This chapter shall be known, and may be cited, as the "Zoning Ordinance of Pittsfield Charter Township."
The Zoning Ordinance of Pittsfield Township adopted on April 24, 2013, and all amendments thereto are hereby repealed coincident with the effective date of this chapter.
A. 
Michigan Zoning Enabling Act. The Michigan Zoning Enabling Act (Public Act 110 of 2006, as amended) (MCL 125.3101 et seq.) establishes the authority to adopt comprehensive zoning regulations, and empowers the Township to enact a zoning ordinance and provide for its administration, enforcement, and amendment.
B. 
Necessity. The Township deems it necessary to enact said regulations for the purpose of promoting and protecting the health, safety, comfort, convenience, and general welfare of its residents.
C. 
Master Plan compliance. The Township has prepared and adopted a Master Plan designed to guide growth in a logical and orderly fashion; to lessen congestion on the public streets; to protect and preserve its natural resources; and to ensure a well-balanced community considering its present and potential physical, economic, cultural, and environmental assets.
D. 
Purposes. The Township has identified districts on a Zoning Map and prepared regulations in this chapter pertaining to such districts, which are a reflection of the Pittsfield Township Master Plan for the specific purposes of:
(1) 
Promoting and protecting the public health, safety, and general welfare;
(2) 
Protecting the character and stability of the agricultural, recreational, residential, commercial and industrial areas within the unincorporated portions of Pittsfield Township and promoting the orderly and beneficial use of such areas;
(3) 
Providing adequate light, air, privacy, and convenience of access to property;
(4) 
Regulating the intensity of use of land and lot areas and determining the area of open spaces surrounding buildings and structures necessary to provide adequate light and air and to protect the public health, safety, and welfare;
(5) 
Lessening and avoiding congestion on the public highways and streets;
(6) 
Providing for the needs of agriculture, recreation, residence, culture, commerce, and industry in future growth;
(7) 
Promoting healthful surroundings for family life in residential and rural areas;
(8) 
Fixing reasonable standards to which buildings and structures shall conform;
(9) 
Prohibiting uses, buildings or structures which are incompatible with the character of development or the uses, buildings or structures permitted within specified zoning districts;
(10) 
Preventing such additions to, or alteration or remodeling of, existing buildings or structures in such a way as to avoid the regulations and limitations imposed hereunder;
(11) 
Protecting against fire, explosion, noxious fumes and odors, heat, dust, smoke, glare, noise, vibration, radioactivity, and other nuisances and hazards in the interest of the public health, safety, and general welfare;
(12) 
Preventing the overcrowding of land and undue concentration of buildings and structures so far as is possible and appropriate in each zoning district by regulating the use and bulk of buildings in relation to the land surrounding them;
(13) 
Conserving the taxable value of land, buildings, and structures throughout the unincorporated portions of the Township;
(14) 
Providing for the completion, restoration, reconstruction, extension, or substitution of nonconforming uses;
(15) 
Designating and defining the powers and duties of the official or officials, and boards and commissions in charge of the administration and enforcement of this chapter;
(16) 
Providing for the payment of fees associated with the administration of this chapter; and
(17) 
Providing penalties for the violation of this chapter.
A. 
Validity. If any court of competent jurisdiction shall declare any part of this chapter to be invalid, such ruling shall not affect any other provisions of this chapter not specifically included in said ruling.
B. 
Severability. If any court of competent jurisdiction shall declare invalid the application of any provision of this chapter to a particular land, parcel, lot, district, use, building, or structure, such ruling shall not affect the application of said provision to any other land, parcel, lot, district, use, building, or structure not specifically included in said ruling.
A. 
Scope. This chapter shall be liberally construed in such manner as to best effectuate its purposes. In interpreting and applying the provisions of this chapter, the requirements shall be held to the minimum necessary for the promotion of the public health, safety, convenience, comfort, prosperity, and general welfare.
B. 
Construction. No building or structure, or part thereof, shall be erected, constructed, reconstructed, or altered and maintained and no new use or change shall be made of or maintained in any building, structure, or land, or part thereof, except as permitted by and in conformity with the provisions of this chapter.
A. 
More restrictive. Where any condition imposed by any provision of this chapter upon the use of any lot, building, or structure is either more restrictive or less restrictive than any comparable condition imposed by any other provision of this chapter or by the provision of an ordinance adopted under any other law, the provision which is more restrictive or which imposes a higher standard or requirement shall govern.
B. 
Abrogate or annul. This chapter is not intended to abrogate or annul any easement, covenant or other private agreement, provided that where any provision of this chapter is more restrictive or imposes a higher standard or requirement than such easement, covenant, or other private agreement, the provision of this chapter shall govern.
C. 
Compliance. Nothing within this chapter shall be construed to prevent compliance with an order by the appropriate authority to correct, improve, strengthen, or restore to a safe or healthy condition any part of a building or premises declared unsafe or unhealthy.
This chapter was adopted by the Township Board of Pittsfield Charter Township, Washtenaw County, Michigan, at a meeting held on May 13, 2015, and published, as required by Act 110 of the Public Acts of 2006, as amended. This chapter shall be effective May 29, 2015.