The purpose of the I-2 planned industrial district is to establish a zoning district where a more select category of industrial and business uses may locate in an industrial park or an industrial park-like setting. The regulations have been established to provide a positive operating environment for industry, protected from encroachment of commercial and five residential uses and incompatible industries, while at the same time reducing to a minimum industries' impact on surrounding non-industrial uses.

(Ord. No. 155, § 3, 7-7-97)

In the I-2 district, only the following uses may be permitted unless otherwise provided in this article:

(1)

Manufacture, extrusion compounding, processing, packaging, treating and assembling from previously prepared materials in the production of:

a.

Food products including meat, dairy, fruit, vegetable, seafood, grain, bakery, confectionery, beverage and kindred foods.

b.

Textile mill products including woven fabric, knit goods, dyeing, and finishing, floor coverings, yarn and thread and other textile goods.

c.

Apparel and other finished products made from fabrics, leather goods, fur, canvas and similar materials.

d.

Wood products including millwork, prefabricated structural wood products and containers.

e.

Furniture and fixtures.

f.

Paperboard containers, building paper, building board and bookbinding.

g.

Printing and publishing.

h.

Chemical products such as plastics, perfumes, synthetic fibers.

i.

Engineering, measuring, optic, medical, lenses, photographic and similar instruments.

j.

Jewelry, silverware, toys, athletic, office and tobacco goods, musical instruments, signs and displays, lampshades and similar manufacturing.

k.

Electronic equipment.

l.

Automobiles, automobile and equipment parts and accessories.

m.

Heating, cooling and electrical systems and components, including sheet metal work.

(2)

Dry cleaning and laundry plants.

(3)

Wholesale establishments including automotive equipment, drugs, chemicals, dry goods, apparel, food, farm products, electrical goods, hardware, machinery, equipment, metals, paper products and furnishings, and lumber and building products.

(4)

Warehouses, cartage businesses.

(5)

Laboratories including experimental, film and testing.

(6)

Municipal buildings, public service buildings.

(7)

Tool and die manufacturing and machine shops.

(8)

Electrical substations, electrical switching stations, electrical transmission lines, and pressure control stations or substations for gas, water and sewage.

(9)

Office buildings for any of the following: executive, administrative, professional, accounting, clerical or stenographic, and drafting.

(10)

Accessory buildings and uses customarily incidental to the above permitted uses.

(11)

Radio and television towers (see sections 20-640 through 20-648).

(12)

On-site-use wind energy systems having a height of sixty-five (65) feet or less and meeting the requirements of sections 20-650 through 20-654.

(Ord. No. 155, § 3, 7-7-97; Ord. No. 217, § 31, 7-7-08; Ord. No. 225, § 26, 2-1-10)

The following shall be subject to a special use permit:

(1)

Financial institutions (banks, savings and loans or credit unions).

(2)

Retail sales of goods where such sale is clearly incidental and accessory to the primary use and where the area devoted to retail sales does not exceed five percent (5%) of the total floor area or two thousand (2,000) square feet (whichever is greater).

(3)

Outdoor auctions subject to subsection 20-601(25).

(4)

Municipal sewage treatment plants.

(5)

Child care centers where such use is clearly incidental and accessory to the primary use. Freestanding child care centers.

(6)

Uses similar to those listed in Sec. 20-462 as determined by the planning commission.

(7)

Wind energy systems having a height of greater than sixty-five (65) feet on parcels or specialized easements containing at least one (1) acre and meeting the requirements of sections 20-650 through 20-654.

(Ord. No. 155, § 3, 7-7-97; Ord. No. 195, § 1, 6-21-04; Ord. No. 211, § 16, 2-5-07; Ord. No. 217, § 32, 7-7-08; Ord. No. 225, § 27, 2-1-10)

The following uses are expressly prohibited in the I-2 district.

(1)

Fuel, petroleum or waste oil storage yards.

(2)

Contractors and building materials storage yards.

(3)

Grist mills, saw mills.

(4)

Lumberyards unless authorized as a special use in association with a builders supply and home improvement store on property having direct frontage on U.S. 131 (ref. section 20-494 (g).

(5)

Stock yards.

(6)

Stonework and cement or asphalt plants.

(7)

Junk yards/salvage yards.

(8)

Auto body and auto paint and repair facilities.

(Ord. No. 155, § 3, 7-7-97; Ord. No. 195, § 2, 6-21-04)

For permitted uses and uses subject to a special use permit, a site plan shall be submitted in accordance with section 20-116. Adherence to the soil erosion and sedimentation permitting requirements of Allegan County amid all other applicable county, state and federal environmental protection standards enforced by agencies other than the city shall be incorporated into such plans. Evidence of conformity with such standards and approval by the agency having jurisdiction shall be required in order to obtain final, unconditional site plan approval from the City.

(Ord. No. 155, § 3, 7-7-97)

Area, height, bulk and placement requirements are as provided below unless otherwise specified.

(1)

Minimum lot size: Eighty thousand (80,000) square feet.

(2)

Minimum lot width: Two hundred (200) feet as measured at the street right-of-way line or in the case of a cul-de-sac or curved streets, at the nearest point of building setback. In any case, the required minimum lot width shall be provided within one hundred fifty (150) feet of the street right-of-way and shall be maintained throughout the remainder of the lot's depth. Corner lots shall have the minimum required frontage on both streets.

(3)

Lot depth to width: The maximum ratio of lot depth to lot width shall be three and one-quarter (3.25) feet of lot depth for each one foot of lot width.

(4)

Maximum building and structure height: Fifty (50) feet or three (3) stories, whichever is the lesser amount (Ref. section 20-79(e) for exceptions).

(5)

Minimum front yard setback: One hundred (100) feet. On a corner lot, each lot line which abuts a public or private street shall be deemed to be a front lot line. Notwithstanding, the corner lot provisions of section 20-80(c), corner lots in this district shall be deemed to have frontage on a major street and a side street, as declared by the planning commission at the time of site plan approval. The minimum front yard setback along a major street shall be one hundred (100) feet. The minimum front yard setback for buildings along a minor street shall be fifty (50) feet. All other front yard requirements and limitations as contained or referenced herein shall apply to both front yard areas.

(6)

Minimum sideyard: Thirty (30) feet, sixty (60) feet (total of two).

(7)

Minimum rearyard setback: Thirty (30) feet.

(8)

Maximum lot coverage: The maximum building coverage for any lot shall be fifty (50) percent, consisting of one principal building and customary accessory buildings.

(9)

Bufferyards. Each use permitted on a lot or parcel located in a I-2 district shall provide a bufferyard within each front, side and rear yard. The bufferyard shall begin at the right-of-way line in the case of front yards and the side and rear property lines in the case of side and rear yards. Bufferyards shall be landscaped and maintained in accordance with the standards and guidelines contained in article XVII, division 2, landscaping, screening and buffers as applicable.

(10)

Fire lanes: Fire lanes as may be required to meet fire code shall be located between the building wall and the required buffer yards.

(11)

Stormwater management: Each site shall be developed with an enclosed stormwater collection system. On-site stormwater retention shall be required. All roof drains shall be connected to the enclosed stormwater collection system. When appropriate, site drainage will be allowed to connect to the city stormwater collection system as determined by the city engineer. All such facilities shall be designed to the specifications of the city and reviewed as part of site plan approval.

(Ord. No. 155, § 3, 7-7-97; Ord. No. 217, § 33, 7-7-08)

The parking and loading provisions as provided in section 20-81, off-street parking and loading shall apply. Notwithstanding provisions to the contrary, all parking and loading areas in this district initially constructed, or added to, shall be paved with concrete or bituminous materials in accordance with an approved site plan.

(Ord. No. 155, § 3, 7-7-97)

To avoid unnecessary parking space construction while still ensuring site adequacy for potential changes in the use of a building or premises, the planning commission may, at the time of site plan approval, defer construction of the required number of parking spaces for industrial or office uses. Deferred parking may be granted if the following conditions are satisfied.

(1)

An application is filed with the site plan of the entire project showing the design and layout of all required parking areas including areas proposed for deferred parking. The design of the parking area, as indicated on the development plan, shall include sufficient space to provide for the total parking area as required by section 20-81 off-street parking and loading.

(2)

The area designated for deferred parking shall not include areas required for front, side or rear yards, bufferyards or land otherwise unsuitable for parking due to environmental or physical conditions.

The planning commission may impose reasonably necessary conditions to protect the public interest and may require the posting of security to assure completion of related or future improvements required as conditions of deferred parking plan approval. Subsequent to the implementation of a deferred parking plan, the planning commission may, based on review of parking needs and a recommendation by the zoning administrator, require the construction of additional parking spaces as otherwise required in section 20-81.

(Ord. No. 155, § 3, 7-7-97)

All buildings shall be of masonry, precast concrete, or factory finished metal construction. All office facades facing a street shall be constructed of brick, stone, fluted block, glass or similar decorative material. At least twenty-five (25) percent of the total wall surface or balance of any wall facing a street, other than an office facade, shall be constructed of brick, stone, fluted block, glass or similar decorative material. Wood may be utilized for decorative and non-structural porticos, canopies and other attachments. All metal buildings shall be constructed to the minimum requirements established by the Metal Building Manufacturers Association, and all such buildings shall be adequately protected on the interior and exterior from damage by vehicles and operations. In recognition of developing technologies in building materials, the planning commission may approve other materials in consideration of the following standards:

(1)

Whether or not the finished treatment is compatible with surrounding properties in terms of color and overall image.

(2)

Relative scale of the building in terms of height and area.

(3)

The extent to which the building is set back from the street frontage(s) and the amount and quality of landscaping on the street frontage(s) and along the building.

(Ord. No. 155, § 3, 7-7-97)

Landscaping, screening and buffers shall be provided as regulated in article XVII, division 2, landscaping, screening and buffers, as applicable. Lighting shall be installed as applicable under the provisions of section 20-84.

(Ord. No. 155, § 3, 7-7-97; Ord. No. 217, § 34, 7-7-08)

Editor's note— Ord. No. 217, § 35, adopted July 7, 2008, amended the Code by repealing former § 20-501 in its entirety. Former § 20-501 pertained to minimum landscaping within required buffer yards, and derived from Ord. No. 155, adopted July 7, 1997.

(a)

For reasons of conflicting uses, unfavorable topography or other unique or extenuating physical circumstances the planning commission may increase required landscape plantings if an increase is found to be necessary to reasonably achieve screening and aesthetic objectives.

(b)

Reductions and substitutions of plantings. If a physical hardship exists or existing topography and vegetation provide equal or better landscape and buffering effect, the planning commission may approve modifications to require such alternate plantings and visual screens as hedges, fences, walls, and/or combination thereof which it deems necessary to ensure compliance with stated utilitarian and aesthetic objectives.

(c)

Green space within the public right-of-way and private easements. For the land area lying between the required buffer yard and the edge of pavement of a public or private street, the following standards shall apply.

(1)

Grass or other living groundcover shall be neatly maintained and kept weed free by the owners of property abutting the public right-of-way or private easement.

(2)

Trees within a public right-of-way shall not be planted without the written consent of the city.

(Ord. No. 155, § 3, 7-7-97)

Editor's note— Ord. No. 217, § 35, adopted July 7, 2008, amended the Code by repealing former § 20-503 in its entirety. Former § 20-503 pertained to open storage, and derived from Ord. No. 155, adopted July 7, 1997.

All uses permitted in this district shall be required to be served by public water and sewer utilities.

(Ord. No. 155, § 3, 7-7-97)

Before the issuance of any building or occupancy permit in the I-2 zone, the applicant shall sign an agreement that the use of the property will meet the following performance standards, or that any violation of these standards in subsequent operations will be corrected, the costs of inspection by experts for compliance to be borne by the applicant.

(1)

Fire and explosion hazards. All activities shall be carried on only in buildings conforming to the building code, and the operation shall be carried on in such a manner and with such precaution against fire and explosion hazards as to produce no explosion hazards as determined by the state department of labor to a use on an adjacent property. Flammable liquids other than fuels used for heating shall be stored in an entirely closed building which shall be used for no other purpose, or in underground tanks provided:

a.

Such storage building is not closer than one hundred (100) feet to any building occupied by one (1) or more humans.

b.

Every factory or manufacturing building or other buildings permitted only in the industrial area shall be equipped with automatic sprinklers or other automatic fire extinguishers approved by the building inspector and the chief of the fire department as being sufficient in view of the nature and extent of the fire risk.

(2)

Smoke, fumes, gases, dust, odors. There shall be no emission of any smoke, atomic radiation, fumes, gas, dust, odors or any other atmospheric pollutant which will disseminate beyond the boundaries of the lot occupied by such use in such a manner as to create a public nuisance.

(3)

Liquid or solid waste. The discharge of untreated industrial waste into a reservoir, pond, lake or stream is prohibited. All methods of salvage and industrial waste treatment and disposal shall be approved by the city and state health departments. No effluent shall contain any acids, oils, dust, toxic metals, corrosives or other toxic substance in solution or suspension which would create odors, or discolor, poison or otherwise pollute the stream in any way.

(4)

Vibration. There shall be no vibration which is discernible to the human sense of feeling beyond the immediate site on which such use is conducted.

(5)

Noise. There shall be no noise emanating from the operation which will be more audible beyond the boundaries of the immediate site than eighty (80) decibels.

(6)

Glare. There shall be no direct or sky-reflected glare exceeding one and one-half (1½) footcandles or which would be damaging to the human eye measured at the property line of the lot occupied by such use. This regulation shall not apply to lights used at the entrances or exits of service drives leading to a parking lot.

(Ord. No. 155, § 3, 7-7-97)

Signs shall be as regulated in article XIX, as applicable.

(Ord. No. 155, § 3, 7-7-97; Ord. No. 209, § 13, 1-2-07)

Editor's note— Ord. No. 217, § 35, adopted July 7, 2008, amended the Code by repealing former § 20-507 in its entirety. Former § 20-507 pertained to general lighting screening and fencing requirements, and derived from Ord. No. 155, adopted July 7, 1997.