Advances in industry and technology have created uses which are related to industry and office uses, but may not be appropriate or function adequately in a typical industrial or office zoning district. These uses have been identified as "high-tech" uses. The purpose of the T-R, Technology and Research District (T-R District) is to provide an environment where high-tech uses and functions such as engineering, design, research and development, photonics/optics, computer assisted design, robotics research, numerical control equipment (CAD/CAM), prototype development and limited manufacturing, biotechnology lasers, medical research, food and materials testing, telecommunications, and related storage, warehousing and limited assembly operations associated with principal permitted uses can be located. The T-R District will be located in a campus-type environment and so situated that uses will be developed without being negatively impacted by elements and conditions which are commonly found in a traditional industrial district and without negatively impacting uses found in an Office Service District.

(Ord. No. 00-831, 11-8-2000)

   A.   Principal uses and structures. In all areas zoned T-R, Technology and Research District, no building shall be erected, used, or structurally altered, nor shall the land or premises be used in whole or in part, except for one or more of the following principal permitted uses:

      1.   Any use charged with the principal function of basic research, research and development design, and prototype or experimental product development.

      2.   Any use charged with the principal function of technical training.

      3.   Office buildings, providing for uses such as corporate offices in accordance with the purpose of this district, including any of the following occupations: executive; administrative, professional; accounting; engineering; architecture; drafting; writing; clerical; stenographic; and sales provided that no display shall be visible from the exterior of the building, and that the total area devoted to product display, including both the objects displayed and the floor space set aside for the persons observing the displayed objects, shall not exceed fifteen percent (15%) of the usable floor area of the establishment.

      4.   Data processing and computer centers, including service and maintenance of electronic data processing equipment.

      5.   Any use charged with the principal function of research in the areas of photonics/optics, robotics, and electronic equipment.

      6.   A high-technology service activity which has as its principal function the providing of services including computer, information transfer, communication, distribution, processing, administrative, laboratory, experimental, developmental, technical, or testing services.

      7.   A high-technology industrial activity which has as its principal function limited manufacture for the purposes of one-time prototype production robotics, biological or pharmaceutical research, or technology oriented or emerging industrial or business activity not involving any heavy manufacturing.

      8.   A business activity which has as its primary function developing, improving, or creating new or existing products.

      9.   Limited assembly and machining operations, when adjunct to research and development activities occurring at the same locations, and subject to the following conditions:

         (a)   Assembly activities shall be limited to assembly of premanufactured finished objects or components, arid shall include only small-volume, nonroutine production of innovative products or equipment.

         (b)   Machining shall be permitted on a limited basis and only for research and development activities, repair, demonstration and/or training.

         (c)   Assembly operations shall be located within a building so that floor area used for this purpose will at no point be within three hundred (300) feet of residentially zoned land. This requirement may be waived by the plan commission, if it is determined that there are natural features of characteristics of the property or adjacent property that would provide a natural separation between limited assembly operations in a building and adjacent residentially zoned land.

      1.   Medical or dental clinics and offices.

(Ord. No. 00-831, 11-8-2000; Ord. No. 19-1647, 5-7-2019)

   A.   Required conditions. Except as otherwise noted, buildings and uses in the T-R, Technology and Research District shall comply with the following requirements:

      1.   Site Plan Review and approval by the city planner for all uses as specified in Article 32.00 of this ordinance.

      2.   Off-street parking for all uses as specified in Article 4.00 of this ordinance.

      3.   Off-street loading and unloading for all uses as specified in Article 4.00 of this ordinance.

      4.   Screening and land use buffers for all uses as specified in Article 5.00 of this ordinance.

      5.   Signs for all uses as regulated by the City Ordinance, Chapter 5, Article XII.

      6.   Height, area, lot coverage and yard regulations as specified in Article 29.00 of this ordinance.

      7.   The following specific requirements shall apply within T-R, Technology and Research District:

         (a)   Machines permitted. All machines are permitted when installed and operated so as to not allow noise, odor, fumes, dust, smoke, glare or radioactive material exceeding the limits set forth in Performance Standards, Article 8.00.

         (b)   Performance standards. Compliance with the Performance Standards in Article 8.00 is required for all uses.

         (c)   Fire safety requirements. The use of flammable gas, enameling and paint spraying operations shall be permitted when incidental to the principal operation and when such operations are contained within a masonry building of four-hour fire construction.

         (d)   Source of power. Power for any manufacturing or heating process or activity shall be derived only from electrical energy, smokeless fuels, such as gas or oil, smokeless solid fuels containing less than twenty percent (20%) of the volatile content on a dry basis, and bituminous coal fired by mechanical equipment.

         (e)   Yard grading and drainage. All yards in T-R, Technology and Research District shall be graded in a manner which shall avoid the ponding of stormwater unless said conditions have been designed to occur as part of a storm[water] detention plan which has been approved by the City of Dearborn and such grading shall comply with the engineering design standards for the City of Dearborn. A detailed grading plan shall be submitted by the builder and shall be approved by the City of Dearborn prior to issuance of a permit.

         (f)   Emergency access. All buildings shall be readily accessible by fire and emergency vehicles and shall comply with the current Michigan Fire Prevention Code.

         (g)   Outdoor lighting. Lighting shall be provided in an amount which shall be sufficient to permit safe movement of vehicles and pedestrian at night.

         (h)   Trash removal. The method of trash removal shall be presented to the plan commission for approval, if dumpsters or compactors are proposed, they shall be located within the building.

         (i)   Fencing and screen walls. Fences and screen walls shall require review and approval by the plan commission as a part of the site plan approval.

(Ord. No. 00-831, 11-8-2000)