(A)   The nautical mile is of special public interest because of its unique location along the St. Clair River as a focal point of community redevelopment activities. The Nautical Mile District (NMD) is intended to encourage the redevelopment of the Nautical Mile in a compatible mixture of housing, recreation, entertainment, commercial, office, cultural, public and hotel uses through the flexible application of land regulatory standards. Such uses may be located in various combinations of mixed-use and single-use development. It is also the intent of the District to encourage a high quality of private development with reasonable public amenities to improve the overall living, working, shopping and recreational environment of the Nautical Mile. The Nautical Mile encompasses property as designated by the City’s Zoning Map. The Nautical Mile District is an overlay district and does not replace or restrict the range of uses allowed in the underlying use district. The overlay district provides additional development options and standards which must be met.

   (B)   The establishment of special development regulations is designed to achieve the following objectives:

      (1)   Ensure that development is guided by provisions of the Marine City Master Plan and other policy documents, as may be adopted by the City, supporting the overall redevelopment program of the Nautical Mile;

      (2)   Encourage the development of public parks and recreation facilities which recognize and enhance the unique waterfront location, public needs and amenities of Nautical Mile;

      (3)   Provide commercial activity which will serve as an attraction draw to the regional trade area and meet the needs of local residents for convenient shopping;

      (4)   Ensure that all new construction and renovation is designed and located in a manner which capitalizes upon the unique waterfront environment and the mid-19th to mid-20th Century charm of the district;

      (5)   Provide for unification of the area through landscaping, signage, lighting and street furniture;

      (6)   Ensure that the location, design, visual appearance and construction of individual buildings and structures is consistent with overall design objectives and redevelopment efforts; and

      (7)   Encourage the preservation of historic structures and resources within the district.

(Prior Code, App., § 2000) (Ord. 88-1, passed 3-17-1988; Am. Ord. 2019-002, passed 2-21-2019; Am. Ord. passed 10-21-2021)

   The principal uses specified in the underlying district as well as the principal uses specified in the B-1 Central Business District shall be permitted.

(Prior Code, App., § 2001) (Ord. 88-1, passed 3-17-1988; Am. Ord. passed 10-21-2021)

   (A)   The special condition uses specified in the underlying district as well as the special condition uses specified in the B-1 Central Business District shall be permitted, subject to the conditions imposed by each use and subject further to the review and approval of the Planning Commission.

   (B)   The following uses shall not be permitted in this zone:

      (1)   Junkyards and other mobile home parks;

      (2)   Storage or parking of moving vans and the like;

      (3)   Outdoor storage or parking of wrecked or partially dismantled vehicles;

      (4)   Drive-in theaters;

      (5)   Drive-in restaurants; and

      (6)   Automotive wash establishments.

(Prior Code, App., § 2002) (Ord. 88-1, passed 3-17-1988; Am. Ord. passed 10-21-2021)

   Site plan review and approval of all development proposals within the Nautical Mile District is required in accordance with the provisions of Section 160.300.

(Prior Code, App., § 2003) (Ord. 88-1, passed 3-17-1988; Am. Ord. passed 10-21-2021)

   (A)   New or remodeled buildings within the Nautical Mile District shall be designed in harmony with the guidelines set forth in the Marine City Master Plan or a Nautical Mile District Sub- Area Plan, as may be adopted by the City.

   (B)   Design review shall occur by the City as part of site plan review in accordance with Section 160.300. The purpose of design review is to advise on actions which may or may not be compatible with the desirable nautical/historical theme, architectural or cultural aspects of the District. The City may consider Standards for Rehabilitation and Guidelines for Rehabilitation of Historic Buildings, prepared by the U.S. Department of Interior, for reviewing actions within the NMD.

   (C)   The provisions of this section shall not be construed to prevent the ordinary maintenance or repair of any exterior feature in an NMD district. Further, the provisions of this section shall not prevent the construction, alteration, restoration or demolition of any feature which the Building Inspector certifies is required because of a threat to public safety.

(Prior Code, App., § 2004) (Ord. 88-1, passed 3-17-1988; Am. Ord. passed 10-21-2021)

   In recognition of it’s pedestrian-oriented and mixed-use character, as well as the availability of public parking, the following provisions shall apply to lands within the Nautical Mile District.

      (1)   Lands within Special Parking Area A are exempt from the off-street parking space requirements of Section 160.214(B)(12).

      (2)   Within Special Parking Area B, a reduction of 50% shall be applied against the minimum number of off-street parking spaces by type as required by Section 160.214(B)(12). The Planning Commission may further reduce such requirements based on upon evidence presented by the property owner showing that the reasonable ability to provide any or all of the required parking spaces does not exist.

(Prior Code, App., § 2005) (Ord. 88-1, passed 3-17-1988; Am. Ord. passed 10-21-2021)

   (A)   The requirement for exterior lighting is intended to protect the security and safety of pedestrians and motorists using public plazas, pedestrian corridors, off-street parking areas and other spaces open to the public located on private property.

   (B)   This section is also intended to regulate the spillover of light and glare on operators of motorized and nonmotorized vehicles, pedestrians and land uses in the proximity of the light source.

      (1)   Whenever plazas, pedestrian corridors, off-street parking areas and other spaces open to the public are provided on private property, the site plan shall incorporate exterior lighting concepts designed in harmony with the guidelines set forth in the Nautical Mile District Design Guidelines document, as may be adopted by the City Commission;

      (2)   The site plan shall illustrate the location and type of lighting fixtures, amount of illumination provided and direction of illumination;

      (3)   Exterior lighting shall provide sufficient illumination to ensure public safety and security; and

      (4)   Exterior lighting shall be located and directed in a manner which does not produce a glare which is a nuisance to nearby land uses or a safety hazard to motorized and non-motorized vehicles or pedestrians.

(Prior Code, App., § 2006) (Ord. 88-1, passed 3-17-1988; Am. Ord. passed 10-21-2021)

   (A)   The requirement for signage is intended to protect public safety, maintain quality in the visual appearance of the Nautical Mile, protect the value and economic stability of adjacent land use and allow for the conduct of competitive commerce. The intent of this section is to regulate the height, area, number, location and style of signs within the Nautical Mile District. It is also the intent to encourage signs erected in the District to be designed in a nautical concept. All requirements of Section 160.220 shall apply within the Nautical Mile District, in addition to the requirements of this Section.

   (B)   Application of sign requirements:

      (1)   No sign may be erected or altered without the issuance of a zoning compliance permit.

      (2)   When a site plan is required by this chapter, a scaled drawing illustrating sign details, including design, color, area and height shall be submitted. The location of all signs shall be illustrated on the site plan. Sign details and location shall be considered part of site plan review and approval.

      (3)   When a site plan is not required by this chapter, the Building Inspector shall require a zoning compliance permit for signs erected or altered in the Nautical Mile District. The application for the zoning compliance permit shall be accompanied by a scaled drawing illustrating sign details, including design, color, area and height.

   (C)   General provisions:

      (1)   All sign types allowed and regulated in Section 160.220(B)(4)(b) for the B-1, B-2, W-M and P-1 district shall be allowed within the Nautical Mile District.

      (2)   Projecting signs shall also be permitted within the Nautical Mile Overlay District for all structures other than single-family detached dwellings, subject to the following requirements:

         (a)   Projecting signs shall not extend more than 4 feet from the wall of the building, and shall not be closer than 3 feet from the back of curb line.

         (b)   Minimum height. No portion of any sign which extends over the public right-of-way shall be less than 8 feet from the surface below.

         (c)   All projecting signs shall be safely and securely attached to structural members of the building by means of metal anchors, bolts or expansion screws. In no case shall any projecting sign be secured with wire, strips of wood or nails. The method of attachment shall be stated on the permit application. All plans for the erection of signs shall be submitted to the Building Inspector for review and approval and shall be further subject to all codes and ordinances of the city.

   (D)   Temporary and portable signs shall be allowed subject to Section 160.220(B)(6)(b) and (c).

(Prior Code, App., § 2007) (Ord. 88-1, passed 3-17-1988; Am. Ord. 11-04, passed 8-4-2011; Am. Ord. passed 10-21-2021)

   (A)   The owner of a parking lot or vehicular use area which abuts a public right-of-way shall install and maintain landscaping between such area and such right-of-way, unless the parking lot or vehicular use area is visually screened by a building or structure or existing landscaping which meets the buffering requirements.

   (B)   Where an off-street parking lot or vehicular use area in the NMD zoning district abuts a public right-of-way, screening shall be placed at all locations, excluding sidewalks and driveways, which are between any portion of the right-of-way and the parking lot or vehicular use area visible from the right-of-way as follows:

      (1)   A strip of land at least 5 feet in width located between the abutting right-of-way and the parking or vehicular use area exposed to the abutting right-of-way.

      (2)   One tree per 50 feet lineal, or fraction thereof, located between the abutting right-of-way and parking or vehicular use area.

      (3)   A hedge wall, berm, change of grade or any combination of these landscape elements forming a continuous screen at least 3 feet in height. If a wall or fence is used, a minimum average of 1 shrub or vine per 10 lineal feet of wall length shall be provided.

      (4)   Grass or ground cover shall be planted and maintained on all portions of the required landscape strip not occupied by other landscape material or existing vegetation.

      (5)   In cases where the parking areas or vehicular use areas are 50 feet or more from the public right-of-way, and provided that such an area has trees and shrubs which serve to buffer the parking area or vehicular use area, buffering (as required in this section) may be reduced, provided the intent of this section is carried out to the satisfaction of the Building Inspector.

(Prior Code, App., § 2008) (Ord. 88-1, passed 3-17-1988; Am. Ord. passed 10-21-2021)