Saugatuck City Zoning Code
SITE PLAN
REVIEW
§ 154.060 PURPOSE AND SCOPE.
(A) It is the purpose of this subchapter to require formal site plan review approval for certain buildings, structures and uses that can be expected to have a significant impact on natural resources, traffic patterns, adjacent parcels and the character of future development. The regulations contained in this subchapter are intended to promote safe and convenient traffic movement, both within a site and in relation to an access street, harmonious relationships with adjacent sites, and conservation of natural amenities and resources.
(B) Uses subject to formal site plan review. Formal site plan review by the Planning Commission shall be required for the following:
(1) Residential subdivisions;
(2) Condominium subdivisions;
(3) All new non-residential principal structures;
(4) All expansions to existing nonresidential principal structures; and
(5) All PUD developments (see also § 154.110).
(6) Except as provided herein, multi-family residential developments.
(C) All uses and structures not subject to formal site plan review shall be subject to administrative review by the Zoning Administrator for conformance with the zoning ordinance.
(D) The Zoning Administrator may require a formal site plan review for any other use or activity not required to go through the formal site plan review process based on unique circumstances involving the use or structure in question and identified as part of the record.
(E) Planned unit developments, developments of sites greater than two acres in area and developments to occur in phases are subject to formal site plan review and approval by the City Council. (Ord. passed 6-24-1996; Am. Ord. 02-02, passed 2-11-2002; Am. Ord. passed 9-8-2003; Am. Ord. 091123-1, passed 11-23-2009; Am. Ord. 170626-2, passed 6-26-2017)
Statutory reference:
Site plans, see M.C.L.A. § 125.3501
§ 154.061 APPLICATIONS.
(A) The applicant shall submit payment of a non-refundable fee in accordance with the city’s schedule of fees as adopted from time to time. Additional administrative fees for professional services may be applied, refer to § 154.175.
(B) At a minimum the application form for all site plan reviews shall include the following information:
(1) The applicant’s name and address in full;
(2) The applicant’s telephone number and email address;
(3) Survey showing property corners, existing structures, and proposed construction.
(C) Additional information for formal site plan review shall require some or all of the following information unless waived by the Zoning Administrator:
(1) Water courses and water bodies, including human-made surface drainage ways;
(2) Existing public right-of-way, pavements and/or private easements;
(3) Existing and proposed uses, buildings, structures and parking areas;
(4) Zoning classification of abutting properties;
(5) Location, screening, dimensions and heights of proposed buildings and structures, such as trash receptacles, utility pads and the like, including accessory buildings and uses, and the intended uses thereof. Rooftop or outdoor appurtenances should also be indicated, including proposed methods of screening the equipment, where appropriate;
(6) Location and dimensions of parking areas, including computations of parking requirements, typical parking space dimensions, including handicapped spaces, and aisle widths;
(7) Proposed water supply and wastewater systems locations and sizes;
(8) Proposed finished grades and site drainage patterns, including necessary drainage structure. Where applicable, indicate the location and elevation of the 100-year floodplain;
(9) Proposed common open spaces and recreational facilities, if applicable;
(10) Proposed landscaping, including quantity, size at planting and botanical and common names of plant materials;
(11) Signs, including type, locations and sizes;
(12) Location and dimensions of all access drives, including driveway dimensions, pavement markings, traffic-control signs or devices, and service drives;
(13) Exterior lighting showing area of illumination and indicating the type of fixture to be used;
(14) Elevations of proposed buildings drawn to an appropriate scale shall include:
(a) Front, side and rear views;
(b) Heights at street level, basement floor level, top of main floor, top of building, and if applicable, height above water level; and
(c) Location, if any, of any views from public places to public places across the property;
(15) Location, height and type of fencing;
(16) Topographic elevations at two feet intervals; and
(17) Written statements relative to the effects on the existing traffic capacity of streets, and the proposed development’s impact on schools, existing utilities or natural features.
(Ord. passed 6-24-1996; Am. Ord. 02-02, passed 2-11-2002; Am. Ord. 120326-1, passed 3-26-2012; Am. Ord. 170626-2, passed 6-26-2017)
§ 154.062 STANDARDS FOR ADMINISTRATIVE SITE PLAN REVIEW.
Administrative site plan review shall be conducted by the Zoning Administrator to ensure compliance with the provisions of this chapter 154.
(Ord. passed 6-24-1996; Am. Ord. 02-02, passed 2-11-2002; Am. Ord. 170626-2, passed 6-26-2017)
§ 154.063 STANDARDS FOR FORMAL SITE PLAN APPROVAL.
(A) All elements of the site plan shall be harmoniously and efficiently organized in relation to topography, the size and type of lot, the character of adjoining property and the type and size of the buildings. The site will be developed as not to impede the normal and orderly development or improvement of surrounding property for uses permitted in this chapter.
(B) The landscape shall be preserved in its natural state, insofar as practical, by removing only those areas of vegetation or making those alterations to the topography which are reasonably necessary to develop the site in accordance with the requirements of this chapter.
(C) The site plan shall provide reasonable visual and sound privacy for all dwelling units located therein. Fences, walks, barriers and landscaping shall be used, as appropriate, to accomplish these purposes.
(D) All buildings or groups of buildings shall be arranged so as to permit necessary emergency vehicle access as required by the Fire Department.
(E) There shall be provided a pedestrian circulation system which is separated from the vehicular circulation system. In order to ensure public safety, special pedestrian measures, such as crosswalks, crossing signals and other such facilities may be required in the vicinity of schools, playgrounds, local shopping areas and other uses which generate a considerable amount of pedestrian traffic. All federal, state and local barrier free requirements shall be met.
(F) The arrangement of public or common ways for vehicular and pedestrian circulation shall be connected to existing or planned streets and pedestrian or bicycle pathways in the area. Streets and drives which are part of an existing or planned street pattern serving adjacent development shall be of a width appropriate to the traffic volume they will carry and shall have a dedicated right-of-way equal to that specified in the city’s land use plan.
(G) All streets shall be developed in accordance with city specifications, unless developed as a private road.
(H) Appropriate measures shall be taken to ensure that removal of surface waters will not adversely affect neighboring properties or the public storm drainage system. Provisions shall be made to accommodate storm water, prevent erosion and the formation of dust. The use of detention/retention ponds may be required. Surface water on all paved areas shall be collected at intervals so that it will not obstruct the flow of vehicular or pedestrian traffic, create puddles in paved areas or create erosion problems.
(I) All loading and unloading areas and outside storage areas, including areas for the storage of trash, which face or are visible from residential districts or public thoroughfares, shall be screened by an opaque wall or landscaped screen not less than six feet in height. (See §§ 154.142 through 154.144).
(J) Exterior lighting shall be arranged so that it is deflected away from adjacent properties and so that it does not impede the vision of traffic along adjacent streets. Flashing or intermittent lights shall not be permitted.
(K) In approving the site plan, the Planning Commission may recommend that a bond or other financial guarantee of ample sum be furnished by the developer to ensure compliance for such requirements as drives, walks, utilities, parking, landscaping and the like (see § 154.173).
(L) The Planning Commission may require a five year development plan for any remaining undeveloped property if the total parcel is greater than ten acres and a ten year development plan for any remaining undeveloped area of the parcel if the total parcel is greater than 20 acres.
(M) The Planning Commission may require a market feasibility study, prepared by a qualified professional as determined by the city, for any mixed use development or residential development greater than ten acres.
(Ord. passed 6-24-1996; Am. Ord. 02-02, passed 2-11-2002; Am. Ord. 140714-1, passed 7-14-2014; Am. Ord. 170626-2, passed 6-26-2017)
§ 154.064 CONDITIONS OF APPROVAL.
(A) As part of an approval to any site plan, the Planning Commission or City Council, as applicable, may impose additional conditions as in its reasonable judgment may be necessary for protection of the public interest and compliance with chapter 154.
(C) Approval of a site plan, including conditions made as part of the approval, is attached to the property described as part of the application and not to the owner of the property.
(D) A record of conditions imposed shall be maintained. The conditions shall remain unchanged unless an amendment to the site plan is approved.
(E) A record of the decision of the Planning Commission, the reason for the decision reached and any conditions attached to the decision shall be kept and made a part of the minutes of the Planning Commission. A similar record shall also be kept by the City Council in those instances where they have the final review authority.
(F) The Zoning Administrator may make periodic investigations of developments for which site plans have been approved. Non-compliance with the requirements and conditions of the approved site plan shall constitute grounds for the Planning Commission or City Council, whichever had final review authority, to terminate the approval following a public hearing.
(Ord. passed 6-24-1996; Am. Ord. 02-02, passed 2-11-2002; Am. Ord. 170626-2, passed 6-26-2017)
§ 154.065 VALIDITY OF SITE PLANS.
(A) The Planning Commission shall approve, approve with conditions or deny the submitted site plan. Reasons for a denial shall be set forth in writing.
(B) Where City Council approval is required the Planning Commission shall transmit its recommendation to the City Council. The City Council shall thereafter review the site plan and may approve, approve with conditions or deny the submitted site plan. Reasons for denial shall be set forth in writing. The applicant shall be provided with a copy of the resolution of the City Council regarding the site plan.
(C) Approval of a site plan is valid one year. If physical construction of a substantial nature of the improvements included in the approved site plan has not commenced and proceeded meaningfully toward completion the approval shall be null and void.
(D) Upon written application, filed before the termination of the one-year review period, the Planning Commission may authorize one extension of not more than one year. The extension shall only be granted based on evidence from the applicant that the development has a likelihood of commencing construction within the one-year extension.
(Ord. 170626-2, passed 6-26-2017
§ 154.066 AMENDMENTS TO APPROVED SITE PLANS.
(A) Any person who has been granted site plan approval shall notify the Zoning Administrator of any proposed amendment to the approved plan. The Zoning Administrator shall determine whether the proposed amendment constitutes a minor or major amendment.
(B) Minor changes. A minor amendment may be approved by the Zoning Administrator if:
(1) The proposed changes will not affect the basis on which initial approval was granted;
(2) The proposed minor changes will not adversely affect the overall planned unit development in light of the intent and purposes of the development as stated in § 154.060; and
(3) The proposed changes will not affect the character or intensity of use, the general configuration of buildings and uses on the site, vehicular or pedestrian circulation, drainage patterns, or the demand for public services.
(C) Minor changes. Examples of minor changes include, but are not limited to:
(1) Additions or alterations to the landscape plan or landscape materials;
(2) Alterations to the internal parking layout of an off-street lot provided that the total number of spaces or ingress or egress is not reduced; and
(3) Relocation of a trash receptacle.
(D) Major changes.
(1) A major change to an approved site plan includes any change that is not a minor change.
(2) A major change shall comply with the same filing and review procedures of the original approval, including the payment of a fee.
(Ord. passed 6-24-1996; Am. Ord. 02-02, passed 2-11-2002; Am. Ord. 170626-2, passed 6-26-2017)
§ 154.067 PERFORMANCE GUARANTEES.
Performance guarantees may be required by the Planning Commission to insure compliance with site plan conditions pursuant to the requirements of § 154.173.
(Ord. 02-02, passed 2-11-2002; Am. Ord. 170626-2, passed 6-26-2017)
§ 154.068 APPEALS OF FINAL SITE PLANS.
(A) There shall be no right of appeal of a site plan determination to Zoning Board of Appeals.
(B) An appeal of a decision concerning a site plan shall be to the County Circuit Court.
(Ord. passed 6-24-1996; Am. Ord. 02-02, passed 2-11-2002; Am. Ord. 170626-2, passed 6-26-2017)