A.    For the purposes of this ordinance, the City of Sterling Heights is hereby divided into zoning districts within which the use of land and structures, the height, the area, the density of population and the size and location of buildings are regulated. To the extent possible, these zoning districts are established in accordance with the city’s Master Land Use Plan.

   B.   The boundaries of these districts are hereby established as shown on the Zoning Districts Map, City of Sterling Heights, which accompanies this ordinance, and which map, with all notations, references and other information shown thereon, shall be as much a part of this ordinance as if fully described herein.

   In accordance with the provisions of this ordinance, if changes are made in district boundaries or other matter portrayed on the Official Zoning Districts Map, such changes shall be made on the Official Zoning Districts Map after the amendment has been approved by the City Council, together with an entry on the Official Zoning Map as follows: amended date , Ordinance No. (                ).

   C.   Two copies of the Official Zoning Ordinance and Map are to be maintained and kept up-to-date. One copy shall be filed in the City Planning Department and the other shall be filed with the City Clerk, whose copy shall be the final authority as to the current zoning status of lands, buildings and other structures in the city.

   Where, due to the scale, lack of details or illegibility of the Zoning Map, there is any uncertainty, contradiction or conflict as to the intended location of any zoning district boundaries shown thereon, interpretation concerning the exact location of district boundary lines shall be determined by the Zoning Board of Appeals upon written application. The Board, in arriving at a decision on such matters, shall apply the following standards:

   A.   The boundaries of zoning districts are intended to follow centerlines of alleys, streets or other rights-of-way, watercourses or lot lines or be parallel or perpendicular thereto, unless such district boundary lines are otherwise clearly indicated on the Zoning Districts Map;

   B.   Where district boundaries are so indicated that they approximately follow lot of record lines, such lines shall be construed to be boundaries;

   C.   In unsubdivided property, or where a district boundary divides a lot of record, the location of such boundary, unless shown by dimensions on the Zoning Districts Map, shall be determined by use of the map scale shown thereon.

(Ord. No. 278-NN, § 34, 1-6-09)

   A.   No structure or land shall be used, occupied, erected, constructed, moved or altered, except in conformity with the regulations specified for that zoning district. Unless a use is permitted in a particular zoning district, it shall be prohibited in that zoning district.

   B.   Except as otherwise provided, regulations governing land and building use, minimum lot size, lot area per dwelling unit, building height, building placement, required yards and other pertinent factors are hereby established as stated in the detailed provisions for each of the zoning districts. In each zoning district a "permitted use" shall be a use of land or buildings subject to the minimum requirements specified for such use in the zoning district in which such use is located, plus applicable requirements found elsewhere in this ordinance. A special approval land use shall be a use of land or buildings which may be permitted in that district only after following special procedures designed to ensure site and use compatibility with existing or proposed surrounding land uses. In evaluating and deciding each application for such permission, the Planning Commission shall apply the standards contained in section 25.02 of this ordinance and any special conditions imposed for that use.