The township board may amend, supplement, or change the district boundaries or the regulations herein, pursuant to the authority and procedures set forth in Michigan Public Act 110 of 2006, as amended. Text amendments may be proposed by any governmental body or any interested person or organization. Changes in district boundaries may be proposed by any governmental body, any person having a freehold interest in the subject property, or by the designated agent of a person having a freehold interest in the property.

A petition for an amendment to the text of this Ordinance or an amendment to change the zoning classification of a particular property, shall be commenced by filing a petition with the building department, on the forms provided by the building department and accompanied by the fees specified. The petition shall describe the proposed amendment and shall be signed by the applicant. Petitions for rezoning of a specific site shall be accompanied by a plot plan or survey, which shall contain the following information:

A.

Applicant's name, address and telephone number.

B.

Scale, northpoint, and dates of submission and revisions.

C.

Zoning classification of petitioner's parcel and all abutting parcels.

D.

Existing lot lines, building lines, structures, parking areas, driveways, and other improvements on the site and within 50 feet of the site.

E.

Proposed lot lines and lot dimensions, and general layout of proposed structures, parking areas, driveways, and other improvements on the site.

F.

Dimensions, centerlines, and right-of-way widths of all abutting streets and alleys.

G.

Location of existing drainage courses, floodplains, lakes and streams, and woodlots.

H.

All existing and proposed easements.

I.

Location of sanitary sewer or septic systems, existing and proposed.

J.

Location and size of watermains, well sites, and building service, existing and proposed.

K.

A sign location plot plan, in accordance with the rezoning sign requirements contained in this article.

After the completed petition and all required supporting materials have been received and fees paid, the petition shall be reviewed in accordance with the following procedures:

A.

Planning commission review. The township administrator (supervisor or his/her designee) shall schedule a public hearing in accordance with section 4.05. The petition shall be placed on the planning commission agenda on which the public hearing is scheduled. The planning commission shall review the petition for amendment in accordance with the requirements set forth in Section 14 of Michigan Public Act 110 of 2006, as amended.

B.

Rezoning sign requirements. At least 15 days prior to the public hearing before the planning commission, the applicant must, at his own expense, install rezoning signage on the property proposed for rezoning, in full public view along street or road frontages.

(1)

Location. The signs must be prominently placed at 700 feet intervals along the property frontage, adjacent to the public right-of-way. For parcels with less than 700 feet of road frontage, signs shall be placed at the midpoint of the property width. A corner lot will require a minimum of one sign per road frontage. If more than one zoning district is included in the petition, a minimum of one sign must be provided for each proposed district. The location, number and content of such signs must be approved by the building department prior to installation.

(2)

Sign orientation. Rezoning signs shall be displayed at 45-degree angles to the road right-of-way, to maximize visibility to drivers approaching from both sides of the road, as illustrated:

(3)

Notice requirements. Sign lettering shall be black on a white background. Wording on the signage shall be as follows:

(4)

Structure.

a.

Size: minimum four feet (vertical) by minimum six feet (horizontal).

b.

Height: minimum six feet above grade (including posts).

c.

Sign facing must be exterior plywood, aluminum, or similar material.

d.

Sign support system must be structurally sound.

Rezoning signage must be removed within seven days of final action on the petition by the township board, or within seven days of withdrawal of the petition by the applicant. Failure to remove signage within this period may result in such removal by the township at the applicant's expense.

C.

Action by the planning commission and township board.

1.

Following the hearing on the proposed amendment, the planning commission shall make written findings of fact which it shall transmit to the township board, together with the comments made at the public hearing, the comments from the county planning commission, and its recommendations.

2.

The township board may hold additional hearings if the board considers it necessary. Pursuant to Michigan Public Act 110 of 2006, as amended, the township board may by majority vote of its membership:

a.

Adopt the proposed amendment;

b.

Reject the proposed amendment; or

c.

Refer the proposed amendment back to the planning commission for further recommendation within a specified time period. Thereafter, the township board may either adopt the amendment with or without the recommended revisions, or reject it.

D.

Submission to county planning commission. Following the hearing, the petition shall be submitted to the Oakland County Planning Commission for review and recommendation. If a recommendation from the county planning commission has not been received within 30 days, it shall be presumed that the county has waived its right for review and recommendation.

E.

Review considerations. The planning commission and township board shall at minimum, consider the following before taking action on any proposed amendment:

1.

Will the proposed amendment be in accordance with the basic intent and purpose of the Zoning Ordinance?

2.

Will the proposed amendment further the comprehensive planning goals of the township?

3.

Have conditions changed since the Zoning Ordinance was adopted or was there a mistake in the Zoning Ordinance that justifies the amendment?

4.

Will the amendment correct an inequitable situation created by the Zoning Ordinance, rather than merely grant special privileges?

5.

Will the amendment result in unlawful exclusionary zoning?

6.

Will the amendment set an inappropriate precedent, resulting in the need to correct future planning mistakes?

7.

If a rezoning is requested, is the proposed zoning consistent with the zoning classification of surrounding land?

8.

If a rezoning is requested, could all requirements in the proposed zoning classification be complied with on the subject parcel?

9.

If a rezoning is requested, is the proposed zoning consistent with the trends in land development in the general vicinity of the property in question?

F.

Notice of record of amendment adoption. Following adoption of an amendment by the township board, one notice of adoption shall be filed with the township clerk and one notice shall be published in newspaper of general circulation in the township within 15 days after adoption, in accordance with Section 401(7) of Michigan Public Act 110 of 2006, as amended. A record of all amendments shall be maintained by the township clerk and the building department. A master zoning map shall be maintained by the building department, which shall identify all map amendments by number and date.

(Ord. No. 06-10, pt. II, 10-4-2010; Ord. No. 03-12, pt. 2.C., 8-6-2012; Ord. No. 12-19, § 1, 1-6-2020)

Within 30 days following the passage of the Zoning Ordinance, a petition signed by a number of qualified and registered voters may be filed with the township clerk requesting submission of an ordinance or part of an ordinance to the electors for their approval, in accordance with Section 402 of Michigan Public Act 110 of 2006, as amended.