The intent of the Principal Shopping District (PSD) is to retain and create a vibrant, attractive and cohesive center for the City of Newaygo with a variety of quality places to work, live, shop, learn, recreate and be entertained. This district is intended to recognize and support the Newaygo Principal Shopping District as the centerpiece of the greater Newaygo community.

These special regulations are intended to assist with the implementation of goals and objectives contained in the Newaygo Downtown Strategic Vision Plan. Among those goals are to promote development of a compact, walkable, mixed-use district, consisting of a variety of retail, entertainment, office, service, residential, cultural, recreation and municipal uses. To provide for the desired traditional downtown environment and accommodate the wide variety of permitted uses, this district includes specific design standards for site layout, setback continuity, building design, pedestrian amenities, parking arrangement, vehicular circulation and coordination of site features between adjoining sites. One intention of this district is that buildings be placed close to the street, with parking in the side, or preferably, rear yard. Permitted uses shall be designed and arranged to minimize any adverse impact on street capacity or public services, and contribute to the overall image and function of the district. A mixture of uses within a building, such as retail on the ground floor and office on upper floors is permitted. It is the further intent of this district to prohibit automotive related services and non-retail uses that tend to disrupt the continuity of the retail frontage.

Permitted and Special Land Use shall be in accordance with the following:

A.

All uses shall meet the conditions for the PSD district listed below in Section 15.03.

B.

All uses permitted by the underlying zoning district (as designated on the City of Newaygo Zoning Map) shall be permitted for that lot within the PSD. (For example, if the underlying zoning district is B-1, the uses permitted in B-1 are permitted for that lot).

C.

Any building fronting on State Road (M-37) and having commercial or office use on the first floor of said street frontage may contain residential uses on upper stories when adequate off-street parking is provided.

A.

All business establishments shall be retail, entertainment or service establishments dealing directly with customers. All goods produced on the premises shall be sold as retail on premises where produced.

B.

All business, servicing or processing, except for off-street parking or loading, shall be conducted within an enclosed structural building, either partially or completely, provided that outdoor cafes, public plazas, and open air markets may be permitted as an accessory use upon approval as a special land use. Sidewalk sales and similar uses are permitted during festivals and other special events and other approved dates only.

C.

Exterior walls facing public rights-of-way, customer parking areas and adjoining property that is zoned or used for residential purposes shall have a finished appearance, using the same materials as used on the front facade of the building. Wherever possible, meter boxes, waste receptacles and mechanical equipment should not be located in the front yard or on a side of the building when visible from public views or when facing property zoned or used as residential.

D.

Ornamental lighting, consistent with the established lighting system in the Principal Shopping District, shall be provided along public street frontages. Except for ornamental fixtures, all lighting shall be downward directed, sharp cut-off fixtures. Site, building and parking lot lighting shall be at a scale appropriate for the downtown and to prevent glare off-site.

E.

Architectural standards: All new buildings, additions and significant exterior changes or renovations shall be found to be architecturally compatible with the intent of the Principal Shopping District, as determined by the Principal Shopping District Board or other authorized unit. In making such a determination, the following will be considered:

1.

A minimum of eighty percent (80%) of the exterior finish material of all building facades visible from the public street, parking lot or adjacent residentially zoned land, exclusive of window areas, shall consist of brick, cut stone, field stone, cast stone or dimensional wood with an opaque stain. Exterior Insulation and Finishing Systems (EIFS) materials shall not be the primary building material. The remaining maximum twenty (20) percent of the facade may utilize other materials for architectural detailing such as fiberglass reinforced concrete, polymer plastic (fypon) or EIFS. The Planning Commission may permit other materials for facades not visible from a public street that are adequately screened from adjoining land uses.

2.

Roof design shall be consistent with the overall architecture of the building. Single story buildings should be designed with pitched roofs or a decorative cornice or parapet at least forty-two (42) inches high to screen roof-top mechanical equipment.

3.

Blank walls shall not face a public street. Walls facing a public street shall include windows and architectural features customarily found on the front facade of a building, such as awnings, cornice work, edge detailing or other decorative finish materials. A usable public building entrance shall be provided at the front of the building. Wall massing shall be broken up with vertical pilasters or other architectural elements to reduce scale.

4.

Colors shall be consistent with the majority of the established buildings, and/or the color scheme established by the Principal Shopping District Board. Stark or bold colors, and similar "non-traditional" downtown colors are not permitted.

5.

Facades may be supplemented by awnings which shall be straight sheds or made of an opaque material; translucent or internally lit awnings shall not be permitted along the front building line.

6.

Sites shall be designed at a pedestrian scale with relationship to the street and sidewalk. Convenient and safe pedestrian access shall be provided between the public sidewalk and the building entrance. Bicycle racks should be provided for uses expected to attract bicyclists, such as fast food restaurants (non-drive thru), ice cream parlors and convenience food stores.

7.

Rear or side entrances should be provided where parking is on the side or rear of the building.

8.

Building height may be increased to a maximum 40 feet for a mixed use building with retail in the first floor.

9.

Building design, facades and materials shall be consistent with any architectural guidelines published by the City or adopted by the Planning Commission.

F.

For buildings proposed for expansion or renovation that existed prior to the effective date of this ordinance, the Planning Commission shall determine the extent of compliance based on the existing building and site arrangement, the extent of the changes proposed and the site design elements found to be most in need of modification.

The requirements for lot area, yards, height, and other dimensions, as specified in the Schedule of Regulations shall be met for every structure and land use depending on the underlying zoning district.

See Chapter 22.

See Chapter 7.

See Chapter 5.

See Chapter 6.