Buchanan Township City Zoning Code
ARTICLE V
R-1 Low Density Rural Residential District
§ 300-5.01 Description and purpose.
The intent of this district is to provide a transition between the Agricultural District and other more dense residential districts, while not permitting the full range of agricultural activities. It is intended to provide for residential development with a rural character, by preserving open space and low population density. Utilities may be encouraged for extension in this area or homes may utilize on-site well and sanitary septic systems as permitted by the Berrien County Health Department.
§ 300-5.02 Uses permitted by right.
Land, buildings and structures in this zoning district may be used for the following purposes only:
Single-family detached dwellings.
Home occupations.
Adult foster care family homes of six or fewer persons. This subsection shall not apply to adult foster care facilities, licensed by a state agency, for the care and treatment of persons released for or assigned to adult correctional institutions.
Accessory structures and uses customarily incidental to the above permitted uses.
Family day-care home.
Wireless communication antenna, fixed wireless signals.
[Added 9-16-2021 by Ord. No. 123-2021]
Wireless communications antenna when attached to a lawful existing telecommunications tower, water tower, or other structure, subject to overall height restrictions.
[Added 9-16-2021 by Ord. No. 123-2021]
§ 300-5.03 Permitted uses by special use permit.
The following uses may be permitted upon approval by the Township Board of Trustees who may require special conditions after review by the Planning Commission in accordance with the provisions of this chapter relating to Special Use Permits.
Township, county, regional and state owned buildings and service facilities (not including outdoor storage yards) when in character with the surrounding residential and agricultural area.
Public, social, religious and educational institutions that provide for locations of public assembly, with direct access to a county roadway and a minimum of two acres of land area.
Public utility buildings, telephone exchange buildings, electric transformer stations and substations, and gas regulator stations, but not including service or storage yards, when operating requirements necessitate the locating within the district in order to serve the immediate vicinity. This shall not include wireless communication facilities.
Essential services.
Group day-care home.
Guesthouse.
Township, county regional and state owned buildings, including libraries, art galleries and museums.
§ 300-5.04 Development standards.
No building or structure nor any enlargement thereof shall be hereafter erected except in conformance with the following yard, lot area, height and building coverage requirements:
Height regulations. No residential building or accessory structure shall exceed 35 feet in height.
Front yard. There shall be a front yard of not less than 40 feet.
Side yard. For residential buildings and structures, there shall be total side yards of not less than 20 feet; provided, however, that no side yard shall be less than 10 feet.
Rear yard. There shall be a rear yard of not less than 30 feet.
Lot area. The minimum net lot area in this district shall be 40,000 square feet.
Lot width. The minimum lot width in this district, unless specified elsewhere, shall be 100 feet. The lot width shall be measured at the front building line.
Minimum floor area. Each dwelling unit, unless specified elsewhere, shall have a total minimum of 960 square feet with a minimum of 864 square feet of usable floor area on the main floor.