For the purposes of this chapter, the city is hereby divided into the following zoning districts:

Residential:

R-1 residential district

R-2 residential district

RM residential district

Office:

O office district

Commercial:

CBD central business district

COR corridor business district

GBD general business district

Industrial:

I-1 industrial district

I-2 industrial district

Miscellaneous:

PUD planned unit development overlay district

C-OS conservation open space district

(Ord. No. 844, § 2, 3-18-24)

A map showing the various districts into which the city is divided shall be entitled "City of Owosso Zoning Map" and shall bear the date adopted or amended, and it shall be the duty of the city council to adopt said map by reference. The map is hereby made a part of this chapter.

(Ord. No. 844, § 2, 3-18-24)

Where uncertainty exists with respect to the boundaries of any of the districts established in this chapter as shown on the zoning map, the following rules shall be applied:

(1)

Where district boundaries are indicated as approximately following the center lines of street or highway rights-of-way or street lines, such center lines, street lines, or highway right-of-way lines shall be construed to be such boundaries.

(2)

Where district boundaries are so indicated that they are approximately parallel to the center lines of street or highway rights-of-way, such district boundaries shall be construed as being parallel thereto and at such distances there from as indicated on the zoning map. If no such distance is given, such dimension shall be determined by the scale shown on the zoning map.

(3)

Where district boundaries are so indicated that they approximately follow the lot lines, such lot lines shall be construed to be such boundaries.

(4)

Where the boundary of a district follows or terminates at a railroad line, such boundaries shall be deemed to be located or terminated at the rail right-of-way center line.

(5)

Where the boundary of a district follows, or terminates at, a stream, lake, or other body of water, the boundary line shall be deemed to be at, or terminated at, the limit of the jurisdiction of the city unless otherwise indicated.

(6)

Where the boundary of a district follows a subdivision boundary line, such boundary line shall be construed to be the district boundary line.

(7)

The ZBA shall make a determination, upon written application, or upon its own motion, in those situations where, due to the scale, lack of detail, or illegibility of the zoning map there is any uncertainty, contradiction, or conflict as to the intended location of any district boundaries shown thereon or interpretation concerning the exact location of district boundary lines.

(Ord. No. 844, § 2, 3-18-24)

Whenever any street, alley, or other public way within the city shall be vacated, such street, alley, or other public way or portion thereof shall automatically be zoned consistent with the zoning of the adjacent property or properties, measured from the center line.

(Ord. No. 844, § 2, 3-18-24)

Any unzoned area annexed to the city shall, immediately upon such annexation, be automatically classified as R-1 residential district until a zoning map for the area has been adopted by the city council. The planning commission shall recommend a zoning district for such area within three (3) months after the matter is referred to it by the city council.

(Ord. No. 844, § 2, 3-18-24)

(1)

Statement of purpose. The purpose of establishing historic overlay districts within the city is to:

(a)

Safeguard the heritage of the city by preserving historic districts as well as the individual buildings, structures, sites and objects within the districts in the city which reflect elements of the city's cultural social, economic, political or architectural history.

(b)

To stabilize and improve property values in the districts.

(c)

To strengthen the local economy.

(d)

To promote the use of historic districts for the education, pleasure and welfare of the citizens of the city and of the state.

(2)

As used in this chapter:

(a)

Alter and alteration mean work that changes the detail of a resource but does not change the basic size or shape. Alteration includes any action requiring a building permit or site modification under all current city ordinances.

(b)

Destruction means the razing or demolition, whether entirely or in part, of a resource, and includes, but is not limited to, destruction by neglect.

(3)

Destruction by neglect means neglect in maintaining, repairing, or securing a resource that results in deterioration of an exterior feature of the resource or the loss of structural integrity of the resource.

(4)

Historic resource means a publicly or privately owned building, structure, site, object, feature or open space that is significant in the history, architecture, culture, or beauty of the city.

(5)

The city historic overlay districts shall be those areas already designated as national historic districts within the city. The districts are identified on maps maintained in the office of the city clerk and include:

Owosso Downtown Historic District

The Oliver Street Historic District

The Westown Historic District

The Michigan Avenue Historic District; and

The Mason Street Historic District

(6)

The Owosso downtown historic overlay district is described below:

The plat of J.H. Calkins Subdivision of Reserve Number 7 of the City of Owosso, also the following blocks in the original plat of the village, now City of Owosso, 11, 12,14, 15, 16, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, Lots 11 through 18 in block 27, that portion of Reserve No. 1 and 2 south and west of the following described line, beginning at a point on the west line of Water Street where the north line of Mason Street, if extended, intersects said west line, then north along the west line of Water Street 326 feet, thence west parallel with the south line of William Street 143.8 feet thence south 62 feet parallel with the west line of Water Street, thence east parallel with the south line William Street 38 feet thence south parallel with the west line of Water Street 110 feet, thence west parallel with the south line of William Street 80 feet, thence north parallel to the west line of Water Street 110 feet, thence west parallel to the south line of William Street 292.7 feet thence south to the east bank of the Shiawassee River, and that portion of Reserve No. 3 that is north and west of a line perpendicular to the southwest line of Water Street that intersects the south line of Comstock Street and the Northeast line of Water Street and extends to the Shiawassee River. Also lots 8, 7, 3, and the west ½ of lot 2 in Block 17, and the west 82′ of lot 11, and the west 82′ of the south 33′ of lot 10 in Block 10. This description also includes all street and alley rights-of-way in and adjoining these blocks and Reserves. Approximately 44.6 acres.

(7)

Whenever this chapter directs the planning commission, city council or zoning board of appeals to engage in a review and approval process of any proposed action to a structure, building or site, whether publicly or privately owned, within the city, the aforementioned public bodies shall consider whether the proposed action poses an adverse impact upon a historic resource located within the historic overlay district or whether the proposed action poses an adverse impact upon the historic overlay district itself. This section specifically includes any review and approval process necessary or ancillary to an expenditure of public funds or capital improvements.

(8)

The standards for judging adverse impact shall include:

(a)

Whether the proposed action involves the destruction or alteration of all or any significant part of the historic resource.

(b)

Whether the proposed action involves the alteration of the surrounding environment when the significance of the historic resource is derived from its relationship to its site.

(c)

Whether the proposed action involves the introduction of visual or audio elements that are out of character with the property and its setting.

(d)

Whether the proposed action would destroy or erode the integrity or the significance that was the basis for the historic resources designation as a historic resource.

(Ord. No. 844, § 2, 3-18-24)