 14.06.

D.

Educational institutions including public or private elementary and secondary schools, nursery schools and day care centers; see section 14.06.

E.

Public or private recreational facilities of a noncommercial nature, including parks, playgrounds, camps, parkways and similar recreational facilities; see section 14.06.

F.

Public buildings and public service installations, including municipal, administrative or public service buildings, utility and public service facilities and uses, excluding storage yards, transformer stations and substations; see section 14.06.

G.

Cemeteries; see section 14.06.

H.

Family day care homes.

I.

Reserved.

J.

Adult foster care family homes.

(Ord. No. 31.30, § 7.02, 5-20-2002; Ord. No. 31.59, § 1, 1-16-2018)

State Law reference— Mandatory permitted uses, MCL 125.286a, 125.286g.

The following are permitted accessory uses:

A.

Home occupation; see section 3.02(48).

B.

Signs; see section 18.03 and 18.04.

C.

Accessory structures normally associated with single-family dwellings.

D.

Swimming pools.

E.

Automobile parking.

F.

Pens or enclosures for household pets.

G.

Raising and keeping of chickens as permitted in chapter 10, section 10-2(b) in the Code of Ordinances.

State Law reference— Mandatory home occupations, MCL 125.271a.

(Ord. No. 31.41, § 2, 3-19-2012)

The following uses of land and structure[s] may be permitted in this district by the application for and the issuance of a special use permit as provided for in article XIX:

A.

Planned unit development; see section 19.08.

B.

Condominiums of any type.

C.

Accessory apartment or "ECHO" (Elder Cottage Housing Opportunities) housing.

D.

"Livestock." Except to raise and keep chickens as provided in 7.03 G animals, defined as livestock, may be housed on a lot of two acres or more. For horses, cows, or pigs, there shall be only one animal on the first two acres and there shall be an additional acre for each additional animal housed or pastured; for smaller animals, including fowl, good husbandry practices shall be followed. Fowl shall be cooped and penned. If the keeping of livestock should become offensive in sight or odor, due to the poor care of livestock or the livestock's housing, pasture, or pens, they shall be declared a nuisance; see section 3.02 (nuisance and nuisance, attractive) and section 15.01.

E.

Commercial recreational facilities including golf courses, country clubs, and similar recreational facilities.

F.

Subject to the provisions of section 19.12, storage yards, transformer stations, substations, microwave relay towers and similar facilities associated with public service uses or facilities.

G.

Adult foster care small group home.

H.

Adult foster care large group home.

I.

Home businesses; see section 3.02.

J.

Group day care homes.

K.

General office or professional office uses.

(Ord. No. 31.23, § 5, 4-11-1998; Ord. No. 31.30, § 7.04, 5-20-2002; Ord. No. 31.37, § 8, 4-19-2010; Ord. No. 31.41, § 3, 3-19-2012; Ord. No. 31.59, § 2, 1-16-2018; Ord. No. 31.67, § 1, 2-1-2021)

The following maximum and minimum standards shall apply to all uses and structures in the L low-density residential district.

A.

Minimum lot area. No building or structure shall be established on any parcel less than:

(1)

Thirty thousand square feet in lot area for on-site sewage disposal.

(2)

Twenty thousand square feet in lot area for those lots connected to a public sanitary sewer system.

B.

Minimum lot width. The minimum lot width shall be:

(1)

One hundred fifty feet for lots containing 30,000 square feet or more, in lot area.

(2)

One hundred feet for lots containing less than 30,000 square feet in lot area.

C.

Maximum lot coverage. Lot coverage within this section shall be measured using the following standard. One square foot of the footprint of structure(s) and any non-permeable surfaces (asphalt parking lot, driveways, etc.) area equals one square foot of lot coverage. The maximum lot coverage shall not exceed 35 percent.

D.

Yard and setback requirements:

(1)

Front yard: 50 feet.

(2)

Side yard: Ten percent of lot width for each side yard, except in the case of a corner lot where the side yard on the street side shall not be less than setback required for front yard.

(3)

Rear yard: 50 feet.

(4)

In any case, no permanent or temporary structure housing livestock, or for storage of manure, shall be located any closer than 100 feet to a lot line.

E.

Maximum height requirements. No residential structure shall exceed three stories or 35 feet measured from the average finished grade at the front setback line. Residential accessory buildings shall not exceed a height of 20 feet.

F.

Minimum building floor area. Every dwelling hereafter erected shall have a minimum gross foundation space per dwelling unit of not less than 750 square feet, exclusive of basements, garages, porches and breezeways.

G.

Minimum greenspace requirements. The minimum greenspace required within this district is 65 percent of the parcel(s).

(Ord. No. 31.75, § 4, 5-2-2022; Ord. No. 31.79, § 4, 12-5-2022)