The purpose of site plan review is to ensure that the use of
land and proposed structures thereon are in compliance with all applicable
provisions of this chapter, other ordinances of the Village and county,
and state and federal statutes. This section provides for the consultation
and cooperation between the applicant and Planning Commission in order
that the applicant may accomplish the desired objectives in the utilization
of land within the regulations of this chapter, while minimizing adverse
impacts on natural features, shores, roadways, adjacent uses, surrounding
infrastructure, and future uses of neighboring properties. This chapter
therefore requires that site plans include the documents, information,
and drawings necessary to address whether a proposed land use or activity
is in compliance with applicable ordinances and statutes and the intent
and purpose of this chapter.
Site plan review and approval by the Planning Commission shall
be required prior to the issuance of a building permit for the construction,
reconstruction, erection, or expansion of any building or structure
in any zoning district, or prior to the initiation of any special
land use in any zoning district, with the exception of the following:
A. Nonresidential accessory buildings that do not exceed 200 square
feet and have no impact on site design elements may be reviewed administratively
by the Zoning Administrator.
[Added 9-18-2023 by Ord. No. 386]
B. Accessory buildings and structures accessory to a single-family dwelling
or two-family dwelling in any zoning district.
C. Single-family dwellings and two-family dwellings.
D. Family day-care homes and foster-care family homes in any zoning
district.
E. Short-term
rentals in the Multiple-Family Residential (MFR) Zoning District.
[Added 6-14-2021 by Ord. No. 368]
All site plans reviewed by the Planning Commission pursuant
to this article shall comply with all applicable provisions of this
article and with each of the following standards:
A. Natural features preservation. Existing natural features of the site,
including vegetation, topography, water features, and other such features,
shall be preserved to the greatest extent practical. Only those areas
under actual development shall be disturbed.
B. Building relationships. Buildings and structures shall be placed
in an orderly, logical fashion that is consistent with its surroundings
and the intent of the district in which the lot is located. Where
proposed, open spaces shall be located and arranged in a manner which
provides view protection, visual relief, physical separation, environmentally
sensitive area protection, and/or recreational value to the site and
surrounding properties.
C. Views. Views from adjacent properties and streets open to water areas
shall be preserved to the greatest extent practical. Placement and
height of buildings and locations of open spaces shall make reasonable
provision for protection of existing views of the significant visual
resources of the Village.
D. Driveways, parking, and circulation. There shall be a proper relationship between the existing streets within the vicinity, and proposed deceleration lanes, service drives, entrance and exit driveways, and parking areas to assure the safety and convenience of pedestrian, bicycle, and vehicular traffic. Proposed streets and access plan and/or ingress/egress drives shall conform with any street or access plan adopted by the Village or MDOT. Access management standards of §
390-31 shall be met.
E. Surface water drainage. Special attention shall be given to proper site surface drainage so that the removal of surface waters will not adversely affect neighboring properties, the public storm drainage system, or nearby bodies of water. Temporary on-site storage to reduce peak runoff from the site may be required. Surface water in all paved areas shall be collected at intervals so that it will not obstruct the flow of vehicular or pedestrian traffic and will not create standing water in the paved areas. The standards of the Spring Lake Stormwater Management Ordinance (Chapter
320 of the Code of the Village of Spring Lake) shall be met.
F. Utility service. All utility services shall be provided on site in
a manner least harmful to surrounding properties, and all utilities
are located underground, as applicable, unless specifically waived
by the Planning Commission.
G. Special features. Exposed storage areas, trash receptacles, machinery installations, service areas, truck unloading areas, utility buildings and structures, and similar accessory areas shall be screened from view from adjoining streets and properties in accordance with Article
XIV, Landscaping and Screening.
H. Emergency access. The site plan shall provide for adequate access
to the site and all buildings on the site by emergency vehicles.
I. Transitions. All structures shall provide an orderly transition to
adjacent development of a different scale.
J. Common areas. Where appropriate, the site plan shall provide outdoor
common areas and associated amenities for employees, customers, and/or
residents which may include public trash receptacles, bike racks,
seating areas, recreations areas, shade trees, bus stop turnouts,
and similar facilities.
K. Agency approvals. All applicable local, state, and federal approvals
are in place, or that such approvals shall be in place prior to issuance
of a land use permit. Further, the failure to remain in compliance
with any such approval shall be grounds for denying or revoking approval
hereunder.
L. The site plan shall be consistent with the intent and purpose of
this chapter.
With regard to site plan approval decisions, an appeal may be
taken to the Zoning Board of Appeals in the same manner as other administrative
decisions. The concurring vote of a majority of the members of the
Zoning Board of Appeals shall be necessary to reverse any decision
by the Planning Commission, or to decide in favor of the applicant.
The appeal may be taken by any person aggrieved or by any officer,
department, board, or bureau of the Village, county, or state. The
Zoning Board of Appeals shall state the grounds of each determination.
An appeal to the Zoning Board of Appeals must be taken within 30 days
of the decision complained of by the appellant.