MICHIGAN ZONING ENABLING ACT (EXCERPT)
Act 110 of 2006
ARTICLE V
SPECIAL ZONING PROVISIONS
125.3501 Submission and approval of site plan; procedures and requirements.Sec. 501.
(1) The local unit of government may require the submission and approval of a site plan before authorization of a land use or activity regulated by a zoning ordinance. The zoning ordinance shall specify the body or official responsible for reviewing site plans and granting approval.
(2) If a zoning ordinance requires site plan approval, the site plan, as approved, shall become part of the record of approval, and subsequent actions relating to the activity authorized shall be consistent with the approved site plan, unless a change conforming to the zoning ordinance is agreed to by the landowner and the body or official that initially approved the site plan.
(3) The procedures and requirements for the submission and approval of site plans shall be specified in the zoning ordinance. Site plan submission, review, and approval shall be required for special land uses and planned unit developments.
(4) A decision rejecting, approving, or conditionally approving a site plan shall be based upon requirements and standards contained in the zoning ordinance, other statutorily authorized and properly adopted local unit of government planning documents, other applicable ordinances, and state and federal statutes.
(5) A site plan shall be approved if it contains the information required by the zoning ordinance and is in compliance with the conditions imposed under the zoning ordinance, other statutorily authorized and properly adopted local unit of government planning documents, other applicable ordinances, and state and federal statutes.
History: 2006, Act 110, Eff. July 1, 2006
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Am. 2008, Act 12, Imd. Eff. Feb. 29, 2008
125.3502 Special land uses; review and approval; application; notice of request; public hearing; incorporation of decision in statement of findings and conclusions.Sec. 502.
(1) The legislative body may provide in a zoning ordinance for special land uses in a zoning district. A special land use shall be subject to the review and approval of the zoning commission, the planning commission, an official charged with administering the zoning ordinance, or the legislative body as required by the zoning ordinance. The zoning ordinance shall specify all of the following:
(a) The special land uses and activities eligible for approval and the body or official responsible for reviewing and granting approval.
(b) The requirements and standards for approving a request for a special land use.
(c) The procedures and supporting materials required for the application, review, and approval of a special land use.
(2) Upon receipt of an application for a special land use which requires a discretionary decision, the local unit of government shall provide notice of the request as required under section 103. The notice shall indicate that a public hearing on the special land use request may be requested by any property owner or the occupant of any structure located within 300 feet of the property being considered for a special land use regardless of whether the property or occupant is located in the zoning jurisdiction.
(3) At the initiative of the body or official responsible for approving the special land use or upon the request of the applicant, a real property owner whose real property is assessed within 300 feet of the property, or the occupant of a structure located within 300 feet of the property, a public hearing shall be held before a discretionary decision is made on the special land use request.
(4) The body or official designated to review and approve special land uses may deny, approve, or approve with conditions a request for special land use approval. The decision on a special land use shall be incorporated in a statement of findings and conclusions relative to the special land use which specifies the basis for the decision and any conditions imposed.
History: 2006, Act 110, Eff. July 1, 2006
125.3503 Planned unit development.Sec. 503.
(1) As used in this section, "planned unit development" includes such terms as cluster zoning, planned development, community unit plan, and planned residential development and other terminology denoting zoning requirements designed to accomplish the objectives of the zoning ordinance through a land development project review process based on the application of site planning criteria to achieve integration of the proposed land development project with the characteristics of the project area.
(2) The legislative body may establish planned unit development requirements in a zoning ordinance that permit flexibility in the regulation of land development, encourage innovation in land use and variety in design, layout, and type of structures constructed, achieve economy and efficiency in the use of land, natural resources, energy, and the provision of public services and utilities, encourage useful open space, and provide better housing, employment, and shopping opportunities particularly suited to the needs of the residents of this state. The review and approval of planned unit developments shall be by the zoning commission, an individual charged with administration of the zoning ordinance, or the legislative body, as specified in the zoning ordinance.
(3) Within a land development project designated as a planned unit development, regulations relating to the use of land, including, but not limited to, permitted uses, lot sizes, setbacks, height limits, required facilities, buffers, open space areas, and land use density, shall be determined in accordance with the planned unit development regulations specified in the zoning ordinance. The planned unit development regulations need not be uniform with regard to each type of land use if equitable procedures recognizing due process principles and avoiding arbitrary decisions are followed in making regulatory decisions. Unless explicitly prohibited by the planned unit development regulations, if requested by the landowner, a local unit of government may approve a planned unit development with open space that is not contiguous with the rest of the planned unit development.
(4) The planned unit development regulations established by the local unit of government shall specify all of the following:
(a) The body or official responsible for the review and approval of planned unit development requests.
(b) The conditions that create planned unit development eligibility, the participants in the review process, and the requirements and standards upon which applicants will be reviewed and approval granted.
(c) The procedures required for application, review, and approval.
(5) Following receipt of a request to approve a planned unit development, the body or official responsible for the review and approval shall hold at least 1 public hearing on the request. A zoning ordinance may provide for preapplication conferences before submission of a planned unit development request and the submission of preliminary site plans before the public hearing. Notification of the public hearing shall be given in the same manner as required under section 103.
(6) Within a reasonable time following the public hearing, the body or official responsible for approving planned unit developments shall meet for final consideration of the request and deny, approve, or approve with conditions the request. The body or official shall prepare a report stating its conclusions, its decision, the basis for its decision, and any conditions imposed on an affirmative decision.
(7) If amendment of a zoning ordinance is required by the planned unit development regulations of a zoning ordinance, the requirements of this act for amendment of a zoning ordinance shall be followed, except that the hearing and notice required by this section shall fulfill the public hearing and notice requirements of section 306.
(8)If the planned unit development regulations of a zoning ordinance do not require amendment of the zoning ordinance to authorize a planned unit development, the body or official responsible for review and approval shall approve, approve with conditions, or deny a request.
(9)Final approval may be granted on each phase of a multiphased planned unit development if each phase contains the necessary components to insure protection of natural resources and the health, safety, and welfare of the users of the planned unit development and the residents of the surrounding area.
(10)In establishing planned unit development requirements, a local unit of government may incorporate by reference other ordinances or statutes which regulate land development. The planned unit development regulations contained in zoning ordinances shall encourage complementary relationships between zoning regulations and other regulations affecting the development of land.
History: 2006, Act 110, Eff. July 1, 2006
125.3504 Special land uses; regulations and standards; compliance; conditions; record of conditions.Sec. 504.
(1) If the zoning ordinance authorizes the consideration and approval of special land uses or planned unit developments under section 502 or 503 or otherwise provides for discretionary decisions, the regulations and standards upon which those decisions are made shall be specified in the zoning ordinance.
(2) The standards shall be consistent with and promote the intent and purpose of the zoning ordinance and shall insure that the land use or activity authorized shall be compatible with adjacent uses of land, the natural environment, and the capacities of public services and facilities affected by the land use. The standards shall also insure that the land use or activity is consistent with the public health, safety, and welfare of the local unit of government.
(3) A request for approval of a land use or activity shall be approved if the request is in compliance with the standards stated in the zoning ordinance, the conditions imposed under the zoning ordinance, other applicable ordinances, and state and federal statutes.
(4) Reasonable conditions may be required with the approval of a special land use, planned unit development, or other land uses or activities permitted by discretionary decision. The conditions may include conditions necessary to insure that public services and facilities affected by a proposed land use or activity will be capable of accommodating increased service and facility loads caused by the land use or activity, to protect the natural environment and conserve natural resources and energy, to insure compatibility with adjacent uses of land, and to promote the use of land in a socially and economically desirable manner. Conditions imposed shall meet all of the following requirements:
(a) Be designed to protect natural resources, the health, safety, and welfare, as well as the social and economic well-being, of those who will use the land use or activity under consideration, residents and landowners immediately adjacent to the proposed land use or activity, and the community as a whole.
(b) Be related to the valid exercise of the police power and purposes which are affected by the proposed use or activity.
(c) Be necessary to meet the intent and purpose of the zoning requirements, be related to the standards established in the zoning ordinance for the land use or activity under consideration, and be necessary to insure compliance with those standards.
(5) The conditions imposed with respect to the approval of a land use or activity shall be recorded in the record of the approval action and remain unchanged except upon the mutual consent of the approving authority and the landowner. The approving authority shall maintain a record of conditions which are changed.
History: 2006, Act 110, Eff. July 1, 2006
125.3505 Performance guarantee.Sec. 505.
(1) To ensure compliance with a zoning ordinance and any conditions imposed under a zoning ordinance, a local unit of government may require that a cash deposit, certified check, irrevocable letter of credit, or surety bond acceptable to the local unit of government covering the estimated cost of improvements be deposited with the clerk of the legislative body to insure faithful completion of the improvements. The performance guarantee shall be deposited at the time of the issuance of the permit authorizing the activity or project. The local unit of government may not require the deposit of the performance guarantee until it is prepared to issue the permit. The local unit of government shall establish procedures by which a rebate of any cash deposits in reasonable proportion to the ratio of work completed on the required improvements shall be made as work progresses.
(2) This section shall not be applicable to improvements for which a cash deposit, certified check, irrevocable bank letter of credit, or surety bond has been deposited under the land division act, 1967 PA 288, MCL 560.101 to 560.293.
History: 2006, Act 110, Eff. July 1, 2006
125.3506 Open space preservation.Sec. 506.
(1) Subject to subsection (4) and section 402, a qualified local unit of government shall provide in its zoning ordinance that land zoned for residential development may be developed, at the option of the landowner, with the same number of dwelling units on a smaller portion of the land than specified in the zoning ordinance, but not more than 50% for a county or township or 80% for a city or village, that could otherwise be developed, as determined by the local unit of government under existing ordinances, laws, and rules on the entire land area, if all of the following apply:
(a) The land is zoned at a density equivalent to 2 or fewer dwelling units per acre or, if the land is served by a public sewer system, 3 or fewer dwelling units per acre.
(b) A percentage of the land area specified in the zoning ordinance, but not less than 50% for a county or township or 20% for a city or village, will remain perpetually in an undeveloped state by means of a conservation easement, plat dedication, restrictive covenant, or other legal means that runs with the land, as prescribed by the zoning ordinance.
(c) The development does not depend upon the extension of a public sewer or public water supply system, unless development of the land without the exercise of the option provided by this subsection would also depend upon the extension.
(d) The option provided under this subsection has not previously been exercised with respect to that land.
(2) After a landowner exercises the option provided under subsection (1), the land may be rezoned accordingly.
(3) The development of land under subsection (1) is subject to other applicable ordinances, laws, and rules, including rules relating to suitability of groundwater for on-site water supply for land not served by public water and rules relating to suitability of soils for on-site sewage disposal for land not served by public sewers.
(4) Subsection (1) does not apply to a qualified local unit of government if both of the following apply:
(a) On or before October 1, 2001, the local unit of government had in effect a zoning ordinance provision providing for both of the following:
(i) Land zoned for residential development may be developed, at the option of the landowner, with the same number of dwelling units on a smaller portion of the land that, as determined by the local unit of government, could otherwise be developed under existing ordinances, laws, and rules on the entire land area.
(ii) If the landowner exercises the option provided by subparagraph (i), the portion of the land not developed will remain perpetually in an undeveloped state by means of a conservation easement, plat dedication, restrictive covenant, or other legal means that runs with the land.
(b) On or before December 15, 2001, a landowner exercised the option provided under the zoning ordinance provision referred to in subdivision (a) with at least 50% of the land area for a county or township or 20% of the land area for a city or village, remaining perpetually in an undeveloped state.
(5) The zoning ordinance provisions required by subsection (1) shall be cited as the "open space preservation" provisions of the zoning ordinance.
(6) As used in this section, "qualified local unit of government" means a county, township, city, or village that meets all of the following requirements:
(a) Has adopted a zoning ordinance.
(b) Has a population of 1,800 or more.
(c) Has land that is not developed and that is zoned for residential development at a density described in subsection (1)(a).
History: 2006, Act 110, Eff. July 1, 2006
125.3507 Purchase of development rights program; adoption of ordinance; limitations; agreements with other local governments.Sec. 507.
(1) As used in this section and sections 508 and 509, "PDR program" means a purchase of development rights program.
(2) The legislative body may adopt a development rights ordinance limited to the establishment, financing, and administration of a PDR program, as provided under this section and sections 508 and 509. The PDR program may be used only to protect agricultural land and other eligible land. This section and sections 508 and 509 do not expand the condemnation authority of a local unit of government as otherwise provided for in this act.
(3) A PDR program shall not acquire development rights by condemnation. This section and sections 508 and 509 do not limit any authority that may otherwise be provided by law for a local unit of government to protect natural resources, preserve open space, provide for historic preservation, or accomplish similar purposes.
(4) A legislative body shall not establish, finance, or administer a PDR program unless the legislative body adopts a development rights ordinance. If the local unit of government has a zoning ordinance, the development rights ordinance may be adopted as part of the zoning ordinance under the procedures for a zoning ordinance under this act. A local unit of government may adopt a development rights ordinance in the same manner as required for a zoning ordinance.
(5) A legislative body may promote and enter into agreements with other local units of government for the purchase of development rights, including cross-jurisdictional purchases, subject to applicable development rights ordinances.
History: 2006, Act 110, Eff. July 1, 2006
125.3508 PDR program; purchase of development rights by local unit of government; conveyance; notice; requirements for certain purchases.Sec. 508.
(1) A development rights ordinance shall provide for a PDR program. Under a PDR program, the local unit of government purchases development rights, but only from a willing landowner. A development rights ordinance providing for a PDR program shall specify all of the following:
(a) The public benefits that the local unit of government may seek through the purchase of development rights.
(b) The procedure by which the local unit of government or a landowner may by application initiate purchase of development rights.
(c) The development rights authorized to be purchased subject to a determination under standards and procedures required by subdivision (d).
(d) The standards and procedures to be followed by the legislative body for approving, modifying, or rejecting an application to purchase development rights, including the determination of all the following:
(i) Whether to purchase development rights.
(ii) Which development rights to purchase.
(iii) The intensity of development permitted after the purchase on the land from which the development rights are purchased.
(iv) The price at which development rights will be purchased and the method of payment.
(v) The procedure for ensuring that the purchase or sale of development rights is legally fixed so as to run with the land.
(e) The circumstances under which an owner of land from which development rights have been purchased under a PDR program may repurchase those development rights and how the proceeds of the purchase are to be used by the local unit of government.
(2) If the local unit of government has a zoning ordinance, the purchase of development rights shall be consistent with the plan referred to in section 203 upon which the zoning ordinance is based.
(3) Development rights acquired under a PDR program may be conveyed only as provided under subsection (1)(e).
(4) A county shall notify each township, city, or village, and a township shall notify each village, in which is located land from which development rights are proposed to be purchased of the receipt of an application for the purchase of development rights and shall notify each township, city, or village of the disposition of that application.
(5) A county shall not purchase development rights under a development rights ordinance from land subject to a township, city, or village zoning ordinance unless all of the following requirements are met:
(a) The development rights ordinance provisions for the PDR program are consistent with the plan upon which the township, city, or village zoning is based.
(b) The legislative body of the township, city, or village adopts a resolution authorizing the PDR program to apply in the township, city, or village.
(c) As part of the application procedure for the specific proposed purchase of development rights, the township, city, or village provides the county with written approval of the purchase.
History: 2006, Act 110, Eff. July 1, 2006
125.3509 PDR program; financing sources; bonds or notes; special assessments.Sec. 509.
(1) A PDR program may be financed through 1 or more of the following sources:
(a) General appropriations by the local unit of government.
(b) Proceeds from the sale of development rights by the local unit of government subject to section 508(3).
(c) Grants.
(d) Donations.
(e) Bonds or notes issued under subsections (2) to (5).
(f) General fund revenue.
(g) Special assessments under subsection (6).
(h) Other sources approved by the legislative body and permitted by law.
(2) The legislative body may borrow money and issue bonds or notes under the revised municipal finance act, 2001 PA 34, MCL 141.2101 to 141.2821, subject to the general debt limit applicable to the local unit of government. The bonds or notes may be revenue bonds or notes, general obligation limited tax bonds or notes, or, subject to section 6 of article IX of the state constitution of 1963, general obligation unlimited tax bonds or notes.
(3) The legislative body may secure bonds or notes issued under this section by mortgage, assignment, or pledge of property, including, but not limited to, anticipated tax collections, revenue sharing payments, or special assessment revenues. A pledge made by the legislative body is valid and binding from the time the pledge is made. The pledge immediately shall be subject to the lien of the pledge without a filing or further act. The lien of the pledge shall be valid and binding as against parties having claims in tort, contract, or otherwise against the local unit of government, irrespective of whether the parties have notice of the lien. Filing of the resolution, the trust agreement, or another instrument by which a pledge is created is not required.
(4) Bonds or notes issued under this section are exempt from all taxation in this state except inheritance and transfer taxes, and the interest on the bonds or notes is exempt from all taxation in this state.
(5) The bonds and notes issued under this section may be invested in by the state treasurer and all other public officers, state agencies, and political subdivisions, insurance companies, financial institutions, investment companies, and fiduciaries and trustees and may be deposited with and received by the state treasurer and all other public officers and the agencies and political subdivisions of this state for all purposes for which the deposit of bonds or notes is authorized. The authority granted by this section is in addition to all other authority granted by law.
(6) A development rights ordinance may authorize the legislative body to finance a PDR program by special assessments. In addition to meeting the requirements of section 508, the development rights ordinance shall include in the procedure to approve and establish a special assessment district both of the following:
(a) The requirement that there be filed with the legislative body a petition containing all of the following:
(i) A description of the development rights to be purchased, including a legal description of the land from which the purchase is to be made.
(ii) A description of the proposed special assessment district.
(iii) The signatures of the owners of at least 66% of the land area in the proposed special assessment district.
(iv) The amount and duration of the proposed special assessments.
(b) The requirement that the legislative body specify how the proposed purchase of development rights will specially benefit the land in the proposed special assessment district.
History: 2006, Act 110, Eff. July 1, 2006
125.3513 Biofuel production facility as permitted use of property; requirements; special land use approval; application; hearing; conditions; applicability of subsections (2) to (5); authority of local unit of government; definitions.Sec. 513.
(1) A biofuel production facility with an annual production capacity of not more than 100,000 gallons of biofuel is a permitted use of property and is not subject to special land use approval if all of the following requirements are met:
(a) The biofuel production facility is located on a farm.
(b) The biofuel production facility is located not less than 100 feet from the boundary of any contiguous property under different ownership than the property on which the biofuel production facility is located and meets all applicable setback requirements of the zoning ordinance.
(c) On an annual basis, not less than 75% of the feedstock for the biofuel production facility is produced on the farm where the biofuel production facility is located, and not less than 75% of the biofuel or another product or by-product produced by the biofuel production facility is used on that farm.
(2) Subject to subsections (6) and (7), each of the following is a permitted use of property if it receives special land use approval under subsections (3) to (5):
(a) A biofuel production facility with an annual production capacity of not more than 100,000 gallons of biofuel that meets the requirements of subsection (1)(a) and (b) but that does not meet the requirements of subsection (1)(c).
(b) A biofuel production facility with an annual production capacity of more than 100,000 gallons but not more than 500,000 gallons of biofuel that meets the requirements of subsection (1)(a) and (b).
(3) An application for special land use approval for a biofuel production facility described in subsection (2) shall include all of the following:
(a) A site plan as required under section 501, including a map of the property and existing and proposed buildings and other facilities.
(b) A description of the process to be used to produce biofuel.
(c) The number of gallons of biofuel anticipated to be produced annually.
(d) An emergency access and fire protection plan that has been reviewed and approved by the appropriate responding police and fire departments.
(e) For an ethanol production facility that will produce more than 10,000 proof gallons annually, completed United States department of the treasury, alcohol and tobacco tax and trade bureau, forms 5000.29 (environmental information) and 5000.30 (supplemental information on water quality considerations under 33 USC 1341(a)), or successor forms, required to implement regulations under the national environmental policy act of 1969, 42 USC 4321 to 4347, and the federal water pollution control act, 33 USC 1251 to 1387.
(f) Information that demonstrates that the biofuel production facility will comply with the requirements of subsections (2) and (5).
(g) Any additional information requested by the body or official responsible for granting special land use approval and relevant to compliance with a zoning ordinance provision described in section 502(1) or 504.
(4) A local unit of government shall hold a hearing on an application for special land use approval under subsection (2) not more than 60 days after the application is filed. For the purposes of this section, the notice required under section 502(2) shall provide notice of the hearing, rather than notice of a right to request a hearing.
(5) Special land use approval of a biofuel production facility described in subsection (2) shall be made expressly conditional on the facility's meeting all of the following requirements before the facility begins operation and no additional requirements:
(a) Buildings, facilities, and equipment used in the production or storage of biofuel comply with local, state, and federal laws.
(b) The owner or operator of the biofuel production facility provides the local unit of government with proof that all necessary approvals have been obtained from the department of environmental quality and other state and federal agencies that are involved in permitting any of the following aspects of biofuel production:
(i) Air pollution emissions.
(ii) Transportation of biofuel or additional products resulting from biofuel production.
(iii) Use or reuse of additional products resulting from biofuel production.
(iv) Storage of raw materials, fuel, or additional products used in, or resulting from, biofuel production.
(c) The biofuel production facility includes sufficient storage for both of the following:
(i) Raw materials and fuel.
(ii) Additional products resulting from biofuel production or the capacity to dispose of additional products through land application, livestock consumption, sale, or other legal use.
(6) Subsections (2) to (5) do not apply to a biofuel production facility if the zoning ordinance provides different criteria for special land use approval of a biofuel production facility located on a farm. An amendment to a zoning ordinance adopted only to provide such criteria is not subject to a protest petition under section 403.
(7) A local unit of government may authorize a biofuel production facility described in subsection (2) as a permitted use of property not subject to a special land use approval.
(8) This section does not affect the authority of a local unit of government to prohibit or authorize biofuel production facilities that are not located on farms.
(9) As used in this section:
(a) "Biofuel" means any renewable fuel product, whether solid, liquid, or gas, that is derived from recently living organisms or their metabolic by-products and meets applicable quality standards, including, but not limited to, ethanol and biodiesel. Biofuel does not include methane or any other fuel product from an anaerobic digester.
(b) "Ethanol" means a substance that meets the ASTM international standard in effect on the effective date of this section as the D-4806 specification for denatured fuel grade ethanol for blending with gasoline.
(c) "Farm" means that term as defined in section 2 of the Michigan right to farm act, 1981 PA 93, MCL 286.472.
(d) "Proof gallon" means that term as defined in 27 CFR 19.907.
History: Add. 2011, Act 97, Imd. Eff. July 19, 2011
125.3514 Wireless communications equipment as permitted use of property; application for special land use approval; approval or denial; authorization by local unit of government; definitions; applicability to small cell wireless communications facilities.Sec. 514.
(1) Wireless communications equipment is a permitted use of property and is not subject to special land use approval or any other approval under this act if all of the following requirements are met:
(a) The wireless communications equipment will be collocated on an existing wireless communications support structure or in an existing equipment compound.
(b) The existing wireless communications support structure or existing equipment compound is in compliance with the local unit of government's zoning ordinance or was approved by the appropriate zoning body or official for the local unit of government.
(c) The proposed collocation will not do any of the following:
(i) Increase the overall height of the wireless communications support structure by more than 20 feet or 10% of its original height, whichever is greater.
(ii) Increase the width of the wireless communications support structure by more than the minimum necessary to permit collocation.
(iii) Increase the area of the existing equipment compound to greater than 2,500 square feet.
(d) The proposed collocation complies with the terms and conditions of any previous final approval of the wireless communications support structure or equipment compound by the appropriate zoning body or official of the local unit of government.
(2) Wireless communications equipment that meets the requirements of subsection (1)(a) and (b) but does not meet the requirements of subsection (1)(c) or (d) is a permitted use of property if it receives special land use approval under subsections (3) to (6).
(3) An application for special land use approval of wireless communications equipment described in subsection (2) shall include all of the following:
(a) A site plan as required under section 501, including a map of the property and existing and proposed buildings and other facilities.
(b) Any additional relevant information that is specifically required by a zoning ordinance provision described in section 502(1) or 504.
(4) After an application for a special land use approval is filed with the body or official responsible for approving special land uses, the body or official shall determine whether the application is administratively complete. Unless the body or official proceeds as provided under subsection (5), the application shall be considered to be administratively complete when the body or official makes that determination or 14 business days after the body or official receives the application, whichever is first.
(5) If, before the expiration of the 14-day period under subsection (4), the body or official responsible for approving special land uses notifies the applicant that the application is not administratively complete, specifying the information necessary to make the application administratively complete, or notifies the applicant that a fee required to accompany the application has not been paid, specifying the amount due, the running of the 14-day period under subsection (4) is tolled until the applicant submits to the body or official the specified information or fee amount due. The notice shall be given in writing or by electronic notification. A fee required to accompany any application shall not exceed the local unit of government's actual, reasonable costs to review and process the application or $1,000.00, whichever is less.
(6) The body or official responsible for approving special land uses shall approve or deny the application not more than 60 days after the application is considered to be administratively complete. If the body or official fails to timely approve or deny the application, the application shall be considered approved and the body or official shall be considered to have made any determination required for approval.
(7) Special land use approval of wireless communications equipment described in subsection (2) may be made expressly conditional only on the wireless communications equipment's meeting the requirements of other local ordinances and of federal and state laws before the wireless communications equipment begins operation.
(8) If a local unit of government requires special land use approval for wireless communications equipment that does not meet the requirements of subsection (1)(a) or for a wireless communications support structure, subsections (4) to (6) apply to the special land use approval process, except that the period for approval or denial under subsection (6) is 90 days.
(9) A local unit of government may authorize wireless communications equipment as a permitted use of property not subject to a special land use approval.
(10) This section does not apply to an activity or use that is regulated by the small cell wireless communications facilities deployment act.
(11) As used in this section:
(a) "Colocate" means to place or install wireless communications equipment on an existing wireless communications support structure or in an existing equipment compound. "Collocation" has a corresponding meaning.
(b) "Equipment compound" means an area surrounding or adjacent to the base of a wireless communications support structure and within which wireless communications equipment is located.
(c) "Wireless communications equipment" means the set of equipment and network components used in the provision of wireless communications services, including, but not limited to, antennas, transmitters, receivers, base stations, equipment shelters, cabinets, emergency generators, power supply cables, and coaxial and fiber optic cables, but excluding wireless communications support structures.
(d) "Wireless communications support structure" means a structure that is designed to support, or is capable of supporting, wireless communications equipment, including a monopole, self-supporting lattice tower, guyed tower, water tower, utility pole, or building.
History: Add. 2012, Act 143, Imd. Eff. May 24, 2012
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Am. 2018, Act 366, Eff. Mar. 12, 2019
Rendered 8/15/2025 6:23 AM
Michigan Compiled Laws Complete Through PA 5 of 2025
Courtesy of legislature.mi.gov