It is the intent of this article to require site plan review and approval prior to issuance of a zoning compliance permit for certain buildings, structures and uses to ensure that the arrangement, location, design and materials within a site are consistent with the character of the City and the goals and design guidelines in the Design Lansing Comprehensive Plan, the regulations in this Zoning Ordinance, and compliance with other City ordinances related to development. In particular, the standards herein are intended to minimize negative impacts on natural resources, utility systems, public service delivery, traffic operations, pedestrian and bicyclist safety, adjacent neighborhood or district character, and the character of future development.

It is further the intent of this article to bring existing sites that do not conform with current standards of this chapter into greater conformity when uses change or an exterior renovation or expansion is proposed.

(Ord. No. 1331, § 1, 5-5-25)

(a)

Except for individual single or two-family principal or accessory structures, a site plan shall be submitted to the Planning Office for all of the following activities:

(1)

Construction of a new building or building addition that is 1,000 square feet or greater in area;

(2)

Structural alteration of an existing structure or a change of use when the effect of the alteration or change is to increase the intensity of the land use;

(3)

Excavation or filling of ground within the boundaries of the 100-year base floodplain;

(4)

The installation of 1,000 square feet or more of new impervious surface;

(5)

A manufactured housing community;

(6)

An activity which relocates a structure from one lot to another lot or within the same lot; and

(7)

Mass grading of topography and/or grading that alters the existing site drainage patterns.

(b)

The Planning Office may waive the requirement of site plan review when the Planning Office and all other City departments that are charged with reviewing site plans, including the Board of Water and Light, are in agreement that there is no reasonable need for site plan review under the circumstances involved.

(Ord. No. 1331, § 1, 5-5-25)

The Zoning Administrator may deny, approve, or approve with conditions the plan based on the following design standards that apply in addition to the applicable use and dimensional regulations:

(a)

Site design characteristics. All elements of the plan shall be designed to take into account the site's topography; the size and type of lot; the character of adjoining property; the type and size of buildings; pedestrian circulation and the traffic operations of adjacent streets. The site shall be developed so as not to impede the normal and orderly development or improvement of surrounding property for uses permitted in this ordinance.

(b)

Building design. The building design shall relate to the surrounding area in regard to texture, scale, mass, and proportion. The quality of building design and construction materials shall be in accordance with the requirements of Chapter 1246 - Architectural Standards. Buildings shall be designed to take advantage of natural heating, cooling, and buffering opportunities and incorporate energy efficient fixtures.

(c)

Change of use and redevelopment. For changes of use and site alterations or building expansions, the Zoning Administrator shall determine the extent of improvement required in relation to the extent of change proposed. In particular the Zoning Administrator may require changes to improve public safety; closure or redesign of driveways; redesign or resurfacing of parking and loading areas; installation of curbing; replacement or additions to landscaping or screening; upgrades to lighting; relocation and enclosure of waste receptacles; and upgrades to the building exterior.

(d)

Preservation or conservation of significant natural features. The landscape shall be preserved in its natural state, insofar as practicable, by minimizing tree and soil removal, alteration to the natural drainage courses, and the amount of cutting, filling and grading. Views of the river shall be preserved and protected. Insofar as practical, natural features and the site topography shall be incorporated into the proposed site design.

(e)

Preservation of capital views. The design shall be considerate of existing public views of Michigan's State Capitol.

(f)

Streets. All streets shall be developed in accordance with the City of Lansing engineering standards. All streets shall be designed to accommodate multiple modes of transportation (autos, trucks, transit pedestrians and bicyclists). Street connections shall be provided where necessary to enhance vehicular, pedestrian and bicycle connectivity to surrounding neighborhoods.

(g)

Access, driveways and circulation. Safe, convenient, uncongested and well defined vehicular circulation within and to the site shall be provided and shall meet the following criteria:

(1)

Drives, streets, parking and other elements shall be designed to discourage through traffic, while promoting safe and efficient traffic operations within the site and at its access points.

(2)

The number of access points shall be the minimum necessary to provide reasonable access to the property.

(3)

Access to the site shall be designed to minimize conflicts with traffic on adjacent streets, particularly to avoid conflicts with traffic operations at street intersections and associated with left turns into and from the site. The City may require closure or relocation or redesign of access points, or a redesign of on-site parking and circulation, to improve operations and safety.

(4)

For uses having frontage and/or access on a major street, the number, design, and location of access driveways and other provisions for vehicular circulation shall comply with the provisions of Chapter 1254 - Parking. The City may require shared access with adjacent parcels with a shared access agreement, especially where safe access spacing from intersections or other driveways cannot be provided on a site.

(5)

All driveways shall meet the design and construction standards of the City or the MDOT for access along state routes.

(h)

Emergency vehicle access. Site circulation, parking lot design, and buildings or groups of buildings shall be arranged so as to permit emergency vehicle access as required by the Fire Department and Police Department.

(i)

Sidewalks, pedestrian and bicycle circulation. Safe pedestrian circulation and access to building entrances shall be provided. Conflicts between pedestrian pathways and traffic circulation shall be minimized to the extent practical. In locations where transit is available, convenient pedestrian access shall be provided from the building entrance to the transit stop. Pedestrian circulation shall be as provided in Section 1250.04.06 - Pedestrian and Bicycle Oriented Design Features.

(j)

Parking. The number and dimensions of off-street parking spaces shall be sufficient to meet the minimum required by Chapter 1254 - Parking. Parking lots shall be designed to minimize the amount of impermeable surface. Bicycle parking shall be provided as required in Section 1254.02.

(k)

Loading. All loading and unloading areas and outside storage areas, including waste receptacles, shall be accessed and screened in accordance with Section 1254.01.17 - Loading.

(l)

Waste receptacles. Waste receptacles shall be provided as required in Section 1250.04.04 - Waste Receptacles and Enclosures.

(m)

Lighting. Exterior lighting shall be arranged so that it is deflected away from adjacent properties and so that it does not impede the vision of traffic along adjacent streets in accordance with Section 1250.04.03 - Exterior Lighting.

(n)

Mechanical equipment and utilities. Mechanical equipment and utilities, including roof-, building- and ground-mounted, shall be screened in accordance with the requirements of Section 1250.04.02 - Mechanical Equipment.

(o)

Landscaping. Landscaping, landscape buffers and greenbelts shall be provided and designed in accordance with the provisions of Chapter 1252 - Landscaping. Potable water consumption for irrigation shall be minimized to the extent practical through utilization of plant species that minimizes the need for irrigation, irrigation efficiency, use of captured rainwater or use of recycled wastewater.

(p)

Utilities and storm water management. Public water and sewer facilities shall be available or shall be provided for by the developer as part of the site development. All utilities and storm water management facilities shall be reviewed and approved by the city engineer. Low impact stormwater management techniques shall be used wherever possible such as pervious pavement, bio-swales, rain gardens and green roofs.

(q)

Noise. The site has been designed, buildings so arranged, and activities/equipment programmed to minimize the emission of noise, particularly for sites adjacent to residential districts and to comply with the City's noise ordinance.

(r)

Other agency reviews. The applicant has provided documentation of compliance with other appropriate agency review standards, including, but not limited to, the Board of Water and Light, the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy (EGLE), Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT) and other Federal, State and county agencies, as applicable.

(Ord. No. 1331, § 1, 5-5-25)

A site plan shall be dated, submitted in electronic format, drawn to a scale of not less than one inch equals 50 feet, if the subject property is less than three acres, and one inch equals 100 feet, if three acres or more. The site plan shall contain all of the following information, provided that the Zoning Administrator may waive certain submittal requirements for a reoccupancy or minor change on an existing site where it is determined such information is not necessary to determine compliance with this ordinance:

(a)

The names, addresses, telephone number and email address of the applicant, owner and the architect, engineer, or other design professional who prepared the plan;

(b)

The parcel numbers, addresses and legal descriptions of all parcels that are related to the project for which site plan approval is being sought;

(c)

Location map and north arrow;

(d)

Existing and proposed lot lines, acreage and dimensions of the site including width, length and frontage;

(e)

Locations and dimensions for all existing and proposed easements, sidewalks, fire lanes, streets/alley rights-of-way;

(f)

Location of existing access points (driveways) adjacent to, and across the street from, the site including the spacing from the proposed access points;

(g)

Location and dimensions (width, radii, grades) of proposed access points and existing or proposed acceleration/deceleration tapers or lanes along or adjacent to the site;

(h)

Location of all existing and proposed buildings;

(i)

Required and proposed setbacks for all buildings and parking lots;

(j)

The height of all proposed buildings and structures;

(k)

The location and dimensions of all bicycle parking spaces, vehicular parking spaces/aisles, loading and unloading areas and driveways on or within 120 feet of the site;

(l)

Number of required and proposed vehicular and bicycle parking spaces;

(m)

The location of all existing and proposed right-of-way trees and a landscaping, screening and buffering plan that demonstrates compliance with the requirements of Chapter 1252 - Landscaping;

(n)

The location and enclosure details for all waste receptacles;

(o)

A photometric plan and a detail of the proposed exterior lighting poles/fixtures;

(p)

Existing and proposed land elevations and/or contours to appropriately illustrate and direction of drainage flow;

(q)

The location and elevations of existing water courses and water bodies, including county drains and manmade surface drainage ways, floodplains, and wetlands;

(r)

A soil erosion and sedimentation control plan unless no earth changes are proposed as part of the site plan (an associated permit may also be required consistent with the requirements of City of Lansing Ordinance 1218.06);

(s)

Where required consistent with City of Lansing Ordinance 1219.04, a proposed, post-construction storm water management plan consistent with the requirements of Chapter 1219 of the City Code, including design of storm sewers, stormwater outlets, and stormwater retention or detention ponds;

(t)

The location and status of any floor drains in existing or proposed structures on the site. The point of discharge for all drains and pipes shall be specified on the site plan;

(u)

Location of any on-site wastewater treatment and disposal systems;

(v)

Location of existing and proposed public water mains, public and private drinking water wells, monitoring wells, irrigation wells, test wells or wells used for industrial processes;

(w)

Inventory of hazardous substances (including CAS numbers) to be stored, used or generated on-site, presented in a format acceptable to the City Fire Marshal;

(x)

Descriptions of type of operations proposed for the project and drawings show size, location, and description of any proposed interior or exterior areas of structures for storing, using, loading or unloading of hazardous substances, hazardous wastes, and/or polluting materials;

(y)

Description and location for any existing or proposed above-ground and below-ground storage tanks;

(z)

Delineation of areas on the site which are known or suspected to be contaminated, together with a report on the status of cleanup or closure.

(Ord. No. 1331, § 1, 5-5-25)

(a)

Property which is the subject of site plan approval must be developed in strict compliance with the approved site plan including any approved revisions, amendments or modifications made thereto. Failure to conform to the approved site plan shall constitute a violation of this chapter. In order to assure compliance with the approved site plan, a completion bond equivalent to the value of the site work shall be submitted to the Planning Office prior to commencement of construction. If construction and development does not conform to the approved plan, the approval thereof shall be revoked by the Zoning Administrator by written notice of such revocation. Upon revocation of such approval, all further construction activities shall cease upon the site, other than for the purpose of correcting the violation. If necessary based upon continued noncompliance, the City may also elect to invoke the provisions of the completion bond for the purposes of mobilizing forces to correct any noncompliant aspects of the development. The completion bond shall be released by the Planning Office upon confirmation that the development is compliant with the approved site plan including any approved revisions, amendments or modifications made thereto.

(b)

For all approved site plans, as-built drawings for all site work and utility construction shall be submitted to the Public Service Department within 14 days of completion of construction.

(c)

No certificate of occupancy for any development on a site subject to the requirements of this chapter shall be issued until all components of the approved site plan are completed and in place.

(d)

The approval of any site plan under this provision shall expire one year after the date of such approval, unless actual construction and development have been commenced in accordance with said site plan prior thereto. If such construction and development is commenced within said one-year period, then such approval shall continue for a period of two years from the date thereof; provided, however, that should a lapse of more than six months in continuous substantial construction and development not occur, said approval shall expire.

(Ord. No. 1331, § 1, 5-5-25)