ARTICLE 4 - GENERAL PROVISIONS                                                               4.00

4.0   GENERAL PROVISIONS

4.1  USE REGULATIONS

          A.     ACCESSORY USES

        Nothing in this Ordinance shall be construed to prohibit the following accessory uses:

1.      Customary refreshment and service uses and buildings which are incidental to the recreational use of any park or recreational area, not to exceed one hundred eighty (180') square feet in floor area.

2.      Buildings or structures necessary for provision of essential services.

3.      Gardens, garden ornaments and usual landscape features within required yard space.

4.      Fences, walls, and screens within required yard space.

5.      Retaining walls.

6.      Public playgrounds.

7.      Off-street parking for licensed automobiles, recreational vehicles and other motor vehicles not including trucks over one and one half (1.5) ton rated capacity.

8.      Use of premises as a voting place.

9.      Storage sheds, playhouses, and shelters for transit or school bus passengers.

10.     Radio or TV antennas.

11.     Swimming Pools

 

      B.     DUMPING OF SOIL, SAND, CLAY MATERIALS

The extensive dumping of soil, sand, clay or similar materials shall not be allowed on any lot or parcel without approval of the Planning Commission and subject to the requirements set forth by the Planning commission.

 

       C.     EXCAVATION AND HOLES

The construction, maintenance, or existence of unprotected or unbarricaded holes, pits, wells, building pads, or similar excavations which cause, or are likely to cause a danger to life, health, and safety to the general public shall be prohibited.  This section shall not, however, prevent any excavation which is required for constructing, remodeling, or expanding  structures, or for industrial or farming operations, including the mining of sand and gravel, provided appropriate precautionary measures, such as the placement of warning signs, fences, etc., have been approved by the Zoning Administrator and placed on the premises.  Nothing in this section shall apply to bodies of water, ditches, streams, or other major natural resources created or existing by the authority of the State of Michigan , Saginaw County , Tittabawassee Township , or other units of government.

 

Excavation resulting from the extraction of sand, gravel, or other minerals for commercial purposes shall be required, upon termination of such activities for a period of one (1) year or more, to be refilled by the person, firm or corporation engaging in such excavation.  The excavated site shall be graded and returned, as far as possible, to its natural state, including planting of vegetation indigenous to the area, within ninety (90) days after the one (1) year anniversary of termination of excavation or extraction activities. If the site is immediately vacated after termination of activities, the site shall be graded and returned to its natural state within ninety (90) days after activities are terminated. In all other instances in which excavation of holes for construction or remodeling has occurred, the filling and grading of such holes shall occur as soon as practical.

 

         D.     STORAGE, DUMPING OF WASTE, JUNK, ETC.

The use of land or water resources for the dumping or disposal of scrap iron, metal, rubber, plastic refuse, junk, slag, ash shall not be permitted, except in such cases where a temporary permit is obtained from the Zoning Administrator, upon approval of the Planning Commission, after a  public hearing and in accordance with Part 115 of the Michigan Natural Resources and Environmental Protection Act as amended.  Such permit shall not exceed one (1) year from the date of issuance and may be renewed on an annual basis only after approval is granted by the Planning Commission.

 

         BOND/AGREEMENT.  An appropriate bond and agreement shall be required of the applicant to ensure compliance with the directives set forth by the Planning Commission. Such dumping or disposal shall not negatively affect the water table, or cause pollution of stagnant or running water in any area of the Township or attract rodents, vectors or other nuisances so as to create health or safety problems to the natural environment and the inhabitants of the Township.  Nor shall the natural terrain be altered in any fashion to create safety or health hazards at the expiration date of the permit. The character of the land shall not be substantially altered so as to make it unusable for the uses for which it was originally zoned.

 

       E.      TEMPORARY USE PERMIT

The Zoning Administrator may issue temporary use permits for the following uses after determining that these uses will not be detrimental to adjacent conforming uses during the permitted period of use.  A second temporary use permit may be issued by the Zoning Administrator at the end of a time limit if the applicant shows good cause.  The Zoning Administrator may attach the conditions and requirements deemed necessary to meet the intent of the provisions of this section.  A third temporary use permit may only be authorized by the Zoning Board of Appeals.

1.             Mobile homes. An individual mobile home or other temporary structure may be used as  temporary living or working quarters for up to ninety (90) days while a dwelling or structure is being constructed or reconstructed on the same premises.

2.             Signs and supplies.  The storage of building supplies and machinery; temporary storage buildings; the assembly of materials associated with a customary trade; and contractor, architect, and identification signs in connection with a construction project, may be authorized by the Building Department for a period of up to twelve (12) months. 

      

 

 

F.      ZONING AFFECTS EVERY STRUCTURE AND USE OF PROPERTY 

         Except as specified, no building, structure, land or premises shall be used or occupied, and no building or part of a building or other structure shall be erected, raised, moved, placed, reconstructed, extended, enlarged, or altered, unless it conforms with the regulations of the district in which it is located.

 

4.2  GENERAL DEVELOPMENT REGULATIONS

        A.     MIXED OCCUPANCY 

Before issuing a zoning permit for any construction for any premises that is: 1) intended for a combination of dwelling and commercial or dwelling and industrial occupancy, 2) which would result in an increased number of dwelling units within a building partly occupied by business or industrial use; or 3) which would result in an increased area devoted to business or industrial use, within a building partly occupied as a dwelling, the Zoning Administrator shall refer the plans to the Fire Chief and Health Department for their review of any existing or anticipated fire or health hazards. Recommendations as to additional provisions or changes in the interest of safety or health shall be complied with before issuance of a permit.

 

        B.     PRIVATE ROADS

Private roads are prohibited in Tittabawassee Township .

 

        C.     PUBLIC NUISANCE, PER SE

Any building or structure which is erected, altered, or converted, or any use of premises or land which is begun or changed subsequent to the time of passage of this section and in violation of any of the provisions thereof, is hereby declared to be a public nuisance per se, and may be abated by order of any court of competent jurisdiction. 

 

          D.     REVERSION OF REZONED AREA

In the case of land which has been approved for a zoning change, construction on the parcel must begin within a period of one year from approval of the zone change.  If construction does not commence within this period, the Planning Commission may initiate a rezoning to return the land to the previous zoning designation, or to another designation.  The process for returning the land to its previous zoning designation must comply with the amendment process provided in this Ordinance.

 

          E.     SIDEWALKS

Upon adoption of this Ordinance, sidewalks are required in accordance with the Tittabawassee Township Sidewalk Ordinance.

 

        F.     STREETS

To provide for the public health and welfare through adequate light and ventilation and for the safety of persons and property in the use of the streets of the Township, all public streets platted, laid out, or dedicated and accepted by the Township  shall have a right of way width of at least sixty-six (66’) feet.

 

4.3  STRUCTURE REGULATIONS

       A.     ABANDONED BUILDINGS AND STRUCTURES

Any building or structure not in continuous use as defined by Permitted, Special Land Use, or nonconforming uses in any district for a period greater than six (6) months shall be considered abandoned and come under the provisions of this ordinance and other Township codes for buildings and structures.  In order to obtain a certificate of occupancy as a use in the future, once six (6) months have passed, the building or structure shall have to meet all the current standards of all applicable Township codes.

 

        B.     ACCESSORY BUILDINGS OR ACCESSORY STRUCTURES IN ANY DISTRICT

No accessory building or structure may be built upon any lot on which there is no principal building. Accessory structures and buildings may not be inhabited.  No accessory building (except for school bus shelters) shall be placed in any required front or side yard nor closer than ten feet to any other building.  See Article 13, Area, Height and Distance Regulations for additional requirements. 

 

Accessory Buildings include but are not limited to:

1.       Customary refreshment and service uses and buildings that are incidental to the recreational use of any park or recreational area.

2.       Buildings or structures necessary for the provision of essential services.

3.       Gardens, garden ornaments and usual landscape features within required yard space.

4.       Fences, walls, and screens within required yard space.

5.       Retaining walls.

6.       Public playgrounds.

7.       Off-street parking for licensed automobiles, recreational vehicles and other motor vehicles not including trucks over one and one half (1.5) ton rated capacity.

8.       Home occupations.

9.       Use of premises as a voting place.

10.   Storage sheds, playhouses, and shelters for transit or school bus passengers.

11.   Radio or television antennas.

12.   Swimming pools.

13.   Front yard handicap access facilities in residential districts, when proof of need in shown.

 

         C.     BUILDING AND OCCUPANCY PERMITS

1.     BUILDING PERMITS REQUIRED. Any construction related to any type of zoning administrative approval shall be commenced only after a building permit has been obtained.

 

2.     PRIOR BUILDING PERMITS. Any building permit issued prior to the effective date of this Ordinance shall be valid, even though not conforming to the provisions of this Ordinance, provided that construction is commenced within ninety (90) days after the date the permit was issued and that the building is completed according to the plans filed with the permit application within one (1) year of the date of issuance.

 

3.     OCCUPANCY PERMIT. Upon completion of a structure and all required site improvements per approved site plan, and before moving into a building in any district, an occupancy permit is required

 

       D.     BUILDING SITE AND STORAGE REQUIREMENTS

1.      EXTERIOR LIGHTING. All lighting for parking areas or for the external illumination of building or for the illumination of signs shall be directed away from and shall be shielded from adjacent districts and shall also be arranged so to not adversely affect driver visibility on adjacent thoroughfares.

 

2.      CORNER CLEARANCE. No fence, wall, shrubbery, sign or other obstruction to vision above the height of three (3') feet from the established street grades shall be permitted within the triangular area formed at the intersection of any street right-of-way lines by a straight line drawn between said right-of-way lines at a distance along each line of thirty (30') feet from their point of intersection.

 

3.      STORAGE OF GARBAGE. All garbage and rubbish must be stored in closed containers or in a dumpster.  In the AG, R and Commercial districts, all containers and dumpsters must be fully screened and secured with a locked gate.  In the industrial districts, garbage containers and dumpsters must not be visible from the road.  If the dumpster or storage containers are already screened by an opaque fence or other suitable means, to be determined by the Planning Commission, additional screening is not required. Garbage may be stored in a building until the time of collection. No garbage or rubbish may be stored for a period of more than two weeks, or so as to cause hardship, health hazard, or annoyance to adjoining properties.

 

4.      FENCES, WALLS AND NONBOTANICAL SCREENS. In all agricultural, residential and commercial districts, no fence, wall or hedge plantings shall exceed a height of three (3') feet within street side yard or front yard setbacks of any street right-of-way line, except on a corner lot. Fences, walls or structural screens shall not exceed three (3') feet in any front yard or six (6') feet in any side or rear yard.  Fences which enclose public or institutional uses, playgrounds or public landscaped areas, shall not exceed eight (8') feet in height and shall not obstruct vision.

 

          E.     BUILDINGS TO BE MOVED

Any building or structure which has been wholly or partially erected on any premises located within or outside the Township shall not be moved and/or be placed upon any premises in the Township unless there is full compliance with Township ordinances.  Any such building or structure shall fully conform to all provisions of  this ordinance and applicable housing codes, and be compatible with the general character and design of surrounding properties.  Such compatibility shall first be determined by the Zoning Administrator after reviewing the structure and site.  The Zoning Administrator's determination may be appealed to the Zoning Board of Appeals within fifteen (15) days of receipt of the determination.  Compatibility shall be based upon the definition of "dwelling" and the character of similar structures located within two thousand (2,000) feet, in the same zoning district. The application for a permit to move a building shall require a fee, which shall be determined by the Township Board.

 

          F.     CONNECTIONS TO DRAINAGE SYSTEM

Surface drains, ground water drains, and foundation or footing drains shall be connected whenever possible to an enclosed storm sewer, but they shall not discharge to a sanitary sewer or private waste water treatment plant.

 

G.     DWELLING UNIT STANDARDS          

The following standards shall be applied to each dwelling unit constructed or placed in the Township of Tittabawassee :

1.      It complies with the minimum square footage requirements of Article 13 for the zone in which it is located.

2.      It has a minimum width across any section of twenty (20’) feet and complies in all respects with the Township building code, including minimum heights for habitable rooms.  Where a dwelling is required by law to comply with any federal or state standards or regulations for construction, and where the standards of construction are less stringent than those imposed by the Township building code, then the more stringent Township regulations shall apply.

3.      It is firmly attached to a permanent foundation, constructed on the site in accordance with the Township building code and co-extensive with the perimeter of the building, which attachment shall also meet all applicable building codes and other state and federal regulations.

4.      It does not have exposed wheels, towing mechanism, under­carriage, or chassis.

5.      The dwelling is connected to a public sewer and water supply or to private facilities approved  by the local Health Department.

6.      The dwelling contains storage area either in a basement located under the dwelling, in an attic area, in closet areas, or  in a separate structure being of standard construction similar to or of better quality than the principal  dwelling.  The storage shall be in addition to the space for  the storage of automobiles and shall be equal to not less than fifteen (15%) percent of the minimum square footage requirement of Article 13 for the zone in which the dwelling is located.  In no case, however, shall more than two hundred (200) square feet of storage area be required by this provision.

7.      The dwelling is aesthetically compatible in design and appearance with other residences in the vicinity, with either a roof overhang of not less  than six (6”) inches on all sides, or alternatively with window sills and roof drainage systems concentrating roof drainage along the sides of the dwelling.  Also, not less than two exterior doors, with one being in the front of the dwelling and the other being either at the rear or side of the dwelling, and with permanently-attached steps or ramps connected to the exterior door areas or to porches connected  to the door areas where a difference in elevation requires these steps or ramps.

8.      The compatibility of design and appearance shall be determined in the first instance by the Building Official upon review of the plans submitted for a particular dwelling, subject to appeal by an aggrieved party to the Zoning Board of Appeals within a period of fifteen (15) days from the receipt of notice of the Building Official’s decision.  Any determination of compatibility shall be based upon the standards set forth in the definition of DWELLING as well as the character of residential development outside of mobile home parks within two thousand (2,000’) feet of the subject dwelling where the area is developed with dwellings to the extent of not less than twenty (20%) percent  of the area, or where the area is not so developed, by the character of residential development outside of mobile home parks throughout the Township.  The foregoing shall not be construed to prohibit innovative design concepts involving such matters as solar energy, view, unique land contour, or relief from the common or standard designed home.

9.      The dwelling contains no additions or rooms or other areas except those which are constructed with similar materials, are similar in appearance, and have similar quality of workmanship as the original structure, including the above-described foundation and permanent attachment to the principal structure.

10.     The dwelling complies  with all pertinent building and fire codes including, in the case of mobile homes, the standards for mobile home construction as contained  in the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) regulations entitled "Mobile Home construction and Safety Standards," effective June 15, 1976 , as amended.

11.     The foregoing standards shall not apply to a mobile home located in a licensed mobile home park except to the extent required by the state or federal law or otherwise specifically required in the code of the Township pertaining to these parks

 

H.       HEIGHT AND AREA ZONING EXCEPTIONS 

The height and area requirements of all zones shall be subject to the following exceptions:

1.      HEIGHT.  Height exceptions include parapet walls not exceeding four (4’) feet in height; chimneys; cooling towers; elevator bulkhead; fire towers; gas tanks; grain elevators; stacks; stage towers or scenery lofts; flour mills; food processing plants; television antennas; refineries; tanks; water towers; radio towers; ornamental towers; monuments; cupolas; domes and spires; necessary mechanical appurtenances; and additions to existing buildings which now exceed the height limitations of the zone district.

 

2.      PERMITTED YARD ENCROACHMENTS. The following items shall be considered to  be accessory structures, even though they may be attached to a principal building, and  may project into required side or rear yards for the principal building.

(a)     Open porches, paved terraces and patios, provided the following restrictions apply. NOTE: Enclosed porches are considered to be part of the principal building, subject to all yard, setback and area requirements.

(1)   The highest finished elevation of the paved area or porch is not over three (3) feet above the average surrounding finished grade.

(2)   If roofed, a porch is unenclosed, and the roof is no higher than one (1) story. A roofed area may not exceed ten (10%) percent of the required side or year yard.

(3)   If unroofed, paved areas or porches may have non-continuous wind breaks or walls not over six (6') feet high and not enclosing more than one half (1/2) the perimeter of the paved area or porch.

(b)     Structural elements such as cornices, sills, chimneys, gutters, and similar features projecting a maximum of two and one-half (2.5') feet.

(c)     Fire escapes, outside stairways, and balconies, if of open construction, projecting a maximum of five (5') feet.

(d)     Signs.

 

          I.      RESTORING UNSAFE BUILDINGS 

Nothing in this ordinance shall prevent the strengthening or restoring to a safe condition of any part of any building or structure declared unsafe by the Zoning Administrator.  Any such strengthening or restoring shall be in accordance with the building code of the Township.

 

          J.     ROOF AND SURFACE DRAINAGE

If a building is equipped with gutters or other means for collection of roof water, the downspouts and/or roof water conductor pipes shall be discharged on unpaved ground or paved surface at a distance of at least three (3') feet from the building wall. Further the grade line at the building wall shall be sloped away from the wall at the rate of at least one inch per foot (1": F), for a minimum of five (5') feet. Where settlement of the ground has occurred at the building wall, then the property owner is required to add fill to correct the condition to conform with this requirement.

 

         K.     SITE AND BUILDING HAZARD AND NUISANCE  PREVENTION

1.      SMOKE. It shall be unlawful for any person, firm or corporation to permit the emission of any smoke from any source whatever to a density greater than that density described as No. 1 of the Ringlemann Chart; provided that the following exceptions are permitted; smoke, the shade or appearance of which is equal to, but not darker than No. 2 of the Ringlemann Chart for a period, or periods, aggregating four minutes in any thirty (30) minutes. Method of measurement: For the purpose of grading the density of smoke, the Ringlemann Chart, as now published and used by the U.S. Bureau of Mines, shall be the standard. The Umbrascope readings of smoke density may be used when correlated with Ringlemann's Chart.

 

2.      DUST, DIRT AND FLY ASH. No person, firm or corporation shall operate or cause to be operated, maintain or cause to be maintained, any process for any purpose, or furnace or combustion device for the burning of coal or other natural or synthetic fuels, without maintaining and operating, while using said process or furnace or combustion device or contrivance to reduce the quantity of gas-borne or airborne solids or fumes emitted into the open air, which is operated in conjunction with said process, furnace or combustion device so that the quantity of gas-borne or airborne solids shall not exceed 0.20 grains per cubic foot of the carrying medium at a temperature of 500 degrees Fahrenheit. These regulations shall not be construed to preclude standard accepted farm practices.

 

         Method of measurement: For the purpose of determining the adequacy of such devices, these conditions are to be conformed to when the percentage of excess air in the stack does not exceed fifty (50%) percent at full load. The foregoing requirement shall be measured by the A.S.M.E. Test Code for dust-separating apparatus. All other forms of dust, dirt and fly ash shall be completely eliminated insofar as escape or emission into the open air is concerned. The Building Inspector may require such additional data as is deemed necessary to show that adequate and approved provisions for the prevention and elimination of dust, dirt, and fly ash have been made.

 

3.      GLARE AND RADIOACTIVE MATERIALS. Glare from any process (such as or similar to arc welding or acetylene torch cutting) which emits harmful rays shall be performed in such a manner as not to extend beyond the property line, and as not to create a public nuisance or hazard along lot lines. Radioactive materials and wastes, and including electromagnetic radiation such as X-ray machine operation, shall not be emitted to exceed quantities established as safe by the U.S. Bureau of Standards, when measured at the property line.

 

4.      DUMPING OF HAZARDOUS / RADIOACTIVE WASTES.  Dumping of hazardous waste materials and/or nuclear wastes shall not be allowed within Tittabawassee Township , except as permitted by current federal and state regulations.

 

5.      NOISE. No operation or activity shall be carried out which causes or creates measurable noise levels exceeding the maximum sound pressure levels prescribed below, measured on or beyond the boundary lines of said districts.

TABLE A

Maximum Permitted Sound Pressure Levels in Decibels

Octave Band 1-1,                                 1-2

(Cycles Per Second H2)  Day                Night

------------------------------------------------------------

00 to 74                                                76                  70

75 to 149                                              70                  62

150 to 299                                            64                  56

300 to 599                                            57                  49

600 to 1199                                          51                  44

1200 to 2399                                        45                  39

2400 to 4799                                        38                  33

4800 and above                                     36                  31

 

(a)     A db(A) scale will be used (for monitoring purposes). Sounds of very short duration, which cannot be measured accurately with the sound level meter, shall be measured by an impact noise analyzer; and the measurements so obtained may be permitted to exceed the maximum levels provided in Tables A and B by no more than five (5) decibels. For purposes of this ordinance, impact noises shall be considered to be those noises whose peak values are more than seven (7) decibels higher than the values indicated on the sound level meter.

 

(b)    Where street traffic noises directly adjacent to the boundary line exceed these maximum permitted levels, the intensity levels permitted may then exceed those levels specified in the tables but may not exceed the level of the subject adjacent street traffic noise.

 

TABLE B

Maximum Permitted Sound Pressure Levels in Decibels

(Post 1600 Preferred Frequencies)

 

                        Center Frequency                                  1-1,                  1-2

(Cycles Per Second H2)                         Day                 Night

---------------------------------------------------------------------------              

3.15                                         77                     72

63                                            73                     68

125                                          67                     62

250                                          62                     57

500                                          55                     50

1000                                        51                     46

2000                                        44                     39

4000                                        37                     32

8000                                        33                     28

 

In addition, sounds of an intermittent nature, or characterized by high frequencies, which the Building Inspector deems to be objectionable in adjacent districts, shall be controlled so as not to generate a nuisance in adjacent districts, even if the decibel measurement does not exceed that specified in those tables.

 

6.      VIBRATION. Machines or operations which cause vibration shall be permitted, but no operation shall be permitted to produce ground transmitted oscillations which cause a displacement exceeding that specified in the following tables as measured at the property line. These vibrations shall be measured with a seismograph or accelerometer; preferably the former. For purposes of the ordinance, steady state vibrations are vibrations which are continuous, or vibrations in discrete impulses more frequently than sixty (60) per minute. Discrete impulses which do not exceed sixty (60) per minute shall be considered impact vibrations.

 

 

 

 

 

Maximum Permitted Steady State                            Vibration in Inches

Frequency Cycle

(Cycles Per Second)                                                            1-1, 1-2

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

10 and below                                                              0.001

10 to 19                                                                      0.0008

20 to 29                                                                      0.0005

30 to 39                                                                      0.0003

40 and above                                                               0.0001

 

Between the hours of 8:00 P.M. and 6:00 A.M. , all the above maximum vibration levels as measured on or beyond the boundary line of residentially used areas shall be reduced to one-half (1/2) the indicated permissible values.

Maximum Permitted Impact Vibration in Inches

 

 

  Frequency Cycle (Cycles Per Second)

 

I - Industrial District

 

10 and below       

 

0.002

 

10 to 19                 

 

0.0015

 

20 to 29

 

0.001

 

30 to 39

 

0.0005