Grosse Ile Township
City Zoning Code
City Zoning Code
ARTICLE 11
PRD Public Recreation District
[Ord. No. 245, effective 10-27-1997]
285-11.1 Intent.
The purpose of the PRD Public Recreation District is to enhance the quality of life in the community by preserving certain public lands characterized by distinctive natural features for the enjoyment and benefit of all residents of the Township, to be used as passive recreation areas. Distinctive natural features may include, but are not limited to, woodlands, wildlife habitat, wetlands, or other ecologically significant lands.
It is the further intent of this district to preserve certain open lands for the enjoyment and benefit of all residents of the Township for use as active recreation areas and facilities where playground and sports activities may occur. Such active or passive recreation areas should be located where the activities occurring thereon will minimize disturbance to nearby residential uses.
285-11.2 Permitted uses.
Principal uses. In the PRD Public Recreation District no building shall be erected and no building or land shall be used except for the following uses, and subject to the standards and requirements set forth in this chapter and the review procedures in Article 21, Site Plan Review. The following shall apply to each individual use which may be located on a lot with other uses.
Outdoor recreation activities which do not cause excessive noise or impact on the environment, including but not limited to nature study, hiking and horseback riding, boating, fishing and cross-country skiing;
Forest preserves and natural areas;
Conservation of soil, vegetation, water, fish and wildlife; and
On-site driveways and roads where alternative means of access are proven to be impractical.
Accessory buildings and uses. The following accessory buildings and uses shall be permitted, subject to the provisions set forth in Article 19:
Accessory buildings and uses which are customarily incidental to the principal use on the lot, subject to the same required conditions that are applicable to the principal uses. Such accessory uses may include, but are not limited to:
Outside storage, subject to the following standards:
Proposed outside storage of materials, supplies, equipment, or other goods shall be accessory to a permitted use and shall be shown on the site plan.
Outside storage areas shall be set back a minimum of 100 feet from all property lines.
All outside storage area(s) shall be completely accessible to fire and emergency vehicles. All proposed outside storage areas shall be reviewed and approved by the Fire Chief.
Special land uses. The following uses shall be permitted as special land uses in the PRD Public Recreation District subject to the following requirements and subject to the review procedures in Article 22, Special Land Use Review. The following shall apply to each individual use which may be located on a lot with other uses.
Parks and playgrounds;
Fields for baseball, football, soccer, and similar sports;
Ice rinks (indoor and outdoor);
Community centers;
Park or recreation administration buildings;
Stables, kennels and structures for the keeping and raising of livestock and other domesticated animals, subject to the following conditions:
The minimum lot area shall be five acres.
The building wherein animals are kept shall be set back a minimum of 100 feet from any lot line.
Such facilities shall be subject to conditions and requirements set forth by the Planning Commission during site plan review necessary to ensure against the occurrence of any possible nuisance (i.e., fencing, soundproofing, and sanitary requirements).
All animals shall be kept indoors between the hours of 10:00 p.m. and 6:00 a.m.
Kennels shall be operated in conformance with all applicable county and state regulations.
An operations/management plan must be submitted as a part of site plan review.
Special event campsites, subject the following conditions:
Minimum lot size shall be 10 acres.
Development features, including accessory structures, shall be located and related to minimize adverse effects on adjacent properties. Minimum setbacks for any buildings, structures or use areas shall be 200 feet from any property line abutting a residential district.
Accessory structures shall be set back 50 feet from the edge of any wetland or the shoreline of any pond, river, stream or drain.
Each campsite shall be provided with water and sanitary service approved by the Health Department or have convenient access to approved service buildings.
Uses not permitted. Uses which generate excessive traffic or noise, alter the natural terrain or features of the site, create noxious fumes or other air pollutants, or disturb the peace shall not be permitted in the PRD Public Recreation District because these uses typically have characteristics which are incompatible with the intent and purposes of the PRD Public Recreation District. Such uses may include, but are not limited to:
285-11.3 Required conditions.
Site plan review. Submission of a site plan for review and approval by the Planning Commission shall be required, in accordance with the provisions set forth in Article 21, Site Plan Review, prior to issuance of a building permit and development in the PRD Public Recreation District.
Natural features standards. All PRD Public Recreation District uses shall be developed to preserve the natural features of the site, in accordance with the intent of the district, and shall comply with the following standards:
Building shall not be developed on areas with slopes greater than 13%, unless the Planning Commission determines that there is no alternative to locating the building within the steeply sloped area. Trails located in areas with slopes greater than 13% shall be designed to minimize impact to slopes.
Storm drainage facilities shall be designed to provide a naturalistic appearance in terms of natural shape, shallow depth, minimum side slopes and perimeter landscaping.
There shall be no structures or fill material placed within the one-hundred-year floodplain, except that landscaping, trails and passive recreation facilities that do not obstruct the flow of the floodway may be allowed within the one-hundred-year floodplain by the Planning Commission during site plan review.
All site plans shall be designed to minimize impact to woodlands, as demonstrated to the satisfaction of the Planning Commission during site plan review.
Public access.
All PRD Public Recreation District uses shall have direct access onto a public hard-surfaced street, except that indirect access onto a public street may be permitted where the Planning Commission determines that such an alternative would promote traffic safety and would not cause undue disruption to surrounding properties.
All street, roads, and access drives shall be concrete or asphalt and be designed and constructed in accordance with Chapter 205, Roads and Driveways, and the standards of the Wayne County Department of Public Services and the Township Engineer. The Planning Commission has the discretion to modify the design standards for roads that are internal to the PRD Public Recreation District where such modification will enhance preservation of natural features.
Landscaping and buffering.
Submission of a landscape plan to the Planning Commission for review and approval shall be required; provided, however, the Planning Commission may waive this requirement in consideration of the proposed use, existing natural vegetation, and the need for additional landscaping. In the event a landscape plan is required, it shall specify plant materials and landscape treatment, based on requirements set forth in Article 13. The landscape plan shall be a part of or accompany the site plan.
Buildings, outside storage areas, and parking areas in the PRD Public Recreation District shall be screened from view from any adjoining residential property. Such screening shall consist of a continuous obscuring wall or landscaped screen in accordance with Article 13, Landscaping, Screening and Walls.
During site plan review, the Planning Commission may require a combination of trees, shrubs, fences or berms to buffer recreational facilities from adjacent residential areas.
Off-street parking and loading requirements. PRD Public Recreation District uses shall provide off-street parking and loading in accordance with the provisions set forth in Article 12.
Grading requirements. Any grading, excavating, filling, land balancing, or similar activity shall require a grading permit and shall conform to the grading regulations set forth in Chapter 124, Grading.
[Amended 7-22-2002]
Waterfront regulations. All development along the Detroit River and interior canals shall conform to the waterfront regulations set forth in Article 17.
Covered trash receptacle. The proposed method of trash collection and disposal shall meet the requirements of Article 19 and be indicated on the site plan.
285-11.4 Area and bulk regulations.
Any structure or use of land in a PRD Public Recreation District shall be subject to the following area and bulk regulations:
Minimum lot area | See1 |
Minimum setback from all property lines | 50 feet |
Natural feature setback | See2 |
Maximum height of all structures | 35 feet |
Notes: | ||
1 The minimum lot area shall be based on the requirements for parking, landscaping, vehicular and pedestrian circulation, and conditions set forth herein, unless otherwise specified. | ||
2 Natural feature setback shall be maintained in relation to the ordinary high water mark of any pond, river or channel and to the edge of any drainageway or regulated wetland. Only waterfront structures and appurtenances, as permitted in Article 17, Waterfront Provisions, may be located within the natural feature setback. This setback may be reduced by the Planning Commission upon a determination that it is clearly in the public interest. In determining whether the setback reduction is in the public interest, the benefit which would reasonably be expected to accrue from the proposed development shall be balanced against the reasonably foreseeable detriments to the natural feature. The following general criteria shall be applied in undertaking this balancing test: | ||
a. | The relative extent of the public and private need for the proposed activity. | |
b. | The availability of feasible and prudent alternative locations and methods to accomplish the expected benefits from the activity, including alternatives which are off site or on other commercially available properties. | |
c. | The extent and permanence of the beneficial or detrimental effects which the proposed activity may have on the public and private use to which the area is suited, including the benefits the natural feature provides. | |
d. | The probable impact of the proposal in relation to the cumulative effect created by other existing and anticipated activities in the watershed. | |
e. | The probable impact on recognized historic, cultural, scenic, ecological, or recreational values and on the public health or fish or wildlife. | |
f. | The size and quality of the natural feature. | |
g. | Proximity to any waterway. | |
h. | Extent to which upland soil erosion adjacent to the natural feature is controlled. | |
i. | Economic value, both public and private, of the proposed land change to the general area. | |
j. | Findings of necessity for the proposed project which have been made by other state or local agencies. | |