A.

Scope of off-street parking requirements. Compliance with the off-street parking regulations shall be required as follows:

1.

General applicability. For all buildings and uses established after the effective date of this ordinance, off-street parking shall be provided as required by the following regulations. However, where a building permit has been issued prior to the effective date of the ordinance and construction has been diligently carried on, compliance with the parking requirements at the time of issuance of the building permit shall be required.

2.

Change in use or intensity. Whenever use of a building, structure, or lot is changed, parking facilities shall be provided as required by this Ordinance for the new use, regardless of any variance or modification in effect before the change of use or intensity.

If the intensity of use of any building, structure, or lot is increased through the addition of dwelling units, increase in floor area, increase in seating capacity, or through other means, additional off-street parking shall be provided for such increase in intensity of use.

3.

Existing parking facilities. Off-street parking facilities in existence on the effective date of this ordinance shall not thereafter be reduced below, or if already less than, shall not be further reduced below the requirements for the use being served as set forth in this ordinance.

An area designated as required off-street parking shall not be changed to any other use unless equal facilities are provided elsewhere in accordance with the provisions of this ordinance.

4.

Additional off-street parking. Nothing in this ordinance shall be deemed to prevent voluntary establishment of off-street parking facilities to serve an existing use of land or buildings, provided all such parking is in conformance with the regulations herein.

5.

Review and permit requirements. In the event that new off-street parking is proposed as part of a development requiring site plan review, said proposed parking shall be shown on the site plan submitted to the township for review. In the event that proposed off-street parking is not part of a development requiring site plan review, the applicant shall submit a plot plan to the township for review and approval in accordance with the procedures outlined herein and in other applicable ordinances. The plot plan shall indicate the location of the proposed parking in relation to other uses on the site and on adjoining sites, the proposed means of ingress and egress, the number and dimensions of parking spaces, and the method of surfacing.

B.

General requirements. In all zoning districts, off-street vehicle parking facilities shall be provided and maintained as herein prescribed:

1.

Location. Off-street parking facilities required for multiple-family and nonresidential uses shall be located on the same lot or parcel as the building or use they are intended to serve, except as otherwise permitted for collective use of off-street parking.

It shall be unlawful to park or store any motor vehicle on commercial or industrial property past the posted operating hours of that business, unless the motor vehicle is registered in the name of the business or the name of the owner of the business, and is being used in direct connection with the daily operations of that business.

Unless otherwise specified elsewhere in this ordinance, off-street parking may be located in required yards, provided that all landscaping and berm requirements are complied with. Off-street parking shall not be permitted within five feet of an agricultural or single-family residential district boundary unless the boundary falls along a common separating street or railroad right-of-way. Off-street parking shall not be permitted in the required front yard of multiple-family districts and churches.

2.

Residential parking. Off-street parking spaces in single-family residential districts shall consist of a parking strip, driveway, garage, or combination thereof, and shall be located on the premises they are intended to serve. No parking shall be permitted on lawns or other unpaved areas on residential lots, with the exception of approved gravel parking areas.

Paved or gravel area for parking shall not exceed 50 percent of the total area of the front yard. One commercial vehicle may be parked on each lot in residential districts, provided that such vehicle meets all requirements set forth in section 2.03.D.6. Any such vehicle shall have a total of no more than six wheels with up to four wheels per axle. Furthermore, any such vehicle shall be stored in a garage. Parking or storage of semitrailers shall be prohibited within residential districts.

3.

Control of off site parking. It shall be unlawful to park or store any motor vehicle on private property without the expressed or implied consent of the owner, holder, occupant, lessee, agent, or trustee of said private property. Where required parking is permitted on land other than on the same lot as the building or use being served, the land on which the parking is located shall be under the same ownership and control as the lot occupied by said building or use.

4.

Access to parking. Each off-street parking space shall open directly onto an aisle or driveway of sufficient width and design as to provide safe and efficient access to or from a public street or alley in a manner that will least interfere with the smooth flow of traffic.

5.

Collective use of off-street parking. Off-street parking space for separate buildings or uses may be provided collectively. If parking facilities for separate buildings or uses are provided collectively, the total number of spaces provided shall not be less than the number which would be required if the spaces were provided separately. However, the planning commission may reduce the total number of spaces provided collectively by up to 25 percent upon making the determination that the parking demands of the uses being served do not overlap.

Parking spaces already provided to meet the off-street parking requirements for theaters, stadiums, auditoriums, stores, office buildings, and industrial establishments, lying within 500 feet of a church as measured along lines of vehicle access, and which are not normally used between the hours of 6:00 a.m. and 6:00 p.m. on Sundays, may be used to meet no more than 25 percent of the off-street parking requirements of a church.

6.

Storage and repair prohibited. The storage of merchandise, sale of motor vehicles, storage of inoperable vehicles, or repair of vehicles are prohibited in required off-street parking lots. Emergency service required to start vehicles shall be permitted.

7.

Duration.

a.

Except when land is used as permitted storage space in direct connection with a business, a twenty-four-hour time limit for parking in nonresidential off street parking areas shall prevail, provided that it shall be unlawful to permit the storage of wrecked, inoperable, or junked vehicles in any parking area in any district.

b.

Parking spaces provided to meet the requirements of this subsection shall not be used to park, store or display commercial vehicles of any kind. Any facility which has the need to park or store commercial vehicles which are directly related to operation of an approved use on the premises shall designate spaces for these vehicles on the site plan. These spaces shall be over and above the minimum parking spaces required for the site; be located behind the building or in a location not readily visible from a public street; be signed or marked to reserve the area for this purpose; and be approved by the planning services division.

8.

Parking structures. Parking structures shall be permitted in the mid- and high-rise development districts in compliance with the following standards:

a.

Any parking structure shall comply with the required setbacks for the district in which it is located.

b.

Parking structures shall be designed as integral elements of the overall site plan, taking into account the relationship to the principal building and other structures on the site.

c.

The facade of the parking structure shall be compatible in design, color, and type of material to the principal building(s) on the site.

d.

Landscaping shall be placed around the parking structure in accordance with an approved landscape plan. Any such landscaping shall be compatible with the overall landscape plan for the entire site.

9.

Maintenance. All parking areas shall maintain a safe, clean and durable surface. Severe cracks and potholes shall be repaired after notification by the building official or ordinance officer.

C.

Minimum number of spaces required. The following standards shall be used in determining the required number of parking spaces:

1.

Definition of floor area. For the purposes of determining required number of parking spaces, "floor area" shall be measured in accordance with the definitions provided in section 1.03.

2.

Units of measurement. When calculations for determining the required number of parking spaces result in a fractional space, any fraction of less than one-half may be disregarded, while a fraction of one-half or more shall be counted as one space. Parking spaces required for employees shall be based on the maximum number of employees on the premises at any one time.

3.

Uses not cited. For those uses not specifically mentioned, the requirements for off-street parking for a similar use shall apply, subject to review by the planning commission.

4.

Parking for the physically handicapped. Each parking lot that serves a building, except single- and two-family dwelling units, shall have a number of level parking spaces, identified by an above-grade sign which indicates the spaces are reserved for physically handicapped persons. Parking for the handicapped shall comply with the State of Michigan Department of Labor Building Code including Barrier-Free Design, Michigan Public Act No. 1 of 1966 (MCL 125.1351 et seq.), as amended, and the adopted township building code.

5.

Use of loading space. Required loading space shall not be counted or used for required parking.

6.

Minimum number of spaces for each use. The amount of required off-street parking space shall be determined in accordance with the schedule which follows. The total number of off-street parking spaces shall not exceed the minimum number of spaces required by the schedule of off-street parking by more than ten percent. The applicant may request that the planning commission consider a modification to the parking requirements based on a certified traffic generation study justifying either an increase or decrease to these requirements based on the level of current or future customer traffic. The planning commission may also require that construction of parking spaces necessary for future customer traffic be deferred until the need for the projected parking is justified.

_____

SCHEDULE OF OFF-STREET PARKING

_____

D.

Layout and construction. Off-street parking facilities containing five or more spaces shall be designed, constructed, and maintained in accordance with the following requirements:

1.

Review and approval requirements. Plans for the construction of any parking lot in conjunction with a new development shall be submitted for review and approval according to the normal site plan review procedures. Plans for expansion of an existing parking lot that is not associated with other new development must be submitted to the building official for review and approval prior to the start of construction. Upon completion of construction, the parking lot must be inspected and approved by the building official before a certificate of occupancy can be issued for the parking lot and for the building or use the parking is intended to serve.

Plans shall be prepared at a scale of not less than 50 feet equal to one inch. Plans shall indicate existing and proposed grades, drainage, water mains and sewers, surfacing and base materials, and the proposed parking layout. The plans shall conform to the construction and design standards formally established by the township engineer.

In the event that required parking cannot be constructed because of cold or inclement weather, a temporary certificate of occupancy may be issued by the building official, provided the applicant first deposits a performance guarantee in accordance with section 2.17. Said performance guarantee shall be equivalent to the cost of construction as determined by the building official.

2.

Dimensions. Off-street parking shall be designed in conformance with the following standards:

_____

OFF-STREET PARKING STANDARDS
(All Dimensions in Feet)

_____

3.

Modification to parking stall length. The requirements for parking stall length may be reduced by two feet where 90-degree parking abuts a sidewalk, other pavement, or sodded area at the front of the stalls, provided any such pavement or sodded area measures at least seven feet in width.

4.

Ingress and egress. All spaces shall be provided with adequate access by means of clearly defined maneuvering lanes and driveways. Driveways providing access to an off-street parking lot shall be a minimum of 30 feet wide. Spaces backing directly onto a street shall be prohibited. Entrances and exits from off-street parking lots shall be located at least 25 feet from the nearest point of any property zoned for single-family residential use.

5.

Surfacing and drainage. All off-street parking areas, access lanes, and driveways shall be hard-surfaced with concrete or plant-mixed bituminous material. Off-street parking areas, access lanes, and driveways shall be graded and drained so as to dispose of surface waters. Surface water shall not be permitted to drain onto adjoining property, unless in accordance with an approved drainage plan. Grading, surfacing, and drainage plans shall be subject to review and approval by the township engineer.

6.

Curbs. A curb of at least six inches in height shall be installed to prevent motor vehicles from being driven or parked so that any part of the vehicle extends within two feet of abutting landscaped areas, sidewalks, streets, buildings, or adjoining property.

7.

Lighting. All parking areas, driveways, and walkways shall be illuminated to ensure the security of property and the safety of persons using such areas, in accordance with the requirements set forth in section 2.13. Parking lot entrances shall be illuminated.

8.

Buildings. No building or structure shall be permitted on an off-street parking lot, except for a maintenance building/attendant shelter, which shall not be more than 50 square feet in area and not more than 15 feet in height.

9.

Signs. Accessory directional signs shall be permitted in parking areas in accordance with the adopted sign ordinance [chapter 102 of the Township Code].

10.

Screening and landscaping. All off-street parking areas, except those serving single and two-family residences, shall be screened and landscaped in accordance with the provisions set forth in article 5.00.

E.

Recreational vehicles parking in residential districts. Any owner of camping and recreational equipment may park or store such equipment on residentially used property subject to the following conditions:

1.

Recreational vehicles parked or stored shall not have fixed connections to electricity, water, gas or sanitary sewer facilities, and at no time shall this equipment be used for living or housekeeping purposes.

2.

If the camping and recreational vehicle is parked or stored outside of a garage, it may be parked or stored between the front and rear building lines of a home provided that a side yard area between the vehicle and side property line of not less than ten feet is maintained. Otherwise, the vehicle must be stored to the rear of the rear building line, but never closer than three feet to a side or rear property line.

3.

Recreational vehicles may be parked in the owner's driveway for a period not to exceed three calendar days or any part thereof within a rolling seven-day period.

4.

All recreational vehicles must be kept in good repair, running condition and/or mobile. Further, they must carry a registration in the name of the occupant of the dwelling unit and a license that has not expired for a period of more than eight months.

5.

Recreational vehicles may not occupy more than 25 percent of the required rear yard.

6.

The parking or storage of an unoccupied mobile home, being a movable or portable dwelling, constructed to be towed on its own chassis and connected to utilities and designed without a permanent foundation for yearround living, is specifically prohibited, except in the RMH mobile home zoning district.

7.

Waiver of regulations. The provisions concerning location may be waived for a period of up to two weeks to permit the repair of the owner's or occupant's recreational vehicle, or to permit the parking of a recreational vehicle of a guest. Permits for any such waiver shall be obtained from building and inspection services. Not more than two permits shall be issued per address per calendar year. Permits shall be valid for a period of not more than two weeks in duration. Such vehicles shall be located in the driveway of the applicant's residence and shall not block the sidewalk, or have fixed utilities.

(Ord. of 9-4-2003; Ord. of 9-26-2006; Res. of 6-12-2008; Ord. of 5-25-2010; Ord. of 7-28-2015, § 1; Ord. of 3-18-2024(1))

A.

Scope of loading space requirements. Compliance with the loading space regulations set forth herein shall be required in order to avoid interference with the public use of streets, alleys, parking areas, driveways, sidewalks, and other public areas.

1.

General applicability. On the same premises with every building, or part thereof, erected and occupied for manufacturing, storage, warehousing, display of goods, including department stores, wholesale stores, markets, hotels, hospitals, mortuaries, laundries, dry cleaning establishments, and other uses involving the receipt or distribution of materials, merchandise, or vehicles, there shall be provided and maintained adequate space for loading and unloading as required in this section.

2.

Change in use or intensity. Whenever use of a building, structure, or lot is changed, loading space shall be provided as required by this ordinance for the new use, regardless of any variance which may have been in effect prior to change of use.

B.

General requirements.

1.

Location. Required loading space shall be located in the side or rear yard of the same zoning lot as the use being served. Loading space or access thereto shall not be located where loading/unloading operations will interfere with traffic on public streets or off-street parking.

2.

Size. Unless otherwise specified, each required loading space shall be a minimum of ten feet in width and 50 feet in length, with a vertical clearance of 15 feet.

3.

Surfacing and drainage. Loading areas shall be hard-surfaced with concrete or plant-mixed bituminous material. Loading areas shall be graded and drained so as to dispose of surface waters. Surface water shall not be permitted to drain onto adjoining property, unless in accordance with an approved drainage plan. Grading, surfacing, and drainage plans shall be subject to review and approval by the township engineer.

4.

Storage and repair prohibited. The storage of merchandise, sale of motor vehicles, storage of inoperable vehicles, or repair of vehicles is prohibited in required loading space.

5.

Use of loading space. Required loading space shall not be counted or used for required parking.

6.

Central loading. Central loading facilities may be substituted for individual loading spaces serving businesses on separate lots provided that all of the following conditions are fulfilled:

-

Each business served shall have direct access to the central loading area without crossing streets or alleys.

-

Total loading space provided shall meet the minimum requirements specified herein, in consideration of total floor area of all businesses served by the central loading space.

-

No building served shall be more than 500 feet from the central loading area.

7.

Minimum loading space. The amount of required loading space shall be determined in accordance with the schedule which follows. The planning commission may modify these requirements upon making the determination that another standard would be more appropriate because of the number or type of deliveries experienced by a particular business or use.

_____

SCHEDULE OF LOADING SPACE REQUIREMENTS

Footnote to schedule of loading space requirements:

1.

Establishments containing less than 2,000 square feet of gross floor area shall be provided with adequate off-street loading space that is accessible by motor vehicle, but which does not interfere with pedestrian or vehicular traffic.

_____

A.

Intent and purpose. The intent and purpose of this section is to facilitate the use of electric vehicles and to provide for the establishment of a convenient electric vehicle infrastructure that such use necessitates.

B.

Definitions. For the purposes of this ordinance, the following words and phrases shall have the meaning ascribed to them below.

1.

Accessible electric vehicle (EV) charging station: An electric vehicle charging station with a battery charging station accessible to a barrier-free parking space.

2.

Battery charging station: An electrical component assembly or cluster of component assemblies designed specifically to charge batteries within electric vehicles.

3.

Charging levels: The standardized indicator of electrical force, or voltage, at which an electric vehicle battery is recharged. The terms Level-1, Level-2, and Level-3 are the most common charging levels, and include the following specifications:

a.

Level-1 is considered slow charging, with up to 120 volts.

b.

Level-2 is considered medium charging, with more than 120 volts and up to 240 volts.

c.

Level-3 is considered fast or rapid charging, with more than 240 volts.

4.

Electric vehicle or EV: A motor vehicle that is licensed and registered for operation on public and private highways, roads, and streets with an electric motor powered by an on-board battery, including battery electric vehicles (BEVs) and plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs).

5.

EV-capable (EV-C): An installed electrical panel capacity with dedicated branch circuit(s) and cable/raceway (i.e., conduit) that is capped for future EV parking space(s).

6.

EV-ready (EV-R): An installed electrical panel capacity with a dedicated branch circuit(s) including conductor in a raceway or direct buried, terminated in an approved method in a junction box, for a future EV parking space(s).

7.

EV-installed (EV-I): An installed electrical panel capacity with a dedicated branch circuit(s) including conductor in a raceway or direct buried and an EV charging station capable of providing charge energy to an EV parking space(s).

8.

Electric vehicle (EV) charging station: A public or private parking space that is served by battery charging station equipment to transfer electric energy by conductive or inductive means to a battery or other energy storage device in an electric vehicle.

9.

Electric vehicle (EV) charging station - private restricted use: An EV charging station that is not available for use by the general public, such as privately-owned and restricted access (e.g., single-family homes, executive parking, designated employee parking, etc.) and publicly owned and restricted (e.g., fleet parking with no access to the general public).

10.

Electric vehicle (EV) charging station - public use: An EV charging station that is accessible to and available for use by the public, such as publicly-owned and publicly-available (e.g., park and ride lots, public library parking lot, on-street parking, etc.) and privately-owned and available to visitors of the use (e.g., shopping centers, etc.).

11.

Electric vehicle (EV) infrastructure: The raceway (i.e., conduit), conductors, structures, machinery, and equipment necessary and integral to support an electric vehicle, including battery charging stations and rapid charging stations.

12.

Electric vehicle (EV) parking space: Any marked parking space that identifies the use to be exclusively for the parking of an electric vehicle.

13.

Non-electric vehicle: A motor vehicle that does not meet the definition of electric vehicle.

C.

Permitted locations.

1.

Level-1 and Level-2 electric vehicle charging stations. Level-1 and Level-2 EV charging stations are permitted in all zoning districts when accessory to the principal permitted use. Such stations located at single-family dwellings, multi-family dwellings, mobile home park dwellings, and similar residential uses shall be for private restricted use only. Installation shall be subject to permit approval administered by the building and inspection services division and, if necessary, the planning services division.

2.

Level-3 electric vehicle charging stations. Level-3 EV charging stations are permitted in all zoning districts when accessory to the principal permitted use. Installation shall be subject to permit approval administered by Planning Services Division and Building and Inspection Services Division.

3.

Retail electric vehicle charging as a principal use. If the primary use of the parcel is the retail electric charging of vehicles, then the use shall meet the requirements of § 6.02(C) of this ordinance for a gasoline service station. Installation shall be subject to special land use approval where permitted. This requirement does not apply to EV charging stations located adjacent to on-street parking in a public right-of-way.

D.

General requirements.

1.

Permits. All necessary building and electrical permits must be obtained before installation of the EV charging station.

2.

Design Requirements. EV charging stations and EV parking spaces shall meet the following design requirements:

a.

Equipment Protection. EV charging stations shall be protected by concrete-filled steel bollards or shall be located at least 24 inches from the face of the curb. This requirement does not apply to stations on single-family residential property.

b.

Pedestrian Access. Equipment mounted on pedestals, lighting posts, bollards, or other devices shall not impede pedestrians or create trip hazards. EV charging stations and all ancillary structures installed adjacent to a sidewalk shall maintain a five (5) foot wide clearance for the sidewalk.

c.

Retracting Cords. Public use EV charging stations must have self-retracting cords or another acceptable design to ensure safe storage of the cord when not in use.

d.

Setbacks. Structures installed as part of the EV charging station, including solar collector-equipped panels and canopies, shelters, carports, and similar structures, may be located in any yard setback area provided that all structures must meet the setback requirements from wetlands and watercourses pursuant to §2.24.

e.

Area and Height. All structures installed as part of the EV charging station, including solar collector-equipped panels and canopies, shelters, carports, and similar structures, shall meet the area and height requirements of the applicable zoning district.

3.

Parking.

a.

The parking space for an EV charging station must meet all requirements of § 4.01, Off-Street Parking Requirements, for parking spaces.

b.

An approved existing parking space may be converted to an EV parking space.

c.

EV charging stations for public use are reserved for parking and charging electric vehicles only. Any vehicle parked in an EV charging station that is not charging is in violation of this ordinance.

4.

Accessible spaces. Where a public use EV charging station is required, the EV charging station must provide at least one (1) accessible EV charging station. Accessible EV charging stations must be located in close proximity to the building or facility entrance and provided with a barrier-free accessible route of travel.

5.

Lighting. Exterior lighting shall be provided for EV charging stations in accordance with §2.13 Lighting. EV charging stations on single-family residential sites are not required to provide exterior lighting.

6.

Screening. Mechanical equipment, including transformers, generators, and similar equipment, must be screened in accordance with §5.02(D)(2), Screening of Utility Substation and Mechanical Equipment.

7.

Signage. EV charging stations, excluding those for private restricted use on single-family residential lots, shall be posted as described below.

a.

Each EV charging station space shall be posted with signs consistent with the Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices indicating the EV charging station space is only for use by electric vehicles for charging. Days and hours of operations shall be included if time limits or tow away provisions are to be enforced. For the purposes of this subsection, "charging" means that an electric vehicle is parked at an EV charging station and is connected to the battery charging station equipment.

b.

The voltage and amperage levels, time of use, usage fees, safety information, and other pertinent information shall be posted at each EV charging station.

c.

Time limits may be placed on the number of hours that an electric vehicle is allowed to charge, prohibiting indefinite charging. If applicable, warnings shall be posted to alert charging station users about hours of use and possible actions affecting EV charging stations that are not being used according to posted rules.

8.

Maintenance. EV charging stations and EV infrastructure shall be maintained and operated in accordance with the equipment specifications and all applicable codes, including fire code and electrical code. The property owner and equipment owner, jointly and severally, shall be responsible for the proper functioning of the EV charging stations and EV infrastructure. A phone number or other contact information shall be provided on the equipment for reporting non-functioning equipment, malfunctioning equipment, or other problems encountered with the equipment.

9.

Usage fees. The property owner may collect a service fee for the use of an EV charging station made available to visitors of the property, except that a private restricted use EV charging station on a single-family residential site cannot collect a fee.

E.

Required electric vehicle installations.

1.

Required number of EV charging stations and EV parking spaces. EV charging stations and EV parking spaces shall be installed pursuant to Table 4-1 for new buildings, new parking lots, when an existing parking lot is expanded or reconstructed, and when an existing building is increased by 25 percent or 3,000 square feet, whichever is less.

Table 4-1

2.

Modifications.

a.

The planning commission may grant a modification from Table 4-1 to allow fewer EV charging stations upon finding that the characteristics of the use or proposed development would make the required number of EV charging stations unnecessary and/or impractical.

b.

As a condition of approval for a special land use or planned development, the planning commission may recommend and the township board may require the EV charging stations required in Table 4-1 to be EV-I and/or Level-3.

(Ord. of 6-11-2024(2))