For the purpose of this chapter, certain rules of construction
apply to the text, as follows:
A.Â
Words used in the present tense include the future tense; and the
singular includes the plural, unless the context clearly indicates
the contrary.
B.Â
The term "shall" is always mandatory and not discretionary; the word
"may" or "should" is permissive.
C.Â
The word or term not interpreted or defined by this article shall
be used with a meaning of common or standard utilization.
The following definitions shall apply in the interpretation
and enforcement of this chapter, unless otherwise specifically stated.
A public or private right-of-way shown on a plat which provides
secondary access to a lot, block or parcel of land.
Construction plans revised to show the facility as actually
constructed.
An area of land within a subdivision that is entirely bounded
by streets, highways, or ways, except alleys, or between streets,
highways, or ways and a railroad right-of-way, unsubdivided acreage,
river or live stream, or any other barrier to the continuity of development.
A line parallel to a street right-of-way, shore of a lake,
edge of a stream or river bank, or other property line, established
on a parcel of land or on a lot for the purpose of prohibiting construction
of a building or structure between such building line, and a right-of-way,
other public area or the shore of a lake, or the edge of a stream
or river bank, or other property line.
The name by which the plat is legally and commonly known.
A subdivision of land, as defined in this article, in which
the land is to be developed for retail stores, wholesale businesses,
offices, business services, and similar uses.
An area within a subdivision held out of development by the
proprietor and designed for the common use or enjoyment of residents
of the subdivision. Common open space may contain such complementary
structures as are necessary and appropriate for the use or enjoyment
of the subdivision. Thus common open space may include (without limiting
the generality of the foregoing language) areas for recreational use,
wildlife or plant preserves, and nature study areas.
A residential cluster subdivision, a commercial or industrial
park, or a planned unit development as defined in this article.
The Washtenaw County Drain Commissioner.
The Washtenaw County Health Department.
A body or board appointed by the Washtenaw County Board of
Commissioners to review developments in Washtenaw County.
The Washtenaw County Plat Board.
The Washtenaw County Road Commission.
The intentional transfer by the proprietor to the public
of the ownership of, or an interest in, land for a public purpose.
Dedication may be effected by compliance with the status relating
to dedication of land, by formal deed of conveyance, or by any other
method recognized by the laws of Michigan.
Any subdivision of land as herein defined or any material
change in the use or appearance of any parcel of land subject to the
provisions of this chapter, or the act of building structures and
installing site improvements.
That area of land adjoining the channel of a river, stream,
watercourse, lake or other similar body of water which will be inundated
by a flood which can reasonably be expected for that region.
A comprehensive land use plan for Pittsfield Township which,
through any combination of text, charts, and maps, set forth proposals
for general locations for the various land uses, streets, parks, schools,
public buildings, and for the physical development of Pittsfield Township,
adopted by the Pittsfield Township Planning Commission and duly transmitted
to the Pittsfield Township Board of Trustees and to the County Planning
Commission, or any unit or part of such plan separately adopted, and
any amendments to such plan or any unit or part thereof separately
adopted; provided, however, that such plan or any unit or part thereof
separately adopted shall have been duly published. Any references
in this article or elsewhere in this chapter to "adoption" of plans
refers to adoption by the Pittsfield Township Planning Commission
in accordance with Act 168, Public Acts of 1959, as amended. The term
"General Development Plan" includes such commonly used terms as basic
plan, master plan, general plan, comprehensive plan, and land use
plan.
A strip or tract of land located between incompatible land
uses which is subject to private use restrictions or a negative easement
dedicated to public use as open space, for the purpose of protecting
the environment of a subdivision or to enhance a street right-of-way,
or both.
Any structure or material change incident to servicing or
furnishing facilities for a subdivision such as, but not limited to,
grading, street surfacing, curb and gutter, driveway approaches, sidewalks,
pedestrianways, water mains and lines, sanitary sewers, storm sewers,
culverts, bridges, utilities, lagoons, slips, waterways, lakes, bays,
canals, and other appropriate items, with appurtenant construction;
demolition of structures; planting; or removal of trees and other
vegetation cover.
A subdivision of land, as defined in this article, in which
the land is to be developed for manufacturing plants, trucking and
warehouse facilities, and similar activities.
Act 288, P.A. of 1967, as amended (MCL 560.101 et seq.).
A measured portion of a parcel or tract of land, described
and fixed in a recorded plat or in a plat proposed to be recorded,
and considered as a unit.
CORNER LOTA lot with two adjacent sides abutting upon streets or other public or open spaces.
INTERIOR LOTA lot which faces on one street.
Includes but is not limited to any commencement of mining
excavation, grading, or land clearance; deposit of refuse, waste,
or fill on land not already used for that purpose, or permitted to
be used for that purpose by the Zoning Ordinance, or which extends
the height of any existing deposit above the level of the land adjoining
the site; alteration of a shore, bank or floodplain of a river, stream,
or of any lake or pond, natural or artificial.
A detached single-family dwelling unit with all of the following
characteristics:
Designed for long-term occupancy, and containing sleeping accommodations,
a flush toilet, a tub or shower bath, and kitchen facilities, with
plumbing and electrical connections provided for attachment to outside
systems;
Designed to be transported after fabrication on its own wheels
or on flatbed or other trailers or detachable wheels, and to be moved
from one site to another;
Arriving at the site where it is to be occupied as a complete
dwelling, including major appliances and furniture and ready for occupancy
except for minor and incidental unpacking and assembly operations,
location on foundation supports, connection to utilities; and
Designed to be used with a permanent foundation.
This definition does not include travel trailers, nor the so-called
"modular homes" commonly built by mobile home manufacturers and made
into permanent residences by attaching two or more units together
on foundations, slabs, or basements. Modular homes shall be treated
under this chapter as standard housing and not as mobile homes.
Land dedicated or reserved for use by the general public
or for use by residents of the subdivision, or land held out of development
and retained in its natural condition, with or without public access.
Open space includes, but is not limited to, parks, parkways, playgrounds,
wildlife or plant life preserves, and nature study areas.
When included within the boundary of a recorded plat, means
a lot set aside for purposes other than a building site, park or other
land dedicated to public use or reserved to private use.
A continuous area or acreage of land which can be described
as provided for in the Land Division Act.
A separate right-of-way dedicated to or reserved for public
use by pedestrians, which crosses blocks or other tracts of land for
the purpose of facilitating pedestrian access to adjacent streets
and properties.
An area which is to be developed as a single entity according
to a plan and which is to contain one or more developments with an
established overall maximum dwelling unit density, along with associated
uses primarily for the benefit of the planned unit development. A
planned unit development may be planned, developed, and regulated
as a single land use unit.
The Planning Commission of Pittsfield Township as established
under Act 168, Public Acts of 1959 (MCL 125.3801 et seq.), as amended.
An individual, corporation, government, or governmental agency,
business trust, estate trust, partnership or association, two or more
persons having a joint or common interest, or any legal entity.
A map or chart of a subdivision of land.
Any person or any combination of persons, including a government
agency, undertaking any development as defined in this chapter. The
term "proprietor" includes such commonly used references as "subdivider,"
"developer" and "owner."
An area within a subdivision held out of development by the
proprietor and conveyed or otherwise dedicated to, or reserved for
purchase by a municipality, municipal agency, board of education,
state or county agency, or other public body for recreation or conservation
uses.
Public parks, playgrounds, or other recreational areas; scenic
or historic sites; school sites or sites for other public buildings,
and other areas dedicated to public use or enjoyment.
All persons, firms, corporations, copartnerships, or municipal
or other public authority providing gas, electricity, water, steam,
telephone, telegraph, storm sewers, sanitary sewers, transportation,
or other services of a similar nature.
An engineer registered in the State of Michigan.
The process of changing, or the map or plat which changes,
the boundaries of a recorded subdivision plat or part thereof. The
legal dividing of an outlot within a recorded subdivision plat without
changing the exterior boundaries of the outlot is not a replat.
To hold subdivision land out of development for the purpose
of:
The area covered by a public street, alley, or pedestrianway,
or by a private easement for access or passage.
A plan for existing and future street right-of-way, adopted
in accordance with the Inter-County Highway Commission Act, Act 381,
P.A. 1925 (MCL 252.1 et seq.), as amended.
A facility, placed within the right-of-way of existing streets,
or a facility connecting with buildings, parking lots, or other activities
having access to the street right-of-way, for the purpose of providing
safe movement of pedestrians.
Washtenaw County Soil Conservation District.
Any street, avenue, boulevard, road, lane, parkway or other
way which is an existing state, county, or municipal roadway; or a
street or way shown in a plat heretofore approved pursuant to law
or approved by official action; or a street or way on a plat duly
filed and recorded in the office of the County Register of Deeds.
A street or way may be public or private and includes the land between
the street lines whether improved or unimproved, and may consist of
pavement, shoulders, gutters, sidewalks, parking areas and lawns.
Any object or assembly of materials constructed or installed
on, above, or below the surface of a parcel and includes, but is not
limited to, any combination of materials, whether portable or fixed,
having a roof, to form a building for occupancy by persons, animals,
or property, anything attached to a building, or to any pole, pipeline,
or other part of a distribution system whether located on, above,
or below the surface of a parcel. A structure is any improvement,
as defined in this article, other than an improvement which consists
only of a material change, as defined in this article.
The partitioning or splitting of a parcel or tract of land
by the proprietor thereof or by his heirs, executors, administrators,
legal representatives, successors, or assigns for the purpose of sale,
or lease of more than one year, or of building development, that results
in one or more parcels of less than 40 acres or the equivalent, and
that is not exempted from the platting requirements of the Land Division
Act, is to subdivide or is the act of subdivision. The term "subdivision"
also refers to any area which is subdivided in accord with the foregoing
definition.
A committee created by resolution of the Washtenaw County
Board of Commissioners for the purpose of reviewing the technical
aspects of proposed plats.
Either a land surveyor who is registered in this State of
Michigan as a registered land surveyor or a civil engineer who is
registered in the state as a registered professional engineer.
A map showing existing physical characteristics, with contour
lines of not greater than two-foot intervals to permit determination
of proposed grades and drainage.
The Charter Township of Pittsfield.
The Water Resources Commission of the Michigan Department
of Conservation.
The Pittsfield Township Zoning Ordinance.[1]
[1]
Editor's Note: The Zoning Ordinance is available from the
Township Clerk.
