Calumet City Zoning Code
SITE DEVELOPMENT
STANDARDS
§ 153.095 INTENT; PURPOSE.
The purpose of the regulations contained in this subchapter is to:
(A) Protect the public health, safety and general welfare;
(B) To promote harmonious and orderly development; and
(C) To foster civic beauty by improving the appearance, character and economic value of civic, commercial and industrial development.
(Ord. 160, passed 4-21-2022)
§ 153.096 LANDSCAPING.
(A) Intent and purpose. The intent and purpose of the provisions in this section are to:
(1) Improve the visual image of the village and properties abutting public rights-of-way, thereby reducing conditions which lead to community blight;
(2) Requiring buffering between conflicting land uses and zoning districts;
(3) Promote public health, safety and general welfare;
(4) Protect and preserve the appearance, character and value of the surrounding development; and
(5) Promote the use of native plant materials while discouraging the use of invasive plant materials.
(B) Applicability.
(1) Landscape plan required.
(a) All new uses requiring a site plan review;
(b) Additions to existing nonresidential structures that increase the floor area by more than 25%; and
(c) Expansions or contractions of nonconforming sites that do not meet the landscape requirements of this section.
(2) Exceptions.
(a) The reconstruction of an existing structure of which 50% or less of the floor area was destroyed or ruined by flooding, fire, wind, storm or act of nature, and where the reconstruction will not result in an increase in the size of the structure, parking facilities or paved areas.
(b) Interior remodeling or facade improvements that do not result in an increase in size of the structure, parking facilities or paved areas.
(c) Any use, building or structure for which only a change of use is requested, and which requires no exterior structural modifications that increase its volume or scale.
(3) Application. All applicable projects shall submit a landscape plan as part of the site plan
review process that contains the following:
(a) Plan scale equal to that of the site plan and a north arrow;
(b) Existing and proposed topography;
(c) Location and general type of all existing vegetation and wetlands;
(d) Location and size of all proposed plant materials;
(e) Zoning district classification of adjacent properties;
(f) Planting list for all proposed landscape materials indicating botanical and common names, sizes, root condition and quantities; and
(g) Vegetation inventory of all trees with a caliper of 12 inches or greater, measured at four and one-half feet above grade, and all invasive species, including their location and species type.
(C) Standards and criteria.
(1) Planting materials.
(a) Plant material shall be healthy and free of insects, diseases and physical damage;
(b) Unless otherwise specified, the minimum size for plant materials installed shall be as follows:
PLANTING SIZE STANDARDS
| |
Plant Material | Minimum Size |
PLANTING SIZE STANDARDS
| |
Plant Material | Minimum Size |
Coniferous (evergreen) Trees | 6 feet height |
Deciduous (canopy) Trees | 2.5 inches caliper |
Deciduous Shrubs | 2 feet height |
Ornamental Trees: Single Trunk Multiple Trunks | 2 inches caliper |
6 feet height | |
Spreading Coniferous Shrubs | 18 inches spread |
Upright Coniferous Shrubs | 2 feet height |
(c) Caliper of trunk shall be the diameter at breast height (dbh) equal to four and one-half feet above grade; and
(d) Native species are encouraged. Invasive species identified in the Keweenaw Invasive Species Management Area Strategic Plan shall be prohibited.
(2) Fractional requirements. Where any calculation of required plant materials in this chapter results in a fractional requirement, such requirement shall be rounded up to the next highest whole number.
(3) Ground cover. All areas not covered by buildings, parking areas, driveways, walkways, pedestrian plazas or other pedestrian-oriented impervious surfaces or water features shall be replanted with ground cover at a minimum. Ground cover may include:
(a) Maintained lawn area;
(b) Non-invasive wildflowers, vines, grasses, rushes sedges or ferns; and
(c) Wood chips, mulch or rock, provided this type of material does not exceed 20% of the total of any individual landscaped area.
(4) Plant substitutions. The Zoning Administrator may approve minor revisions to the landscape plans due to seasonal planting problems and/or lack of plant availability. Minor revisions may be approved only when there is no reduction in the quality of plant material, no significant change in size or location of plant material, the new plant material is compatible with the area and the new plant material is of the same general category (for example, deciduous or evergreen trees) as the material being replaced.
(5) Invasive species management. An applicant shall develop a removal and/or management strategy for invasive species identified on the vegetation inventory. Invasive species shall include those listed as Class 1 through 4 invasive species in the Northwest Michigan Invasive Species Network’s Recommended Planting Guidelines for Municipalities shall be prohibited.
(6) Site design. Landscape areas must be protected from vehicular traffic through the use of concrete curbs, vehicle stops or other permanent barriers. Protecting significant trees requires locating buildings, roads, and sidewalks in areas of the site which will minimize tree destruction, as well as establishing protected root zones (for example, tree root buffer zones) to protect vegetation during road widening, sidewalk construction and cut-and-fill activities.
(7) Utilities. Where overhead and underground utilities are present, consideration shall be given to the location and mature height of species. Adjustments to the location of required planting areas may be approved by the Planning Commission to avoid conflict with such utilities, provided the intent of the planting or screening requirements are maintained.
(8) Maintenance. All required landscaped areas shall be maintained in a healthy condition and kept orderly in appearance. The Planning Commission may waive the irrigation requirements if no additional planting is required, or if a reliable source of water is not reasonably available, so as long as the suitable alternative is presented that will ensure the health of the landscaping.
(9) Time period. Required landscaping shall be installed prior to the issuance of a certificate of occupancy. If a development is completed during the off-season when plants cannot be installed, the developer shall submit a performance guarantee equal to the materials and labor for the required landscaping to ensure installation at the beginning of the next planting season.
(10) Replacement. When trees or shrubs planted in accordance with the requirements of this section die or are removed for any reason, they must be replaced during the next suitable planting season in a manner, quantity and size approved by the Zoning Administrator.
(D) Landscape buffers and screening. Effective screening shall be provided as required between incompatible land uses. The Planning Commission shall make the final determination on the required screening method based on-site conditions and the specific land use, which may include the following separately, or in combination.
(1) Vegetated screens. Vegetated screens shall consist of evergreen trees at a height required of the screen and spaced at an interval that achieves an effective screen at the time of planting. Deciduous trees may be incorporated for plant diversity provided the effectiveness of the screen is achieved.
(2) Berms. Berms shall be constructed with slopes no greater than one foot of vertical rise for every three feet of horizontal run with at least a two feet flat surface on top and sodded to provide adequate protection against erosion. Berms shall be landscaped with one deciduous or evergreen tree, and six shrubs for every 40 lineal feet. Clustering of trees and shrubs is allowed upon approval of the Planning Commission.
(3) Obscuring walls or fences. Obscuring walls or fences shall be a constructed of durable materials and placed inside and along the property lines. The Planning Commission has the authority to require specific materials based on the site conditions and the nature of the use. Walls and fences shall include one vine or shrub for every ten lineal feet, planted on the exterior face of the structure.
(4) Green belts. Green belts shall occupy a prescribed buffer zone and consist of vegetated ground cover, along with one deciduous or evergreen tree and six shrubs for every 40 lineal feet. Clustering of trees and shrubs is allowed upon approval of the Planning Commission.
(E) Right-of-way landscaping. Where required by a district or use, right-of-way (ROW) landscaping shall be provided along the street frontage that meets the following standards:
(1) A landscape buffer shall be established along the right-of-way frontage at a minimum width of five feet and shall be the location off all required right-of-way plantings.
(2) Required trees shall be evenly spaced, but required shrubs may be clustered.
(F) Lot landscaping. Additional trees may be required beyond those for screening, buffering and rights-of-way in order to preserve an effective tree canopy in the village that reduces the urban heat island effect, mitigates sound and pollution and absorbs storm water. Lot landscaping requirements shall be applicable to all unpaved or undeveloped portions of a lot. See zoning district regulations in § 153.061 for specific requirements based on district and use.
(G) Existing vegetation.
(1) Preservation. Existing deciduous trees, evergreens, flowering trees and shrubs shall be protected and incorporated into the site plan wherever feasible.
(2) Credit. Existing vegetation may be credited as detailed below for the purpose of calculating landscaping compliance provided that the plants are in healthy growing condition, are at least the minimum size, and are the appropriate species.
EXISTING LANDSCAPING CREDIT RATIO
| ||
Vegetation Type | Maturation | Landscaping Credit |
EXISTING LANDSCAPING CREDIT RATIO
| ||
Vegetation Type | Maturation | Landscaping Credit |
Deciduous Tree | 3 inches or less caliper | 1:1 |
Deciduous Tree | 4 – 6 inches caliper | 1:2 |
Deciduous Tree | 7 – 9 inches caliper | 1:3 |
Deciduous Tree | 10 – 12 inches caliper | 1:4 |
Deciduous Tree | Greater than 12 inches caliper | 1:5 |
Evergreen or Ornamental Tree | 6 feet or less height | 1:1 |
Evergreen or Ornamental Tree | 7 – 12 feet height | 1:2 |
Evergreen or Ornamental Tree | 13 – 16 feet height | 1:3 |
Evergreen or Ornamental Tree | Greater than 16 feet height | 1:4 |
Shrub | Any size | 1:1 |
(3) Protection of vegetation.
(a) 1. Preserved trees shall be protected with high visibility barriers around the protected root zone.
2. The protected root zone shall be a radius one and one-half feet from the trunk for every one inch of the tree caliper.
(b) Barriers shall not be supported by the trees.
(c) No grading, demolition, trenching, operation or storage of equipment, or other activity shall occur in the protected root zone.
(d) Where the Zoning Administrator determines that irreparable damage has occurred to a tree credited for preservation, the tree shall be removed and replaced in size and quantity as required in this section and having been given credit for.
(Ord. 160, passed 4-21-2022)
§ 153.097 OFF-STREET PARKING.
(A) General requirements. The following standards shall apply to all off-street parking areas except those for one- and two-family residential uses:
(1) Use. Off-street parking, loading or stacking areas shall only be used for their intended purpose. All other uses are prohibited unless approved and/or permitted by the village.
(2) Location.
(a) 1. All off-street parking areas shall be on the same lot as the use it serves or within 500 feet, measured from the closest point of the building to the nearest point of the off-street parking area.
2. Exception is granted to municipal or private parking lots for public use with or without a fee.
(b) No off-street parking areas shall be located in the front yard on any lot unless expressly allowed in this chapter.
(a) Single-loaded aisles shall have one tree island containing one canopy tree at both ends of each row. The minimum dimensions for each island shall be nine feet by 18 feet.
(b) Double-loaded aisles shall have one tree island containing two canopy trees at both ends of each row. The minimum dimensions for each island shall be 12 feet by 36 feet.
(c) Additional tree islands that are required shall be evenly spaced throughout the off-street parking area. The tree islands shall contain one canopy tree each and shall have the minimum dimensions of nine feet by 18 feet.
(d) Tree islands shall be surrounded by a concrete curb at a height of six inches. In addition to the required canopy tree(s), the interior of the islands shall be vegetated with turf and may be used for storm water management, however, snow storage is prohibited.
(5) Defined area. Off-street parking areas and loading zones shall include painted lines, vehicle stops or other delineating features to clearly define parking and loading spaces.
(6) Dimensions. Off-street parking areas shall be designed to the following minimum standards:
PARKING SPACE DIMENSIONAL STANDARDS
| |||
Parking Angle | Stall Width | Stall Depth | Min.-Max. Aisle Width |
45 degrees | 8.5 feet | 19 feet | 12 – 16 feet |
60 degree | 8.5 feet | 20 feet | 16 – 20 feet |
90 degrees | 8.5 feet | 18 feet | 22 – 26 feet |
90 degrees – compact | 8 feet | 17 feet | 20 – 24 feet |
Parallel | 8 feet | 22 feet | 12 – 16 feet |
(7) Surfacing. Parking surfaces shall be durable and dustless materials such as asphalt, concrete, brick, stone or pavers. Pervious materials are recommended.
(8) Drainage. All off-street parking areas shall utilize low impact development (LID) water quality technologies to collect and treat storm water on-site as required for site plan review.
(9) Curbs and vehicle stops. All off-street parking areas shall include curbs or vehicle stops to prevent vehicles from overhanging into or over public rights-of-way, sidewalks, adjacent areas or landscape areas.
(10) Barrier-free parking. Off-street parking areas shall provide barrier-free spaces in compliance with the State Building Code and the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), as applicable.
(11) Exterior lighting. Exterior lighting for new or redeveloped off-street parking, stacking and loading areas shall comply with the exterior lighting standards of this section.
(12) Maintenance. All parking areas shall be maintained in good condition and kept free of debris and garbage.
(13) Completion. All off-street parking, stacking and loading areas indicated on a site plan shall be fully completed before the issuance of certificate of occupancy. In the case of phased developments, only the off-street parking, stacking and loading areas associated with a given phase of development shall be required to be completed.
(14) Access through yards. Access drives may be placed in the required front or side yards so as to provide access to rear yards or accessory or attached structures. (These drives shall not be considered as structural violations in front or side yards.) Any walk, terrace or like surface area not in excess of nine inches above the grade upon which placed shall not be considered to be a structure and shall be permitted in any required yard.
(15) Snow storage. Whenever a development includes a private or public parking lot, snow storage shall be provided on-site at a ratio of ten square feet per 100 square feet of parking area. Snow storage shall not occupy parking spaces or interfere with clear visibility of traffic.
(B) Parking requirements.
(1) Maximum parking.
(a) To minimize excessive areas of pavement which detracts from the aesthetics of the village and contributes to high rates of storm water runoff, this chapter establishes a maximum number of parking spaces for each use.
(b) There are no minimum parking requirements. The Planning Commission may grant an increase of up to 25% of the maximum number of parking spaces if:
1. The applicant can demonstrate to the Planning Commission’s satisfaction the additional parking is necessary based on documented evidence of actual use or anticipated demand;
2. The increase in parking will have no undue burden on neighboring property owners and/or natural features; and/or
3. In granting a request to exceed the maximum number of parking spaces, the additional spaces shall be constructed of pervious pavement, pavers or similar pervious material acceptable to the Planning Commission.
(2) Calculating maximum parking spaces.
(a) The following rules shall be applied when calculating the maximum number parking spaces:
1. Measurements based on square feet shall be calculated by usable floor area as defined in this chapter;
2. The number of employees shall be based on the maximum number needed for the largest shift; and
3. Requirements based on the number of seats shall use a measurement of 24 inches of bench or pew space or 25 square feet of floor as one seat.
(b) OCCUPANCY shall mean legal occupancy as determined by the Fire Department or other authorized agency.
(3) Use not specified.
(b) The Zoning Administrators determination may be appealed to the Zoning Board of Appeals for a final determination.
(4) Shared parking.
(a) Joint use of an off-street parking area may be permitted for two or more uses located on the same, adjacent or nearby lots, provided that the number of parking spaces does not exceed the sum of the maximum number of spaces allowed for each use sharing the off-street parking area.
(b) The owners of all lots used for or making use of shared parking areas shall record a commitment that is binding on future owners of the property(s) and shall be recorded with the County Register of Deeds and filed with the village.
(C) Access.
(1) All off-street parking, loading and stacking areas shall be arranged for convenient access and safety of pedestrians, bicyclists and motor vehicles.
(2) Adequate ingress and egress shall be provided by clearly defined driveways. Backing into public street rights-of-way shall be prohibited.
(3) (a) Access to off-street parking areas shall be limited to one curb cut or driveway per lot. If a property has access to two or more streets, access shall be provided from the street with lower traffic volume.
(b) The Planning Commission may waive this requirement if a practical difficulty has been presented that prevents the requirement from being satisfied.
(c) Furthermore, driveways and/or curb cuts in the DC Zoning District shall be prohibited unless approved by the Planning Commission.
(4) Where a parking area abuts an improved alley, access shall be obtained from the alley. The Planning Commission may waive this requirement if a practical difficulty has been presented that prevents the requirement from being satisfied.
(5) Access to off-street parking areas for nonresidential uses shall not be permitted across lots that are residential in use or in a residential zoning district.
(6) The standards of cross access management are as follows.
(a) All off-street parking areas not accessed by an alley shall be designed to allow internal vehicle circulation between adjacent lots by providing a location for cross access on the site plan.
(b) A cross access agreement shall be recorded with the County Register of Deeds prior to the issuance of a building certificate of occupancy.
(c) The Planning Commission may waive this requirement if deemed impractical during site plan review due to topography, natural features or vehicular safety factors if appropriate bicycle and pedestrian connections are provided between adjacent developments and uses.
(D) Loading zones.
(1) Adequate loading zones. In all zoning districts, every building or portion thereof that is occupied by a use requiring the receipt and distribution of materials or merchandise by vehicles shall provide and maintain adequate off-street loading zones.
(2) Location.
(b) Loading zones shall not interfere with the normal movement of pedestrians and vehicles in the public street rights-of-way, internal drives and off-street parking areas.
(c) Loading zones shall be designed for the largest vehicle intended to serve the use, with adequate turning radii, maneuverability and loading space.
(d) Developments with rear alley access may use the alley as a loading zone.
(3) Administrative waiver. The Zoning Administrator may approve a modification to the loading zone location or space requirements where it has been determined that another measure or location would be more appropriate due to site constraints or the number or type of deliveries experienced by a particular use.
(Ord. 160, passed 4-21-2022)
§ 153.098 EXTERIOR LIGHTING.
(A) Intent and purpose. The provisions of this section are intended to control the use of outdoor, artificial illuminating devices emitting rays into the night sky by:
(1) Encouraging good lighting practices such that lighting systems are designed to save energy and money;
(2) Minimizing glare;
(3) Protecting the use and enjoyment of surrounding property;
(4) Increasing night time safety, utility, security and productivity; and
(5) Minimize dark sky light pollution.
(B) Exemptions. The following uses and activities shall be exempt from the standards of this section,
provided they do not create glare perceptible to persons operating motor vehicles in the public right-of-way.
(1) New technology. The Zoning Administrator may grant exceptions to the material, light source or method of installation standards in this section in consideration of any new state-of-the-art technology, so long as the exception still meets all other applicable standards of this section.
(2) Residential lighting. Low intensity residential decorative lighting, such as porch lights or low-level facade and landscape lighting, provided any such lights are directed toward the residential building or land.
(3) Holiday decorations. Provided the decorative exterior lighting shall not include searchlights, floodlights or stroboscopic lights.
(4) Flag lighting. Luminaires used for the illumination of the flag of the United States of America.
(5) Temporary lighting. Associated with an approved temporary event permitted by this chapter.
(6) Statutory authority. Circumstances where federal or state laws, rules or regulations take precedence over the provisions of this section, or where fire, police, emergency or repair personnel need light for temporary or emergency situations, or lighting that is only activated at the time of power outages.
(C) Shielding and filtration.
(1) All nonexempt exterior lighting shall by hooded and/or louvered to prevent light from spilling over onto neighboring properties and rights-of-way.
(2) All lighting fixtures shall have 100% cut-off shielding that prevents light from being emitted above a horizontal plane from the lowest direct light emitting part of the luminaire.
(3) Light sources shall be located as to minimize the hazards of glare, and all poles or standards used to support outdoor light fixtures shall be coated with a material that minimizes glare from the light source.
(D) Illumination. Illumination levels within a site shall ensure that a site is adequately, but not excessively lit, in order to provide visibility, safety, and security without unnecessarily contributing to light pollution and negatively impacting neighboring properties.
(1) Intensity.
(a) The maximum intensity of light within any site shall not exceed the following standards, measured in footcandles (fc) at grade:
EXTERIOR LIGHTING ILLUMINATION STANDARDS
| |
Lighting Location | Maximum Intensity (fc) |
At any lot boundary or right-of-way | 0.5 |
At any point within the site | 10.0 |
Average for the overall site | 5.0 |
(b) Exceptions are as follows.
1. Outdoor vehicle dealerships may permit a maximum lighting intensity of 20 footcandles for paved display areas. Fuel station canopy lights may permit a maximum lighting intensity of 20 footcandle under the canopy, provided that all light fixtures shall be recessed into the structure.
2. All other site lighting shall be in compliance with this chapter including average maximum intensity for the overall site.
(2) Color temperature. All exterior lighting shall emit light measuring 4,000 K or warmer (between 0 K and 4,000 K) on the Kelvin scale.
(E) Acceptable and unacceptable lighting fixtures.
(F) Exterior lighting site standards.
(1) Hours of operation. All exterior lighting shall be equipped with automatic timing devices and shall be shut off if no customers or staff are present between the hours of 10:00 p.m. and sunrise, except for lighting necessary for security purposes or for uses that continue after 10:00 p.m. or before sunrise.
(2) Pole height. The maximum pole height for exterior lighting shall not exceed 22 feet, or the maximum height of the principal building, whichever is less.
(3) Wall pack. Wall pack lighting shall be limited to above points of ingress and egress on side and rear facades for security purposes.
(4) Prohibitions. The following light sources and fixtures shall be prohibited:
(a) Unshielded luminous tube (neon), fluorescent or LED lighting used as accent lighting on facades;
(b) Metal halide;
(c) Mercury vapor;
(d) High pressure sodium;
(e) Halogen;
(f) Animated, flashing or moving lights;
(g) Laser sources of light;
(h) Search lights; and
(i) Tubular lighting.
(Ord. 160, passed 4-21-2022)