(Ord. 188, eff. 2-25-1981; Ord. 371, adopted 12-8-2014; Ord. 379, passed 4-9-2018; Ord. 393, passed 1-9-2023)

   A.   In all residential districts, the required front yard shall not be used for off-street parking, loading or unloading and shall remain as open space unoccupied and unobstructed from the ground upward, except for landscaping, plant materials or vehicle access drives. This requirement shall not be construed to prohibit the parking of vehicles on designated driveways.

   B.   Where lots are on rivers, the property shall be treated as a through lot and have required front yards on both frontages. If an accessory building is requested on a lot with river frontage, the accessory building shall be located in either the side lot area or the frontage along the river setback at least ten feet from any existing structure.

   C.   The minimum floor area per dwelling unit shall not include areas of basements, breezeways, unenclosed porches, terraces, attached garages, attached sheds or utility rooms.

   D.   In the R-1A, R-1B and R-1C Districts, the width of side yards, which abut upon a street on the same side or on the opposite side of the same block, upon which other residential lots front, shall not be less than the required front yard for the homes which front upon the side street.

   E.   For two-family dwellings, the minimum lot area shall be 10,000 square feet.

   F.    Site requirements:

 

    G.   For every lot on which a multiple, row or terrace dwelling is erected, there shall be provided a side yard on each side of the lot, as indicated in the schedule. Each side yard shall be increased beyond the yard spaces indicated by one foot for each ten feet or part thereof by which the length of the multiple, row or terrace dwelling exceeds 40 feet in overall dimension along the adjoining lot line.

   H.   Where two or more multiple, row or terrace dwellings are erected upon the same lot, a minimum yard space of 20 feet in width shall be provided between structures. This yard width shall be increased by two feet for each ten feet or part thereof, by which each multiple, row or terrace dwelling, having common yards, exceeds 40 feet in length on that side of the dwelling facing the common yard.

   I.   Where any C-1, C-2 or CBD District borders on a side street, whereon a residential zoning district exists in the same block, there shall be provided a setback of five feet for all commercial buildings and parking and loading areas.

   J.   Where C-1, C-2 or CBD District borders a residentially zoned district and the Districts are not separated by an alley or street, there shall be a minimum building setback of ten feet from the property line.

   K.   Loading space shall be provided for the rear yard in the ratio of at least ten square feet per front foot of building. Where an alley or street exists or is provided at the rear of buildings, the rear building setback and loading requirements may be computed from the center of the alley or street. The Board of Appeals may waive this requirement in cases where this section causes undue hardship.

   L.   Where motels or hotels are permitted in a C-2 District, a minimum of 250 square feet of floor area per unit shall be provided. The requirements of § 53.88 above notwithstanding, hotels in the C-2 District west of Prince Street are permitted a maximum height of 50 feet or four stories, whichever is less.

   M.   Orientation of all new residential dwellings or remodeling of residential dwellings should enhance the overall cohesiveness and character of the surrounding neighborhood. Unless site specific hardships are present that are not self-created, the front door or main entrance shall be oriented toward the street. Blank walls without openings are not allowed on any public faces of any residential building.

(Ord. 188, eff. 2-25-1981; Ord. 393, passed 1-9-2023)

   For the purpose of this article, the following definitions shall apply unless the context clearly indicates or requires a different meaning.

   GARDEN APARTMENTS. A residential structure having a height limit of two and one-half stories and containing three or more attached rooms or suites of rooms, each room or suite having its own cooking facilities and being used as a dwelling for one family.

   GROSS SITE AREA. The total area within and conforming to the legal description of the site.

   HANDICAPPED PERSON. A person or persons who may be classified as having a physical impairment that manifests itself in one or more of the following ways: nonambulatory; semiambulatory; visually impaired; deaf or hard-of-hearing; having faulty coordination; and having reduced mobility, flexibility, coordination or perceptiveness due to age or physical or mental conditions. HANDICAPPED PERSON is one whose impairment is expected to be continued and of indefinite duration.

   HOUSING FOR THE ELDERLY. A multiple-family housing development having the following tenant eligibility requirements. At the time of rental application, tenants must be:

      1.   Families of two or more persons, the head of which (or the spouse of which) is 62 years of age or older or is handicapped; or

      2.   Single persons who are 62 years of age or older or who are handicapped.

   LANDSCAPED AREA. A portion of land area which has been changed, rearranged or to which plant materials or scenery have been added to produce an aesthetic effect appropriate for a residential area.

   MAJOR THOROUGHFARE. A two-lane or four- or more lane arterial street as shown and defined in the Plainwell Transportation Plan.

   SITE PLAN. A plan drawn to scale showing uses and structures proposed for a parcel of land in accordance with the requirements of this code.

   SITE PLAN REVIEW. The process as the Planning Commission reviews the site plan(s) of a proposed development to assure that it conforms to the stated purposes and standards of the respective district, provides for necessary public facilities, protects adjacent properties through appropriate site of structures and landscaping.

(Ord. 188, eff. 2-25-1981)