[Amended 4-16-2009; 11-19-2009; 11-19-2015]
This article sets forth the responsibility and scope of authority
for the Township Board of Trustees, Township Planning Commission,
Township Zoning Board of Appeals and zoning enforcement officials,
including the Building Officials, Director of Community Development,
Ordinance Enforcement Officer and designees.
The Planning Commission, Board of Trustees or Zoning Board of
Appeals (ZBA) may withhold approval for any use, site plan, special
land use or other approval required by this chapter pending approvals
required by state, county or federal agencies/departments.
The Township Board of Trustees shall have the following responsibilities
and authority pursuant to this chapter:
A.
Pursuant to the authority conferred by the Michigan Zoning Enabling
Act, Public Act 110 of 2006, as amended, the Township Board of Trustees
shall adopt the Zoning Ordinance and text or map amendments recommended
by the Planning Commission or by court decree.
C.
The Township Board shall set fees for permits, applications and requests
for action pursuant to the regulations set forth in this chapter.
In the absence of establishing a fee for a specific permit or application,
the Director of Community Development or other appropriate enforcement
officer shall assess the fee based on the estimated costs of processing
and reviewing the permit or application.
D.
In accordance with Michigan Public Act 110 of 2006, as amended, members
of the Planning Commission shall be appointed by the Township Supervisor
with approval by the Township Board.
E.
In accordance with Michigan Public Act 110 of 2006, as amended, members
of the Zoning Board of Appeals shall be appointed by the Township
Supervisor with approval by the Township Board.
A.
The Planning Commission shall have the powers and duties provided
for zoning commissions pursuant to the Michigan Zoning Enabling Act,
Public Act 110 of 2006.
B.
Members of the Planning Commission shall be nominated by the Township
Supervisor and approved by the Board of Trustees. The qualifications,
terms, filling of vacancies, compensation and operation of the Planning
Commission shall be in accordance with Act 110 of 2006, as amended.
(1)
The Planning Commission shall consist of seven members. All
members shall be qualified electors of the Township. No more than
one member of the Township Board shall be a member of the Planning
Commission.
(2)
Members shall serve three-year terms.
(3)
The Planning Commission shall annually elect a Chairperson and
Vice Chairperson from its membership and create and fill such other
offices or committees as it may deem advisable.
(4)
Members may be removed by the Board of Trustees for misfeasance,
malfeasance or nonfeasance in office upon written charges and after
public hearing.
(5)
Members shall disqualify themselves from a vote in which the
member has a conflict of interest. Failure of a member to disqualify
themselves from a vote in which the member has a conflict of interest
constitutes malfeasance in office.
(6)
The Planning Commission shall adopt rules for the transaction
of business and shall keep a record of its transactions, findings
and recommendations.
C.
The Planning Commission shall have the following responsibilities
and authority pursuant to this chapter:
(1)
Formulation of the Zoning Ordinance, reviewing amendments to
the Zoning Ordinance, holding hearings on a proposed Zoning Ordinance
or amendment and reporting its findings and recommendations to the
Board of Trustees.
(4)
The formulation and adoption of a Master Plan as a guide for
development of the Township.
(5)
Other matters relating to land development referred to it by
the Township Board.
A.
The ZBA is created pursuant to the Michigan Zoning Enabling Act,
Public Act 110 of 2006, as amended.
B.
Members of the ZBA shall be nominated by the Township Supervisor
and approved by the Board of Trustees. The qualifications, terms,
filling of vacancies, compensation and operation of the ZBA shall
be in accordance with Public Act 110 of 2006, as amended.
(1)
The ZBA shall consist of seven members. All members shall be
qualified electors of the Township.
(2)
The first member shall be a member of the Township Planning
Commission.
(3)
The second member may be a member of the Township Board of Trustees.
(4)
The remaining members shall be representative of the population
and various interests in the Township. An employee or contractor of
the Board of Trustees may not serve as a member of the ZBA.
(5)
Members shall serve three-year terms, except for members of
the Planning Commission and Board of Trustees, whose terms shall be
limited to the time they are members of those bodies.
(6)
The ZBA shall annually elect a Chairperson and Vice Chairperson.
The Board of Trustees member shall not serve as the Chairperson.
(7)
Members may be removed by the Board of Trustees for misfeasance,
malfeasance or nonfeasance in office upon written charges and after
a public hearing.
(8)
Members shall disqualify themselves from a vote in which the
member has a conflict of interest. Failure of a member to disqualify
themselves from a vote in which the member has a conflict of interest
constitutes malfeasance in office.
(9)
The ZBA shall adopt rules for the transaction of business and
shall keep a record of its transactions, findings and recommendations.
C.
The ZBA shall have the following responsibilities and authority pursuant
to this chapter:
(1)
To act on all questions pertaining to the administration of
the Zoning Ordinance, interpretation of zoning district boundaries
and appeals from any decisions made by an administrative official
or body charged with enforcement of this chapter.
(2)
To hear and decide non-use-variance requests related to the
standards in this chapter.
(3)
The ZBA shall not have the authority to overturn a Planning
Commission decision to deny a site plan or special land use or to
modify any conditions attached to respective approvals.
D.
Denial of a decision by the ZBA may be appealed to the Wayne County
Circuit Court in accordance with court procedures. Any appeal must
be filed before 30 days after the signed decision or 21 days after
the minutes are approved, whichever comes first.
As specified throughout this chapter, certain actions necessary
for the implementation of this chapter shall be administered by the
Director of Community Development, Building Official, and other employees,
inspectors and officials of the Township. In carrying out their designated
duties, all such enforcement officers shall administer this chapter
precisely as written and shall not make changes or vary the terms
of this chapter. Responsibilities of the Director of Community Development,
Chief Building Official, code enforcement and designees shall be as
follows:
A.
Provide citizens and public officials with information relative to
this chapter and related matters.
B.
Provide applicants with appropriate forms and procedures related
to site plan review, rezoning and other zoning matters.
C.
Review and forward to the Planning Commission all applications for
site plan review, special land use review, petitions for amendments
to this chapter and other applications which must be reviewed by the
Planning Commission.
D.
Forward to the ZBA all materials related to applications for appeals,
variances or other matters on which the ZBA is required to act.
E.
Forward to the Board of Trustees all recommendations of the Planning
Commission concerning matters on which the Township Board is required
to take final action.
F.
Periodically report to the Planning Commission on the status of the
Township's planning and zoning administration.
G.
Maintain a current Zoning Map, Zoning Ordinance text and office records
by recording all amendments and filing all official minutes and documents
in a timely manner.
H.
Review applications to determine compliance with the provisions of
this chapter.
I.
Perform inspections of structures, uses and premises to ensure proposed
actions or conditions are, and will remain, in compliance with this
chapter.
J.
Investigate alleged violations of this chapter and enforce appropriate
corrective measures when required, including issuance of violation
notices, issuance of stop-work orders and revoking permits.
K.
Issue certificates of occupancy in accordance with § 170-42.6 when all applicable provisions have been met.
L.
Perform other related duties required to administer this chapter.
Any action requiring a public hearing shall comply with the
Michigan Zoning Enabling Act, PA 110 of 2006, as amended, and other
public notification provisions of this section.
A.
Public hearing notices shall include the following:
(1)
Describe the nature of the request, such as rezoning, text amendment,
special land use, planned unit development, variance, appeal, ordinance
interpretation or other purpose.
(2)
Include a list of all existing street addresses within the subject
property. Street addresses do not need to be listed when 11 or more
adjacent properties are proposed for rezoning, text amendments or
when the request is for an ordinance interpretation not involving
a specific property. If the property does not have an address, another
means of identification may be used.
(3)
Indicate the date, time and location of the public hearing.
(4)
Describe when and where written comments will be received concerning
the request.
B.
The public notice shall be published and mailed in accordance with
the following:
(1)
Notice shall be published and mailed a minimum of 15 days prior
to the public hearing.
(2)
Notice shall be published in a newspaper of general circulation
in the Township.
(3)
Notice shall be sent by mail or personal delivery to the owners
of property for which approval is being considered.
(4)
Notice shall be sent to all persons to whom real property is
assessed within 300 feet of the subject property and to one occupant
of all structures within 300 feet of the subject property, regardless
of whether the property or occupant is located within the Township.
If the name of the occupant is not known, the term "occupant" may
be used. Notification is not required to more than one occupant of
a structure; except if the structure contains more than one dwelling
unit or spatial area owned or leased by different individuals, partnerships,
businesses or organizations, one occupant of each unit or spatial
area shall receive the notice. In the case of a single structure containing
more than four dwelling units or other distinct spatial areas owned
or leased by different individuals, partnerships, businesses or organizations,
notice may be given to the manager or owner of the structure, who
shall be requested to post the notice at the primary entrance to the
structure.
(5)
Rezoning requests involving 11 or more adjacent properties,
a text amendment, an ordinance interpretation request that does not
involve a specific property and appeals of an administrative decision
shall only require notice in the newspaper.
(6)
If an ordinance interpretation or appeal of an administrative
decision involves a specific property, notice shall also be given
to the person bringing the appeal.
(7)
Notice shall be deemed mailed by its deposit during normal business
hours for delivery with the United States Postal Service or other
public or private delivery service.
C.
Any approvals granted pursuant to this article shall be effective
seven days after publication, pursuant to the provisions of Michigan
Zoning Enabling Act, PA 110 of 2006, as amended.
Any application for action pursuant to the regulations set forth
in this chapter shall be subject to, and accompanied by, a fee as
established by the Township Board of Trustees.
A.
Fees shall be collected in advance of any reviews, inspections or
issuance of permits or approvals.
B.
Upon notification of deficient fees, any applications or permits
under review shall be suspended, and new applications will not be
accepted until the required fees are collected.
C.
Applicants are responsible for covering reasonable costs and expenses,
which may include, but shall not be limited to, attorney fees, engineering
fees, planning fees, meetings, costs and fees for other services or
consultants who may be required to assist the Township for studies
or reports pertaining to the matters in question.
D.
The assessment and payment of application or permit fees shall be in addition to the requirements for a performance guarantee as specified in § 170-33.10.
E.
Fees shall not be assessed for applications or permits filed in the
public interest by a municipal department or Township official.
F.
Unused fees, which are not used by the Township, shall be refunded
to the applicant after site plan approval or project closeout, as
appropriate.
Any person who violates the provisions of this chapter shall be responsible for a municipal civil infraction, per the requirements Chapter 58, Article IX. Each day that a violation continues after notice has been served shall be deemed a separate offense, subject to the following penalties:
B.
In addition to ordering the responsible defendant to pay a civil
fine, costs, damages and expenses, the Judge or Magistrate shall be
authorized to issue any judgment, writ or order necessary to enforce
or enjoin a violation of this chapter.
C.
Each act of violation, and each day upon which any such violation
shall occur, shall constitute a separate offense.
D.
In addition to any remedies provided for by the Code of the Charter
Township of Northville, any equitable or other remedies available
may be sought.
E.
The Judge or Magistrate shall be authorized to impose costs, damages
and expenses as provided by law.
F.
A municipal civil infraction shall not be a lesser included offense
of a criminal offense or of an ordinance violation which is not a
civil infraction.
Any structure that is erected, repaired, altered, or converted,
or any use of premises or land which is begun or changed subsequent
to the time of passage of this chapter and in violation of any of
the provisions thereof, is hereby declared a public nuisance per se
and may be abated by order of any court of competent jurisdiction.