The RM-1 and RM-2 multiple family residential districts (low rise) are intended to provide a proper environment for families who live in low rise multiple family dwellings. Such families typically are smaller in size than those living in single family dwellings. The districts are designed to furnish sites for various types of multiple family dwelling structures and generally serve as a transition between nonresidential districts and lower density one and two family residential districts. Both RM districts are intended to encourage development which, though multiple in nature, is complementary in character to one family development through the utilization of lower density, some attached garages and limited dwelling units per structure.

   The following uses shall be permitted, subject to the limitations of this ordinance:

   A.   Multiple family dwellings of a low rise type, including but not limited to multiplexes, townhouses and apartments and duplexes;

   B.   Independent and limited assistance housing for the elderly, subject to the following:

      1.   Only ranch type and/or apartment type dwellings or rooming units shall be permitted;

      2.   The total area devoted to common areas shall equal not less than 35 square feet for each dwelling unit. If a common dining area is provided, the total area devoted to a dining room shall equal not less than 18 square feet for each seat.

(Ord. No. 278-A, §§ 5, 6, 4-17-90; Ord. No. 278-N, § 7, 8-1-95; Ord. No. 278-R, § 3, 8-20-96)

   The following uses and others similar to those cited in this article may be permitted by the Planning Commission, subject to the general standards of section 25.02 and the specific standards imposed for each use:

   A.   Multiple family dwellings of a low rise type in excess of two stories but not to exceed three stories and a maximum of 34 feet in height may be permitted in the RM-2 district only, subject to the following conditions:

      1.   No residential structure in excess of two stories in the proposed development shall be located closer than 150 feet to any one family residential or R-2 zoning district;

      2.   The multiple family structure shall be screened from the view of adjoining one family residential or R-2 zoning districts as provided in section 24.01;

      3.   Independent and limited assisted housing for the elderly in excess of two stories but not to exceed three stories and a maximum of 34 feet in height may be permitted subject to the following conditions:

         a.   Only apartment-type dwelling or rooming units shall be permitted;

         b.   The total area devoted to common areas shall equal not less than 35 square feet for each dwelling unit. The total area devoted to a dining room shall equal not less than 18 square feet for each seat.

   B.   Churches, synagogues, mosques and places of worship, subject to the following:

      1.   Buildings of greater than the maximum height allowed in this district may be permitted, provided front, side and rear yards are increased above the minimum required yards by one foot for each foot of building height that exceeds the maximum height allowed;

      2.   All ingress to and egress from the site shall be directly onto a major or secondary thoroughfare having an existing or planned right-of-way width of at least 86 feet, as indicated on the Master Road Plan;

      3.   Parking lot screening meeting the requirements for moderate intensity impacts shall be provided as required in section 24.01;

      4.   Such facilities may include related community centers, provided that such centers are limited to activities sponsored by church members only. Said facilities shall not be used as catering halls;

      5.   All principal and accessory buildings, except for accessory storage buildings such as a shed or detached garage, shall maintain minimum rear and side yard setbacks of at least 50 feet.

   C.   Essential services needed to serve the immediate vicinity, provided that appropriate screening, as determined by the Planning Department, shall be required when abutting single family dwellings.

   D.   Public utilities, as regulated by section 3.02(1). Wireless communication towers, antennas and related facilities shall be further subject to the provisions of section 28.18.

   E.   Rehabilitation centers for the treatment and rehabilitation of criminal offenders, chemical offenders or substance abuse, subject to the following conditions:

      1.   All such facilities must be licensed and inspected by the State of Michigan;

      2.   All centers shall be residential facilities providing 24 hour supervision, care and security on site;

      3.   The site shall have ingress and egress directly onto a major thoroughfare having an existing or planned right-of-way width of at least 120 feet as indicated on the Master Road Plan;

      4.   Screening, meeting the requirements for moderate intensity impacts (section 24.01), shall be provided adjacent to any areas that abut property zoned or developed for residential purposes;

      5.   There shall be at least one parking space on site for every two employees;

      6.   Adequate ingress and egress, parking and circulation shall be provided on the site;

      7.   The facility shall provide adequate outdoor open space and recreational area;

      8.   The site shall be a minimum of 500 feet from any single family residential zone.

   F.   Full assisted housing for the elderly, subject to the following conditions:

      1.   All such facilities shall have ingress and egress from a site directly onto a major or secondary throughfare having an existing or planned right-of-way of at least 86 feet as indicated on the Master Road Plan;

      2.   There shall be provided at least 2,000 square feet of lot area for each bed in the facility or for each person cared for in the facility, whichever is greater;

      3.    No delivery areas or employee parking areas shall be permitted within 100 feet of a single family residential zoning district;

      4.   Screening, meeting the requirements for moderate intensity impacts of section 24.01, shall be provided adjacent to any areas that abut property zoned or developed for single family residential purposes;

      5.   Such facilities may include multi-purpose recreational rooms, kitchens and meeting rooms. Such facilities may also include medical examination rooms and limited space for ancillary services for the residents of the facility, such as barber and beauty facilities;

      6.   Licensing shall be in accordance with the State of Michigan and/or appropriate authority or jurisdiction.

   G.   Boarding houses.

(Ord. No. 278-A, §§ 7, 8, 4-17-90; Ord. No. 278-N, §§ 8, 9, 8-1-95; Ord. No. 278-U, § 4, 1-6-98; Ord. No. 278-Y, §§ 4, 5, 5-16-00)

   The following accessory uses shall be permitted:

   A.   Accessory building structures and uses, including community garages, utility sheds and maintenance buildings, community buildings and swimming pools not in excess of 60 feet in length which are part of the multiple family project as regulated by section 28.00;

   B.   Amusement devices as regulated by section 28.01.

   A.   The following minimum gross site land area shall be provided for each dwelling unit in each respective multiple family district:

 

 

   In the RM-1 District, not more than eight dwelling units shall be permitted per building. This density standard shall not apply to elderly housing developments.

 

 

   B.   The area used for computing dwelling unit density shall be the total site exclusive of any existing public right-of-way of perimeter bounding roads at the time of initial approval.

   C.   The following area, height and setbacks shall apply in each respective district:

 

 

      2.   Minimum yard setback in feet:

         a.   Front and street-side setbacks shall be measured from the centerline of each road right-of-way (R.O.W.) in accordance with the city's Master Road Plan, as follows:

 

   *   Freeways shall be measured from the established right-of-way line.

   **   In the case of private roads, the front yard setback shall be measured from the road easement of common usage line abutting the subject lot.

   If the existing right-of-way is greater than that shown on the Master Road Plan, the front yard setback (or street-side setback) as measured from the centerline of the right-of-way shall be equal to one-half of the actual right-of-way of the street plus 50 feet for secondary, major and regional roads and one-half of the actual right-of-way plus 35 feet for all other roads.

 

 

   Also see paragraphs D and G below.

 

 

      5.   Plans presented which include a den, library or extra room shall be counted as a bedroom for the purposes of this ordinance.

      6.   To encourage innovative, aesthetically pleasing building arrangement, the minimum perimeter and interior yard spacing requirements may be reduced by up to ten feet upon approval of the Planning Department, provided where the yard space on one side of the building is reduced, the yard space on the opposite side of the building is increased by the same amount. (For example, if a front yard is reduced by ten feet, then the rear yard shall be increased by ten feet.) This reduction shall not apply to those perimeter yards abutting single family zoning districts or public roadways.

   D.   Except for two family dwellings, the minimum distance between any two buildings shall be governed by the formula noted below, and in no instance shall this distance be less than 30 feet. The minimum distance between two family dwelling structures shall be 20 feet.

S equals LA plus LB plus 2 (HA plus HB), divided by 6

or

6

where:

   S   equals required minimum horizontal distance between any wall of building "A" and any wall of building "B" or the vertical prolongation of either.

   LA   equals total length of building "A." The total length of building "A" is the length of that portion or portions of a wall or walls of building "A" from which, when viewed directly from above, lines drawn perpendicular to building "A" will intersect any wall of building “B.”

   LB   equals total length of building "B." The total length of building "B" is the length of that portion or portions of a wall or walls of building "B" from which, when viewed directly from the above, lines drawn perpendicular to building "B" will intersect any wall of building "A."

   HA   equals height of building "A." The height of building "A" at any given level is the height above natural grade level of any portion or portions of a wall or walls along the length of building "A." Natural grade level shall be the mean level of the ground immediately adjoining the portion or portions of the wall or walls along the total length of the building.

   HB   equals height of building "B." The height of building "B" at any given level is the height above natural grade level of any portion or portions of a wall or walls along the length of building "B." Natural grade level shall be the mean level of the ground immediately adjoining the portion or portions of the wall or walls along the total length of the building.

   E.   The City Planner may modify the parking setback requirements where uses of a nonresidential type (churches, schools, public facilities, etc.) abut one another provided that in no instance shall the planner reduce the parking setback to less than ten feet.

(Ord. No. 278-A, §§ 9-11, 4-17-90; Ord. No. 278-F, §§ 1, 2, 8-8-90; Ord. No. 278-G, § 1, 9-18-90; Ord. No. 278-N, §§ 10, 11, 8-1-95; Ord. No. 278-R, §§ 4, 5, 8-20-96; Ord. No. 278-X, § 2, 4-6-99; Ord. No. 278-JJ, § 3, 3-4-08)

   A.   Recreation areas and facilities shall be provided to sufficiently meet the anticipated needs of the residents of the development. The minimum land area for recreation areas and developed facilities shall be provided at the following rates exclusive of all required front yard setbacks. Side and rear yard setback areas may be included if they serve as a functional extension of a designated recreation area. These standards shall not apply to elderly housing developments.

      Apartment: 500 square feet/dwelling unit.

      Multiplex: 400 square feet/dwelling unit.

      Townhouse 300 square feet/dwelling unit.

   In determining the adequacy of any proposed recreation areas and facilities, the City Planner may consider the type of unit, the demographic characteristics of anticipated residents and their recreation needs and the proximity of nearby recreation facilities.

   Provision of separate adult and youth recreation is encouraged. Recreation facilities generally shall be provided in a central location and should be convenient to the community center. A location adjacent to the community center is preferable for efficient construction, use and maintenance of all facilities. In larger developments, however, recreation facilities may be decentralized or part of an approved open space area plan.

   Natural features occurring on the site may be counted towards meeting the open space requirement, provided that improvements are provided which allow for the passive recreation usage of any such areas.

   All recreation areas shall be clearly delineated on a site plan with said land irrevocably reserved for this use. In phased development, a land reservation and a cash deposit or letter of credit shall be required to guarantee the completion of said improvements, if not completed in phase I.

   B.   Driveway approaches, but not driveways, shall be permitted in the required front yards.

   C.   Front, side or rear yards for the project of not less than 50 feet shall be provided whenever such yard abuts on major or secondary thoroughfares having a right-of-way width of 86 feet or more as indicated on the Master Road Plan or abuts on a single family residential district, subject to the provisions of section 6.04C6.

   D.   The maximum length of continuous and/or contiguous building frontage shall not exceed 180 feet for non-elderly housing developments and 300 feet for elderly housing developments.

   E.   Parking shall not be permitted in the project front yard, within 25 feet of any living area, or in tandem except parking may be allowed in driveway approaches leading to individual garages where provided.

   F.   In the RM-1 District, at least one of the required parking spaces per unit shall be provided in an attached enclosed garage. This standard shall not apply to elderly housing developments.

   G.   No roadway within a multiple family development shall extend more than 400 feet without a curve, turn or stopped intersection.

   H.   Parking areas and active use recreational areas shall be effectively screened from abutting one family development as provided in section 24.01.

   I.   All units shall be provided with an opportunity for access to cable television with emergency alert or override system capabilities.

(Ord. No. 278-F, § 3, 8-8-90; Ord. No. 278-N, § 12, 8-1-95; Ord. No. 278-T, § 2, 6-3-97; Ord. No. 278-CC, § 2, 6-3-03: Ord. No. 278-JJJ, § 1, 1-16-24)