The Zoning District Map of Lawrence Township, Michigan, and subsequent amendments to the text shall be certified and bear the signature of the Lawrence Township Clerk and the Township Supervisor. The Map shall be attested to by the Clerk and shall bear the following words: "This is to certify that the above map is the Official Zoning Map of this chapter, adopted on the 24th day of October, 2002."

If amendments are made in district boundaries or other matters depicted on the Official Zoning Map, such changes shall not be considered final, and building permits shall not be issued until the appropriate amendments have been made on the Official Zoning Map. Such amendments shall be made within 10 normal working days after the effective date of the amendment. Each amendment shall be accompanied by a reference number on the Map, which shall refer to the official action of the Board of Trustees. One copy of the Official Zoning Map shall be maintained and kept up-to-date in the office of the Clerk of Lawrence Township. A second copy shall be kept in the office of the County Clerk. A third copy shall be kept in the office of the Building Official.

Every building or structure erected, any use of land, building or structure, any structural alteration or relocation of an existing building or structure and any enlargement of, or addition to, an existing use of land, building or structure occurring after the effective date of this chapter shall be subject to all regulations of this chapter which are applicable within the zoning district in which such land use, building or structure shall be located.

Uses are permitted by right only if specifically listed as uses permitted by right in the various zoning districts. Accessory uses are permitted as indicated in the various zoning districts, and if such uses are clearly incidental to the permitted principal uses. Special uses are permitted as listed, or where provided for, and if the required conditions are met.

A use of land, buildings, or structures not specifically mentioned in the provision of this chapter shall be classified upon appeal by the applicant or by request of the Building Official to the Planning Commission. A decision of the Planning Commission may be appealed by either party to the Zoning Board of Appeals.

When setback areas, open space areas, off-street parking areas or loading areas are required for compliance with this chapter in connection with any use of land, building or structure, such areas must be located on the same property as the use of land, building or structure for which it is required. No part of such areas may be utilized to meet a similar requirement for any other use, building or structure on an adjacent property, unless a special use permit is granted by the Planning Commission.

No use of land, buildings, structures or portions as provided in this section shall be erected or utilized without the prior approval of the site plan in accordance with Article VIII of this chapter.

One-family dwelling.

Field crop and fruit farming, truck gardening, horticulture, aviaries, hatcheries, apiaries, greenhouses, tree nurseries, and similar agricultural enterprises along with uses incidental to the above.

Raising and keeping of cattle, hogs, horses, ponies, and similar livestock upon a lot having an area of one acre or more.

Raising and keeping of small animals, such as poultry, rabbits, sheep and goats.

Public or private parkland of a noncommercial nature.

Public and private conservation areas and structures for the conservation of water, soils, open space, forest, and wildlife resources.

Public areas, such as forest preserves, game refuges, and forest type recreation areas, and similar public uses of low intensity recreational character.

Child/adult day care or child/adult foster care providing care for six or fewer individuals.

Cemeteries, public or private subject to the provisions of Article VIII, Site Plan Review.

Permanent roadside stands selling products grown in Van Buren County provided that contiguous space for the parking of customer vehicles is furnished off the public right-of-way and provided further that all of the requirements for accessory buildings contained in Article IX, Supplemental Regulations, are met.

Customary home occupations, provided the requirements for home occupations contained in Article IX, Supplemental Regulations, are complied with.

Public or private educational buildings or uses subject to the provisions of Article VIII, Site Plan Review.

Any accessory use or building shall be located on the same parcel as the principal building or contiguous lot or lot separated by a road or private road. Where a parcel is contiguous to a lot or parcel fronting on a lake in a different zoning district, customary accessory uses and buildings are permitted to be constructed, provided that such uses and buildings are incidental to the residential use.

Family accessory housing with approval of site plan under Article VIII, Site Plan Review.

Religious institutions: churches, convents, parsonages, and other housing for religious personnel.

Public buildings or utility structures, which include storage yards, substations and transformer stations.

State-licensed day care or foster care providing care for seven or more individuals.[1]

Private airports or landing fields.

Commercial riding or boarding stables for the hiring, selling, or boarding or 10 or more horses.

Campgrounds.

Greenhouses and nurseries selling at retail on the premises.

Game hunting or fishing preserves operated for profit.

Veterinary hospitals, clinics, and commercial kennels.

Seasonal labor residential complexes associated with agricultural enterprises.

Sawmills and associated lumber processing operations.

Grain and seed elevators and sales: cold storage for cooperative and/or wholesale agricultural products.

Golf courses, driving ranges, and country clubs.

Sand, gravel, or mineral extraction operations. (See § 1-7.2G for requirements.)

Mobile home park developments.

Contractor's office.

Planned unit developments.

Bed-and-breakfasts.

Raising and keeping of cattle, hogs, horses, ponies, sheep, and similar livestock upon a lot having an area less than one acre.

Wineries, cideries and microbreweries.

Major home occupations, provided the requirements for home occupations contained in Article IX, Supplemental Regulations, are complied with except those in conflict with the definition of major home occupations, including but not limited to § 1-9.8B(2) to (4) and C(2).

Special event facilities.

Grower facility: Class A, Class B and Class C, as regulated under § 1-7.2J.

Processor facility, when located on the same site as a grower facility, as regulated under § 1-7.2J.

Large solar energy system.

Wind energy conversion system (WECS).

Site plan review: Refer to Article VIII.

Single-family dwellings, either constructed on site or off site, shall have a minimum gross foundation area of not less than 1,040 square feet and a minimum width of 20 feet across any horizontal elevation, exclusive of basements, garages, porches, and breezeways, unless otherwise allowed in the zoning district.

Signage requirements: Refer to Article XI.

Parking requirements: Refer to Article X.

Maximum building height: Refer to Schedule A.[2] Structures for agricultural operations, such as barns or silos, may be permitted up to 75 feet in height.

Special land uses: Additional regulations for special land uses are contained in Article VII.

It is the goal of this district to provide low-density residential development to balance the demand for housing in a rural setting with the need to preserve the natural and agricultural lands of the Township.

It is further the intent and purpose of this district to permit development of low-density residential properties within areas of the Township presently without public water and sewerage services and likely to remain without such services for an indefinite period of time.

One-family dwelling.

Public or private parkland of a noncommercial nature.

Family day care or adult foster care providing care for six or less individuals.

Any accessory use or building shall be located on the same parcel as the principal building or contiguous lot or lot separated by a road or private road. Where a parcel is contiguous to a lot or parcel fronting on a lake in a different zoning district, customary accessory uses and buildings are permitted to be constructed, provided that such uses and buildings are incidental to the residential use.

Customary agricultural operations, including general farming, truck farming, fruit orchards, nursery, greenhouses, and usual farm buildings, but subject to the following conditions:

Customary home occupations, provided the requirements of Article IX are complied with.

Public or private educational buildings or uses that receive site plan approval from the Planning Commission under Article VIII.

Family accessory housing with approval of site plan under Article VIII, Site Plan Review.

Religious institutions: churches, convents, parsonages, and other housing for religious personnel. Public buildings or utility structures, which include storage yards, substations and transformer stations.

State-licensed day care or foster care providing care for seven or more individuals.

Family accessory housing.

Private airports or landing fields.

Commercial riding or boarding stables for the hiring, selling, or boarding of horses. Special land uses in this category shall require a minimum of one acre per horse.

Greenhouses and nurseries selling at retail on the premises.

Game hunting or fishing preserves operated for profit.

Veterinary hospitals, clinics, and kennels.

Seasonal labor residential complexes associated with agricultural enterprises.

Sawmills and associated lumber processing operations.

Grain and seed elevators and sales: cold storage for cooperative and/or wholesale agricultural products.

Golf courses, driving ranges, and country clubs.

Sand, gravel, or mineral extraction operations. (See § 1-7.2G for requirements.)

Mobile home park developments.

Contractor's office, provided there is no retail business establishment. All equipment and material storage on site must be in an enclosed building.

Planned unit developments.

Bed-and-breakfasts.

Major home occupations provided the requirements for home occupations contained in Article IX, Supplemental Regulations, are complied with except those in conflict with the definition of major home occupations, including but not limited to § 1-9.8B(2) through (4) and C(2).

Special event facilities.

Dimensional requirements. All applicable requirements of Schedule A shall be met.

Site plan review. Required under the guidelines established in § 1-8.2.

Single-family dwellings, either constructed on site or off site, shall have a minimum floor area of not less than 1,040 square feet and a minimum width of 20 feet across any horizontal elevation, exclusive of basements, garages, porches and breezeways, unless otherwise allowed in the zoning district.

Signage requirements. Refer to Article IX.

Parking requirements. Refer to Article X.

Special land uses. Additional regulations for special land uses are contained in Article VII.

It is the goal of this district to provide medium-density residential development in a traditional subdivision, site condominium, planned unit development, or cluster housing option which is located in a geographic area which is recommended by the Comprehensive Development Plan for this type of development.

It is further the intent and purpose of this district to permit development of medium-density residential properties within areas of the Township which may have, but are not required to have, public water and sewerage services.

One-family dwelling.

Duplex dwelling.

Public or private parkland of a noncommercial nature.

Family day care or adult foster care providing care for six or less individuals.

Any accessory use or building shall be located on the same parcel as the principal building or contiguous lot or lot separated by a road or private road. Where a parcel is contiguous to a lot or parcel fronting on a lake in a different zoning district, customary accessory uses and buildings are permitted to be constructed, provided that such uses and buildings are incidental to the residential use.

Customary home occupations.

Religious institutions: churches, convents, parsonages, and other housing for religious personnel.

Public buildings or utility structures, which include storage yards, substations and transformer stations.

State licensed day care or foster care providing care for seven or more individuals.

Accessory apartment or elderly cottage housing opportunity (ECHO).

Private airports or landing fields.

Planned unit developments.

Cluster housing option.

Public or private educational buildings or uses which receive site plan approval from the Planning Commission under Article VIII.

Bed-and-breakfasts.

Any accessory use or building not located on the same parcel as the principal building.

Dimensional requirements. All applicable requirements of Schedule A[1] shall be met.

Site plan review. Required under the guidelines established in § 1-8.2.

Single-family dwellings, either constructed on site or off site, shall have a minimum floor area of not less than 1,040 square feet and a minimum width of 20 feet across any horizontal elevation, exclusive of basements, garages, porches and breezeways, unless otherwise allowed in the zoning district.

Duplex dwellings, either constructed on site or off site, shall have a minimum gross foundation area of not less than 750 square per unit, exclusive of basements, garages, porches, and breezeways.

Duplex dwellings shall provide 15,000 square feet of land area per unit.

Signage requirements. Refer to Article XI.

Parking requirements. Refer to Article X.

Special land uses. Additional regulations for special land uses are contained in Article VII.

It is the goal of this district to provide residential development in a waterfront recreational environment, located on an individual parcel, traditional subdivision, site condominium, planned unit development, or cluster housing option which is located in a geographic area recommended by the Comprehensive Development Plan for this type of development.

It is further the intent and purpose of this district to permit development of waterfront residential properties within areas of the Township which may have, but are not required to have, public water and sewerage services.

One-family dwelling.

Public or private parkland of a noncommercial nature.

Customary accessory uses and buildings, provided that such uses and buildings are incidental to the residential use. Any accessory use or building shall be located on the same parcel as the principal building or contiguous lot or lot separated by a road or private road.

Waterfront access lots which meet the requirements of § 1-9.18.

Bed-and-breakfast.

Public buildings or utility structures which exclude storage yards, substations and transformer stations.

State-licensed day care or foster care providing care for any number of individuals.

Planned unit developments.

Public or private educational buildings or uses which receive site plan approval from the Planning Commission under Article VIII.

Dimensional requirements. All applicable requirements of Schedule A shall be met.[1]

Site plan review. Required under the guidelines established in § 1-8.2.

Single-family dwellings, either constructed on site or off site, shall have a minimum gross foundation area of not less than not less than 1,040 square feet and a minimum width of 20 feet across any horizontal elevation, exclusive of basements, garages, porches and breezeways, unless otherwise allowed in the zoning district.

Signage requirements. Refer to Article XI.

Parking requirements. Refer to Article X.

Special land uses. Additional regulations for special land uses are contained in Article VII.

It is the goal of this district to provide high-density residential development options in traditional subdivision, site condominium, planned unit development, or cluster housing options which are located in a geographic area which is recommended by the Comprehensive Development Plan.

It is further the intent and purpose of this district to permit development of medium-density residential properties within areas of the Township which presently have, or are likely to have in the future, public water and sewerage services.

Additionally, it is the intent of this district to permit the development of duplex and multiple-family residential structures through the review and approval of a special use permit.

One family dwelling, two-family dwellings, and multiple-family dwellings.

Public buildings, including governmental, utility, or public service use; excluding storage yards, transformer stations, and substations.

Public or private parkland of a noncommercial nature.

Family day care or adult foster care providing care for six or less individuals.

In addition to the general requirements of this district, the buildings and uses identified in this section shall meet the following additional requirements:

Customary accessory uses and buildings, provided that such uses and buildings are incidental to the principal use.

State-licensed day care or foster care providing care for more than seven individuals.

Family accessory housing.

Planned unit developments.

Public or private educational buildings or uses which receive site plan approval from the Planning Commission under Article VIII.

Seasonal, residential, recreational camps which meet the site development standards of the R-4 District.

Mobile home parks.

Dimensional requirements. All applicable requirements of Schedule A shall be met.[1]

Site plan review. Required under the guidelines established in § 1-8.2.

Dwelling units, either constructed on site or off site, shall have a minimum gross foundation area of not less than 1,040 square feet and a minimum width of 20 feet across any horizontal elevation, exclusive of basements, garages, porches and breezeways, unless otherwise allowed in the zoning district.

Duplex dwellings shall provide 10,000 square feet of land area per unit and shall meet the requirements of § 1-6.8E(3).

Multiple-family dwellings shall provide a minimum parcel size of 20,000 square feet for the first unit and 5,000 square feet for each unit thereafter.

Signage requirements. Refer to Article XI.

Parking requirements. Refer to Article X.

Special land uses. Additional regulations for special land uses are contained in Article VII.

Offices for attorneys, accountants, architects, engineers, and similar professions.

Offices for financial institutions, real estate offices, insurance offices, credit reporting agencies, business management and consulting, and similar business offices.

Photographic studios.

Professional services establishments providing human health care on an outpatient basis.

Medical, optical and dental offices.

Medical, optical and dental laboratories.

Offices for nonprofit organizations, professional associations, labor unions, civic-social-fraternal organizations, political organizations, and religious organizations.

Mortuaries and funeral homes, not including crematories.

Religious institutions.

Private educational facilities.

Public buildings.

Temporary buildings.

Accessory buildings and uses.

Off-site parking (within 300 feet of principal use).

Massage therapy with trained and licensed staff under State of Michigan Regulations for medical/health practices and services.

Public utility installations (pump or relay stations which are enclosed and unmanned).

Child-care center providing care for 12 or more children (P.A. 116, 1973[1]).

Any other use which is, in the opinion of the Planning Commission, similar to the use permitted by right.

Dimensional requirements. Uses and structures in this district shall meet the requirements of Schedule A.[2]

Site plan review. Refer to Article VII.

Signage requirements. Refer to Article XI.

Parking requirements. Refer to Article X.

Maximum building height. Refer to Schedule A.[3]

It is the intent of this district to provide for a variety of commercial establishments, business firms, and professional offices by right that offer retail sales and services at logical and sound locations near the population being served which minimize the day for convenience goods and services. This district would permit a mixture of land uses utilizing a variety of setbacks, buffer yards and other means of screening so as to mitigate or minimize conflicts between neighboring, yet different, land uses.

The district is also intended to provide for highway-oriented, shopping center, and general commercial development which are intended to serve a greater segment of the population under special conditions and special use permits. Whether the intensity of the commercial activity is high or relatively benign, the district shall be developed so as to not harm adjacent residential areas. Public utilities, public sanitary sewers and public water systems may be required before the larger, denser commercial development can proceed.

Commercial land uses developed within this zoning district should be in conformance with the recommendations of the Comprehensive Development Plan.

Arcades.

Boardinghouses and lodging houses/bed-and-breakfasts.

Convenience commercial establishments.

Convenience retail.

Comparison retail.

General retail and department stores.

Financial institutions, including drive-through services.

Medical services.

Motels and hotels.

Offices.

Personal and professional services.

Rapid copy and FAX centers.

Restaurants and taverns.

Secondhand and antique stores.

Mortuaries and funeral homes.

Seasonal farm markets.

Automobile parts sales and tire service.

Public buildings, public recreation, and open space.

Signs may be provided pursuant to Article XI.

Single-family dwelling.

Customary accessory uses and accessory buildings.

Churches and other religious institutions.

Commercial garages (site plan review).

Drive-in facilities and theaters (site plan review).

Convalescent/nursing homes (site plan review).

Off-site parking (within 300 feet of principal use).

Building materials, hardware, farm equipment and garden supply.

Commercial site condominium development pursuant to Article V of this chapter.

Automobile service stations.

Retail greenhouse and nurseries.

Vehicle sales and service, recreational vehicles.

Planned shopping centers with less than 100,000 square feet of floor space.

Adult entertainment (Article IX).

Premanufactured housing display and sales (major arterial and site plan review).

Temporary outdoor uses in accordance with Article IX of this chapter.

Planned shopping center and shopping mall (ten-acre minimum).

Commercial recreational activities.

Child-care center for 12 or more persons (Michigan Public Act 116 of 1973[1]).

Public service and utility maintenance installations and storage facilities.

Commercial indoor weapons firing range.

Mini warehousing.

General building contractor establishment with or without outdoor storage.

Clinics: veterinary and animal hospital (when entirely indoors).

Processor facility.

Safety compliance facility.

Secure transporter facility.

Dimensional requirements. Structures and uses within the C-1 Commercial District shall meet the lot area, lot width, yard setback, lot coverage, and height requirement as identified in Schedule A.[2]

All commercial and business development under this section shall be subject to site plan review as specified in Article VIII of this chapter.

Solid waste. All business and commercial establishments shall provide an approved solid waste disposal system. Trash receptacles/dumpsters shall be subject to site plan review.

All exterior lighting shall be directed toward the interior of the site and not represent a nuisance to adjacent properties.

It is the intent of this district to provide for a variety of heavy commercial and light industrial uses by right which are characterized by relatively low traffic generation and the absence of objectionable external effects in areas of the Township affording direct access to county primary roads, railroads and airports. Such areas are intended to have existing utilities, adequate water source, adequate sewer and adequate stormwater drainage or retention. Such industrial areas should be free of noncompatible uses and designed so as not to harm adjoining land uses. In addition, this district is intended to provide for more intense industrial development with the approval of a special use permit in settings which are conducive to public health, economic stability and growth, protection from blight, deterioration and nonindustrial encroachment, and efficient traffic movement, including employee and truck traffic. Land conducive to this intense development shall be located on roadways and provided with public sanitary sewer, where possible, adequate water supply and stormwater drainage.

Industrial and manufacturing uses of land and/or structures should be in conformance with the recommendations of the Comprehensive Development Plan.

Sales and service of building materials, farm equipment, garden supplies, heavy equipment, new mobile and modular homes, semitrailers, and containers.

Heavy construction companies.

Jobbing and machine shops.

Mini warehousing/storage.

Manufacturing (light).

Printing/publishing houses.

Research and development establishments.

Warehousing.

Monument and art stone production.

Processing of machine parts.

Trade/industrial schools.

Fabricating of small metal products.

Contractor establishments.

Grain and feed elevators.

Nursery or greenhouse.

Crop land and horticulture without livestock.

Public and private noncommercial parks and recreation facilities.

Signs pursuant to Article XI of this chapter.

Junkyards.

Public service and utility maintenance and storage facilities.

Commercial indoor weapons range.

Open outdoor storage.

Truck terminal.

Off-site parking (within 300 feet of principal use).

Industrial laundry.

Wholesale business without storage of flammable liquids or combustible material.

Office incidental to the industrial use.

Restaurant or tavern without drive-through service.

Veterinary clinic and animal hospital with indoor kennels.

The aboveground or underground storage and sale of hazardous materials, if permitted by and in compliance with state and federal law and regulations.

Cement and asphalt plants.

Communication/commercial towers.

Drop forging, punch pressing, plating, and chemical processes.

Metal and wood stripping establishments.

Industrial parks.

Automobile salvage and junkyards.

Livestock auction yard and livestock transport facilities.

Refineries and power generating plants.

Rail terminals.

Meat or poultry processing plant and/or slaughterhouses.

Dry bulk blending plant and/or handling of liquid.

Nitrogen fertilizer and anhydrous ammonia.

Repair and temporary storage of damaged mobile homes.

Wood processing facility.

Impound lots.

Junkyards.

Grower facility: Class A, Class B and Class C, as regulated under § 1-7.2J. However, the grower facilities must be in a fully enclosed building; there are no outdoor grower facilities permitted in I-1.

Processor facility.

Safety compliance facility.

Secure transporter facility.

Dimensional requirements. Structures and uses within the I-1 District shall meet the lot area, lot width, lot setback, lot coverage, and height requirement as identified in Schedule A.[1]

External areas for storage are permitted when screened on all sides by an opaque fence of not less than six feet in height.

All industrial developments and/or expansions shall be subject to site plan review, including landscaping requirements as specified in Article VIII of this chapter.

In accordance with Public Act 177 of 2002,[1] this district is intended to provide an alternative to traditional subdivisions pursuant to the Zoning Enabling Act (P.A. 110 of 2006, MCLA § 125.3101 et seq.) for the purpose of encouraging the use of Township land in accordance with its character and adaptability; assuring the permanent preservation of open space, agricultural lands, and other natural resources; allowing innovation and greater flexibility in the design of the residential developments; facilitating the construction and maintenance of streets, utilities and public services in a more economical and efficient manner; ensuring compatibility of design and use between neighboring properties; and encouraging a less sprawling form of development, thus preserving open space as undeveloped land.

Open space development has numerous environmental and community benefits, including:

It is the desire of Lawrence Township to protect the natural community resources by promoting open space development within the jurisdiction. These regulations are intended to preserve a traditional rural character to the land use pattern within the Township through the creation of small residential nodes contrasting with open space and less intensive land uses. These regulations are intended to result in a specific development substantially consistent with zoning ordinance standards, yet allow for modifications from the general standards. The Open Space Overlay District shall be established as an overlay district applicable to the following districts:

Minimum project size. The minimum size of an open space community shall be five acres of contiguous land.

Open space. The proposed development shall preserve a minimum of 50% of the gross land area as open space, maintained in an undeveloped state.

Unified control. The proposed development shall be under single ownership or control, such that there is a single person or entity having proprietary responsibility for the full completion of the project. The applicant shall provide sufficient documentation of ownership or control in the form of agreements, contracts, covenants, and/or deed restrictions that indicate that the development will be completed in its entirety as proposed.

Open space requirements:

The total number of residential units allowable within an open space development shall not exceed the number of units that would otherwise be allowed in the existing zoning district using conventional development after exempting out all existing and proposed road and utility rights-of-way and any land that includes wetlands, submerged areas, land within the 100-year floodplain, and slopes of 25% or greater.

Frontage distance may be reduced to 25% of the underlying zoning district requirements.

Rear, front, and side yard setbacks may be reduced to 50% of the requirements in the underlying zoning district.

Lot size may be reduced to 25% of the area required in the underlying district.

Irregular lot shapes and shared driveways are permitted in open space design.

Open space developments may incorporate duplex, attached residential units and/or apartment units so long as the overall permitted density of the development are maintained.

Open space developments may incorporate commercial land use components, provided that the following are met:

Direct access onto a county road shall be required for an open space community.

If an existing use of the property shall remain after the open space development is approved, it must be incorporated into the development plan.

Signs shall be permitted pursuant to Article XI.

An application for approval of an open space community plan shall be executed by or on behalf of the landowner and filed with the Township Building Official. A filing fee as set forth by resolution of the Township Board, payable to the Township, shall be submitted with the application.

Plan requirements. A site plan shall be required per Article VIII of this chapter, regardless of uses. Additionally, the applicant shall be required to submit the following.

A public hearing shall be held by the Planning Commission on the tentative plan for an open space community, and a report and recommendation thereof submitted to the Township Board.

The Township Board shall hold a public hearing on the tentative plan. The tentative plan may be approved, approved subject to modifications, or rejected by the Township Board, after a report and recommendation from the Planning Commission.

Approval by the Township Board of a tentative plan shall constitute the rezoning of the subject land to OS, open space.

Approval by the Township Board of a tentative plan shall qualify an area for application for approval of a final plan and development as an open space community for two years. If a final plan is not approved for development within such time, the Board may extend the designation for an additional two-year period, or initiate rezoning proceedings to redesignate the property to the land use classification previously existing or the land use that would be deemed suitable for the property.

Final plan for development of open space.

After a final plan is approved, construction must start within 12 months. If development is not begun within such time, the final plan must be resubmitted for approval.

In accordance with the Zoning Enabling Act (P.A. 110 of 2006, MCLA § 125.3101 et seq.) and the Planning Enabling Act (Act 33 of 2008, MCLA § 125.3801 et seq.), this district is intended to overlay existing zoning districts and provide an alternative to development within those districts under certain conditions.

This section's purpose is to encourage the use of Township land in accordance with its Master Plan; assure the preservation of the agricultural nature of the Township; reduce barriers to agricultural businesses suited to redevelop closed and/or blighted facilities and undeveloped properties; and encourage the marihuana industry to focus its development near these properties and existing marihuana facilities.

The existence of underutilized land, blighted properties, and closed factories and facilities decreases area property tax values, affects the overall economy in that there is either a loss (closed facility) or lack (undeveloped land) of jobs, and generally harms the community. Due to the agricultural nature of the Township, there are few industries that can take over a formerly closed facility or factory, and few industries willing to develop these underutilized properties.

The marihuana industry is one such industry, as it needs enclosed facilities to grow year-round to meet market demand. Further, the negative aesthetic issues around the marihuana industry can be mitigated by the use of smell-mitigating technology, and the use of enclosed facilities, buffers, shielding, clustering, and other methods of mitigation.

To the extent parcels placed into the overlay on this date are in a commercial or agricultural district, the Township finds their use has not developed or maintained development in a meaningful way, consistent with that zoning, and allowing enclosed agricultural operations may actually be more consistent with the properties' potential use and Master Plan. As such, an overlay related to agricultural operations, which adopts a flexible use of the property, is warranted.

The properties incorporated into the Marihuana Agribusiness Overlay District on this date are either undeveloped, contain largely blighted or unused structures, currently contain marihuana agribusinesses, or are surrounding properties to the aforementioned.

A-1 Agricultural District.

C-1 Commercial District.

The parcels in the Marihuana Agribusiness Overlay District at this time include the following:

In reviewing additions to the Marihuana Agribusiness Overlay District in the future, the Township shall focus on the circumstances surrounding the properties, including whether they are vacant or underutilized properties, or blighted or vacant buildings, as well as clustering marihuana agribusinesses together.

Underlying Lawrence Township zoning district restrictions on the parcels enrolled in the Marihuana Agribusiness Overlay District, including those of the underlying zoning district, remain in full force and effect except as modified herein.

Marihuana agribusinesses within the Marihuana Agribusiness Overlay District are to be considered a use permitted under special conditions instead of a use permitted by issuance of a special use permit.

They must hold a valid a state and Township license (see Ch. 30 and/or Ch. 31).

They must comply with all state, county, and Township laws and regulations.

The property must obtain site plan approval.

All grow operations must be contained within an enclosed facility.

Infrared cameras must be used to avoid light pollution at night. No lights on the visible spectrum may be visible outside of buildings at night except as required by law (such as Public Act 154 of 1974, MIOSHA).[2] No light may be visible through windows of the facility. To the extent lights are required, they shall be directed away from neighboring properties and shall not exceed the minimum number of lumens to meet their purpose.

No loading and unloading can occur at the facility before 7:00 a.m. and after 9:00 p.m.

Setback and acreage relief.

Noxious smell.

Sign limitations.

Buffer zone.