Zoneomics Logo
search icon

Melvindale City Zoning Code

ARTICLE XV

SCHEDULE OF REGULATIONS

Sec. 24-411.- Schedule of regulations—Residential districts.

Minimum Yard Setbacks in Feet
Maximum Height of Building Sides;sup\sup;
Zoning
District 		Minimum Lot Width
(In Feet) 		Minimum Lot Area
(In Sq. Ft.) 		Maximum Lot
Coverage
(Percent) 		In
Stories 		In Feet Front Least
One 		Total of
Two 		Rear Minimum Floor Area Per Dwelling Unit
(In Sq. Ft.) e
R-1  40 a 4,000 a 30 2½ 25 25   3 c, d 10 c, d 35 896 f
R-2  50  6,000 30 2½ 25 20   4 c, d 12 c, d 30 g
R-3 100  h 35 3  35 20;sup\sup; 10 c, d, i 20 c, d, i 20;sup\sup;    ;sup\sup;
R-4 100  k 35 1   1 20 m 10 c, d 20 c, d, m 20 m    ;sup\sup;

 

FOOTNOTES TO SECTION 24-411

a  See Section 24-136.

;sup\sup; The aggregate width of side yards between dwellings on adjacent lots shall not be less than ten feet.

c  For every lot on which a nonresidential structure is the principal use there shall be a minimum side yard on each side of such lot of not less than 15 feet in width with an increase of one foot in width for each five feet or part thereof by which such building or structure exceeds 35 feet in overall dimension along the side yard, to a maximum required side yard width of 35 feet.

d  In all residential districts the width of side yards for all buildings, structures and accessory uses, which abut upon a street on the same side of which other residential lots front on the same block, shall not be less than the required front yard setback for such homes.

e  The minimum floor area for dwelling units shall not include areas of basements, porches, garages, breezeways and other buildings.

f  Minimum floor area of a one-story dwelling shall be 896 square feet.

Minimum floor area of a one- and one-half-story dwelling shall be 720 square feet on the first floor, with aggregate total of 896 square feet.

Minimum floor area of a two-story dwelling shall be 720 square feet on the first floor, with aggregate total of 1,400 square feet.

No residential building shall have a minimum width of less than 24 feet at the building line.

g  No building used as a two-family detached dwelling shall hereafter be erected or altered having a ground floor area of less than 600 square feet and a second floor area of less than 450 square feet per dwelling unit.

h  Minimum lot area shall be 3,000 square feet for each dwelling unit containing more than two bedrooms plus an additional 500 square feet for each additional bedroom in excess of two per dwelling unit.

;sup\sup; In the case of planned residential developments involving the ultimate construction of more than one multiple-family structure on a parcel, lot or combination of lots under single ownership, a detailed site plan shall be submitted to the planning commission for review and approval. Such site plan shall indicate minimum front, side and rear yard as well as the following design criteria:

(1)

No dwelling shall be further than 200 feet from a street or vehicular access.

(2)

Play areas planned for children under eight years of age shall be provided in all group housing developments of eight or more dwelling units on one lot or parcel. Such play areas shall be provided as an integral part of the development, conveniently located to the dwelling units served, and fully equipped. Play areas shall equal a minimum total of 75 square feet of land for each dwelling unit.

(3)

There shall be a minimum distance of 20 feet between the front of a building and the nearest edge of any driveway or parking area used by three or more dwelling units.

(4)

The moving lanes of a driveway to be used by three or more dwelling units shall be a minimum of 16 feet wide for one-way traffic and 20 feet wide for two-way traffic.

(5)

All service drives shall have 100 feet of clear sight distance and a minimum curb radius of ten feet. Acute angles in alignment and intersections of service drives shall be avoided. In all cases drives shall be designed for a minimum inside turning radius of 30 feet.

(6)

The least distance between buildings shall in no case be less than:

—Seventy feet for rear to rear and rear to front relationships.

—Fifty feet for front to front relationships.

—Thirty feet for end to front and end to rear relationships.

—Twenty feet for end to end relationships.

—Fifteen feet for corner to corner relationships.

Except that:

—The front to front, front to rear and rear to rear spacing may be decreased as much as ten feet on one end providing it is increased by an equal amount at the other end in an oblique relationship.

—The front and rear yard depths may be varied as much as 20 percent provided that the sum of the front and rear yard depths total not less than 60 feet.

—Street front and street side yards shall be not less than 20 feet.

—Variations in setbacks may be required by the planning commission in order to avoid the monotony of fixed alignments.

j  Where multiple, row, terrace or efficiency dwellings are permitted housing, the required floor space per unit shall be as follows:

Efficiency unit   350 square feet
One bedroom unit   600 square feet
Two bedroom unit   800 square feet
Three bedroom unit 1,000 square feet
(plus 80 square feet for each bedroom over three bedrooms in a dwelling unit)

 

k  For buildings exceeding three stories in height, dwelling unit densities may not exceed the following schedule:

—Apartment houses of four or more stories of living space except senior citizen citizen housing—22 units per gross acre.

—Apartment houses of four or more stories of living space, designed specifically as senior citizen housing, with all dwelling units being one-bedroom and/or efficiency units, except for up to ten percent of the units which may be two-bedroom units—40 units per gross acre for apartment houses containing four to eight stories of living space.

l  Multiple-family structures shall have a maximum height of eight stories and also be limited only by structural, fireproofing or other building code requirements and by the yard requirements.

m  Structures in excess of 35 feet in height shall provide minimum yard depths equal to the height of the structures.

n  No building may be erected nearer to the centerline of Dix Avenue than the distances shown below. Where a specific front yard is required from any district, such front yard shall be in addition to the following distances:

Location along Dix Distance from Centerline
South of Wabash R.R. 60 ft.
North of Wabash R.R., east side 87 ft.
North of Wabash R.R., west side 33 ft.

 

(Ord. No. 576, § 1, 8-6-97; Ord. No. 729, art. I, 2-21-07)

Sec. 24-412. - Same—Nonresidential districts.

Minimum Yard Setbacks
(In Feet)
Zoning District Maximum Height of Building
(In Feet) 		Front h Sides;sup\sup; Rear Minimum Ground Floor Building Size
(In Sq. Ft.)
C-1 General Shopping 35 a 10 b,g 20 f,g 1,000
C-2 General Commercial 35 a 10 b,g 20 f,g 1,000
PB-1 Professional Business 30 10 10 b,g 20 f,g   400
M-1 Light Manufacturing 40 25 20 c,g 20 c,g —
M-2 General Manufacturing 45 50 30 d,e,g 50 e,g —

 

a  The first story of a business building or structure shall not be erected in the area bounded by the property lines of intersecting streets and a line joining points on such property lines eight feet distant from their point of intersection or, in the case of a rounded corner, the points of intersection of their tangents.

;sup\sup; Side yards not required along an interior side lot line where all walls abutting upon such interior side lot line are wholly without windows or other openings and are of fireproof construction.

c  When abutting a residential district, with no street or alley between the districts, a 35-foot yard shall be provided.

d  When abutting a residential district street or alley, a 35-foot yard shall be provided.

e  Shall not apply when adjacent to a railroad right-of-way.

f  No required rear yard when property abuts a public alley.

g  In any location where a business or industrial district borders a residential zoned district, there shall be provided along the lot line bordering the residentially zoned district, an ornamental wall four feet in height above grade for business districts and six feet in height above grade for industrial districts constructed of reinforced face brick or comparable masonry material on which there shall be no advertising. Where a public alley is located between the business or industrial district and the residentially zoned district, no wall is required in those locations where a building housing a permitted use is located adjoining the alley or where driveway access is provided to the public alley. Where a public street is located between the business or industrial district and the residentially zoned district, no wall is required in those locations where the front yard of the business or industrial district adjoins the residentially zoned district.

h  No building may be erected nearer to the centerline of Dix Avenue than the distances shown below. Where a specific front yard is required for any district, such front yard shall be in addition to the following distances:

Location along Dix Distance from Centerline
South of Wabash R.R. 60 feet
North of Wabash R.R., east side 87 feet
North of Wabash R.R., west side 33 feet

 

Sec. 24-413. - Same—Requirements for permitted uses after special approval.

Use Zoning Districts
Permitted 		Minimum Lot Area Special
Minimum Yard
Space
Requirements 		Special
Screening
Requirements 		Other Requirements
Automobile car wash establishments C-2 — Minimum front yard setback of 40 feet for all structures — Required off-street storage space for at least four automobiles per stall for manual or self-service establishment and at least 25 automobiles per stall for automatic establishments.
Automobile gasoline and service stations C-2 — Minimum front and side yard setbacks of 20 feet for all structures — Not permitted within 400 feet of: (a) any place of public assembly having a building capacity exceeding 25 persons; (b) a dwelling or residence of any type; (c) any public park; (d) police station; or (e) fire station. Not permitted within 1,000 feet of the location of another automobile gasoline and/or service station. No pumps may be located closer than 12 feet to any property line; and pumps located perpendicular to street lines must be set back a minimum of 18 feet from such street lines. Provided, however, that this section shall not apply to any automobile, gasoline and service station already in existence as of Aug. 2, 2000.
Boarding and lodging houses R-2 — — — Site to be evaluated for degree of potential residential-commercial use conflicts.
Breweries, distilleries, canning factories, chemical plants M-2 — — — Special consideration of potential odor and pollution nuisances.
Bump shops C-2 — — — Special consideration of potential noise nuisance.
Business parking lots R-1, R-2 — — Ornamental reinforced masonry wall four feet in height above grade constructed of face brick or comparable masonry material on which there shall be no advertising, required along all property lines bordering R-1 or R-2 zoning except that the wall height shall be decreased to three feet in height where bordering a public street, with parking lot entranceways excepted from the wall requirement Parking lot must immediately adjoin, or be across a public street or alley from, business property owned or under lease by the applicant.
Cemeteries R-1 — All structures to be minimum of 100 feet from any lot line — Site must abut major thoroughfare, with all ingress and egress directly to major thoroughfare.
Cocktail lounges, night clubs, taverns C-2 — — — Not permitted within 500 feet of any church or school.
Convalescent homes, nursing homes and foster care group homes R-3 — — — Site to be evaluated for degree of potential residential-commercial use conflicts.
Department stores C-1, C-2 — — — Site must abut major thoroughfare, with all ingress and egress directly to major thoroughfare.
Drive-in restaurants or other drive-in establishments C-1, C-2 — — — Site must abut major thoroughfare, with all ingress and egress directly to major thoroughfare.
Home occupations R-1, R-2 — — — Site to be evaluated for degree of potential residential-commercial use conflicts.
Hospitals R-3, R-4 Two acres All structures to be minimum of 100 feet from any lot lines of adjacent residentially zoned districts Ambulance and delivery areas to be obscured from all residential property view with a wall or barrier of suitable material at least four feet in height Site must abut major thoroughfare, with all ingress and egress directly to major thoroughfare.
Hotels and motels C-2 250 square feet per unit — Planting strip five feet in width, required adjoining front lot line with opening only for driveway access Floor area for each motel unit shall provide one room of 150 square feet and a bathroom of 25 square feet. In the case of a kitchenette unit, an additional 50 square feet shall be provided.
Junk yards M-2 Ten acres 50-foot-wide greenbelt adjoining all property lines Masonry wall six feet in height, required at interior boundaries of greenbelt Junk may not be stacked higher than height of screening wall.
Kennels M-2 Five acres — — All outdoor runs or breeding areas to be enclosed on all sides by an obscuring wall or fence not less than four feet in height and located at least 50 feet from any property line.
Medical clinics, medical office complexes, dental clinics R-3 — — — Special consideration of parking and screening needs.
Mining, excavating M-2 — All structures to be minimum of 100 feet from all property lines Submission of screening plan required, except for topsoil removal
Nursery schools, day nurseries and child care centers R-1, R-2 — Outdoor play area of 100 square feet per child cared for, with a total minimum area of 1,500 square feet — —
Open air business uses (see definition) C-2 — — Subject to requirements of planning commission based on analysis of potential impact on surrounding properties Lot area to be provided with a permanent durable and dustfree surface having an asphaltic or concrete binder with a storm drainage system subject to approval by the city engineer. No major repair or refinishing allowed on the lot.
Open storage yards of building and construction contractors, lumberyards M-2 — — Subject to requirements of planning commission based on analysis of potential impact on surrounding properties —
Outdoor theaters M-2 Ten acres All structures to be minimum of 100 feet from any lot lines Screen may not face a major thoroughfare. Entire property to be fenced Site must abut a major thoroughfare, with all ingress and egress directly to major thoroughfare. No viewing areas may be located closer than 40 feet to any lot line.
Painting, varnishing M-1 — — — Special considerations of odor and safety problems.
Pinball parlors C-2 — — — Not permitted within 500 feet of any church or school.
Planned residential development (PRD) R-1 20 acres — — See Article XVI.
Private non-com-mercial recreation areas R-1, R-2 — All structures to be minimum of 100 feet from any lot lines of adjacent residentially zoned districts — Special consideration of potential noise problems.
Public utility buildings, telephone exchange buildings, electric transformer stations and sub-stations, gas regulator stations R-1, R-2, C-1, C-2 — — Subject to requirements of the planning commission based on analysis of potential effect on surrounding properties No storage yards in residential districts. Application must provide evidence of necessity of proposed location.
Radio and television towers C-1, C-2, M-1 — — — Tower to be located at a distance from each lot line equivalent to or greater than the height of the tower.
Recreation vehicle storage yards M-1 5 acres — — Storage area to be enclosed by a cyclone fence five feet in height. Additional height may be permitted for barb wire cradling.
Retail and service uses located within high-rise multifamily structures R-4 — — — Uses, parking and signage to be sized, designed and located to be in harmony with the character and quality of the multifamily development.
Shopping centers containing five or more stores C-1, C-2 — — — Site must abut major thoroughfare with all ingress and egress directly to major thoroughfare.
Temporary buildings for use incidental to construction work R-1, R-2, R-3, R-4, C-1, C-2, M-1, M-2 — — — Allowed for period not to exceed one year.
Truck terminal M-1 7.5 acres — Subject to requirements of planning commission based on analysis of potential impact on surrounding properties —
Truck, tractor and trailer sales and display, rental and repair — — — Subject to requirements of planning commission based on analysis of potential impact on surrounding properties —
Wholesale stores, storage facilities, warehouses, distributing plants, freezers and lockers C-2 — — Subject to requirements of planning commission based on analysis of potential impact on surrounding properties —

 

Note: The requirements noted in this section are in addition to, or where in conflict, supercede those general requirements by zoning districts as indicated in sections 24-411 and 24-412. For all permitted uses after special approval, the planning commission shall conduct a public hearing prior to making a decision on the proposed use. The planning commission may impose such requirements and conditions as may be necessary to protect neighboring property; promote public convenience, health, safety and welfare; or make the use conform more closely with the spirit, purpose and intent of this chapter. In determining other requirements and whether the proposed use is essential and desirable, the following information shall be considered by the planning commission:

(1)

The possible substantial and permanent effect on neighboring property.

(2)

The consistency with the spirit, purpose and intent of the chapter.

(3)

The possible effect upon traffic as related to the streets, churches, schools and any buildings within the immediate area.

(4)

The tendency of the proposed use to create any type of blight within the immediate area.

(5)

The economic feasibility for the area.

(6)

Any other factor as may relate to the public health, safety and welfare for persons and property.

(Ord. No. 591, art. I(d), 8-19-98; Ord. No. 640, art. I, 8-2-00; Ord. No. 677, art. I, 9-10-01)

_____