It is the intent of the regulations for this district to promote the maintenance of farm and open space areas, while at the same time provide for special uses of a non-farm nature, which will not detract from the basic objectives of this district. The purpose of these regulations are to control the development of non-farm uses of land within areas of the township devoted primarily to open space, woodlands and farmland.

(Ord. 06-14-Z, passed 10-3-2006; Ord. 06-14, passed 10-17-2006)

   Following are the principal permitted uses by right within the A-l district:

   (A)   Single-family dwelling structures;

   (B)   State licensed residential facilities which provide resident service for six or fewer persons, such as family day care homes, adult foster care family homes, foster family homes, or foster family group homes, subject to the regulations in Section 206(3) of Public Act 110 of 2006, as amended.

   (C)   Conservation development, in accordance with standards in § 155.405 through § 155.417;

   (D)   Open space residential development, as outlined by the Zoning Enabling Act, being M.C.L.A. § 125.3506, subject to the requirements in § 155.416;

   (E)   General farming and forestry including field crop and fruit farming, truck gardening, horticulture, aviaries, hatcheries, apiaries, greenhouses, tree nurseries and similar agricultural enterprises;

   (F)   Specialized farming including the raising and keeping of small animals and livestock;

   (G)   A minimum of five acres is required for the raising and keeping livestock such as, but not limited to, horses, cows, pigs, sheep and goats. Up to two animals may be kept on five acres and one additional animal may be kept for each additional two acres up to a maximum of ten acres. This division (G) should not be construed to limit operations on larger parcels;

   (H)   Public and private conservation areas and structures for the conservation of water, soil, open space, forest or wildlife resources;

   (I)   Grain and seed elevators and sales; cold storage for cooperative and/or wholesale agricultural products; and similar enterprises when directly related to agriculture; and provided, the use does not create harmful or nuisance conditions for adjacent areas and uses therein;

   (J)   Customary accessory uses to any of the permitted uses listed in the A-1 district and as defined in the definitions;

   (K)   Cemeteries, public or private, subject to the conditions specified for R-1 districts;

   (L)   Roadside stands selling products grown by the owner of the property upon which the stand is located; provided that, the contiguous space for the parking of customer's vehicles is furnished off the public right-of-way at the ratio of one parking space for each 15 square feet of roadside stand floor area; and

   (M)   Private airplane landing strips, subject to the following conditions:

      (1)   A strip shall be for the exclusive private use of the landowner and shall be situated wholly within the confines of this property;

      (2)   No commercial aviation or other commercial activity of any sort shall be associated with the existence or functioning of the strip; and

      (3)   Aircraft using a landing strip shall be limited to those owned or hired by the property owner and used only for personal travel or recreation, crop-dusting and similar limited activity.

(Ord. 06-14-Z, passed 10-3-2006; Ord. 06-14, passed 10-17-2006; Ord. 09-02, passed 10-20-2009; Ord. 16-05, passed 5-16-2016)

   The following uses of land and structure may be permitted in the A-1 district by the application for an issuance of a special use permit when all the procedural requirements specified in this chapter, together with all applicable standards as cited in §§ 155.305 through 155.319 are met:

   (A)   Public parks and recreation areas;

   (B)   Camps;

   (C)   Wireless communication facilities;

   (D)   Sand, clay and gravel pits, or quarries;

   (E)   Agri-business processing and storage facilities used to serve farm products grown in the vicinity;

   (F)   Golf courses, golf academies or country clubs;

   (G)   Riding stables and livestock auction yards;

   (H)   Places of worship;

   (I)   Special open space uses such as commercial campgrounds, expositions, day camps, as well as, nature centers and other similar uses;

   (J)   Veterinary hospitals and clinics;

   (K)   Kennels;

   (L)   Pet grooming establishment; and

   (M)   Public utilities and service installations as defined within the definitions and § 155.316 and the pertinent development requirements contained herein.

(Ord. 06-14-Z, passed 10-3-2006; Ord. 06-14, passed 10-17-2006; Ord. 09-02, passed 10-20-2009; Ord. 12-001, passed 2-21-2012)

   (A)   Minimum lot size.

      (1)   Each lot shall contain a minimum of 43,560 square feet per dwelling unit.

      (2)   Each lot shall be a minimum of 150 feet in width at the front of the building.

   (B)   Minimum yard requirement.

      (1)   Each lot shall have a minimum front yard of 60 feet.

      (2)   Each lot shall have a total side yard of at least 35 feet, with a minimum of 15 feet on one side.

      (3)   Each lot shall have a minimum rear yard of 40 feet.

      (4)   In the case of a corner lot, the side yard on the street side shall not be less than 60 feet and the remaining side yard shall be not less than 15 feet.

   (C)   Minimum floor area per dwelling unit. Each dwelling unit shall have a minimum floor area of 1,100 square feet.

   (D)   Maximum building height.

      (1)   Two and one-half stories or 35 feet.

      (2)   Exceptions (refer to § 155.065).

   (E)   Maximum lot coverage. Thirty percent in A-1 district.

(Ord. 06-14-Z, passed 10-3-2006; Ord. 06-14, passed 10-17-2006)