The purpose of this article is to:

(1)

Promote and protect the public health, safety and general welfare.

(2)

Protect the character and the stability of the agricultural, recreational, residential, commercial and other areas within the township and promoting the orderly and beneficial development of such areas.

(3)

Regulate the intensity of use of land and lot areas and determining the area of open spaces surrounding buildings and structures necessary to provide adequate light and air to protect the public health and convenience of access to property.

(4)

Lessen and avoid congestion on the public highways and streets.

(5)

Provide for the needs of agriculture, recreation, residence, commerce and other land uses in future growth.

(6)

Fix reasonable standards to which buildings and structures shall conform.

(7)

Prohibit uses, buildings or structures which are incompatible with the character of development or the uses, buildings or structures permitted within specified zoning districts.

(8)

Prevent such additions to or alterations or remodeling of existing buildings or structures in such a way as to avoid the regulations and limitations imposed hereunder.

(9)

Protect against fire, explosion, noxious fumes and odors, dust, smoke, glare, noise and other nuisances and hazards in the interest of the public health, safety and general welfare.

(10)

Prevent the overcrowding of land and undue concentration of buildings and structures so far as is possible and appropriate in each zoning district by regulating the use and bulk of buildings in relation to the land surrounding them.

(11)

Conserve the taxable value of land, buildings and structures throughout the township.

(12)

Provide for the completion, extension, substitution or elimination of nonconforming uses.

(13)

Create a board of appeals and defining the powers and duties thereof.

(14)

Designate and define the powers and duties of the official or officials in charge of the administration and enforcement of this chapter.

(15)

Provide for the payment of fees for building permits.

(16)

Provide penalties for the violation of this chapter.

(a)

If any court of competent jurisdiction shall declare any part of this chapter to be invalid, such ruling shall not affect any other provisions of this chapter not specifically included in said ruling.

(b)

If any court of competent jurisdiction shall declare invalid the application of any provision of this chapter to a particular land, parcel, lot, district, use, building or structure, such ruling shall not affect the application of said provisions to any other land, parcel, lot, district, use, building or structure not specifically included in said ruling.

(a)

Where any condition imposed by any provision of this chapter upon the use of any lot, building or structure is either more restrictive or less restrictive than any comparable condition imposed by any other provision of this chapter or by the provision of an ordinance adopted under any other law, the provision which is more restrictive or which imposes a higher standard or requirement shall govern.

(b)

This chapter is not intended to abrogate or annul any easement, covenant or other private agreement, provided that where any provision of this chapter is more restrictive, or imposes a higher standard or requirement, than such easement, covenant or other private agreement, the provision of this chapter shall govern.

This chapter shall remain in full force and effect henceforth unless repealed.

(a)

This chapter and any subsequent amendments to this chapter or a summary of the regulatory effect thereof shall be published in a newspaper of general circulation in the township within 15 days after adoption by the township board and shall take effect upon the expiration of seven days after publication.

(b)

Proof of all required public hearing notices, notices of ordinance adoption and amendments including effective dates are on file with the township clerk.

(Ord. of 2-2008)

State Law reference— Statutory requirements, MCL 125.3401.

A prosecution, whether civil or criminal, which is pending on the effective date of the ordinance from which this chapter is derived and which arose from a violation of an ordinance repealed by this chapter, or a prosecution which is started within one year after the effective date of the ordinance from which this chapter is derived arising from a violation of an ordinance repealed by this ordinance and which was committed prior to the effective date of the ordinance from which this chapter is derived, shall be tried and determined exactly if the ordinance had not been repealed.