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City of Grand Haven Regulation

City in Ottawa County, Michigan (on the shoreline of Lake Michigan)

Population: 11,035

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An example of overlay districts used to apply certain standards to parcels located within multiple zoning districts and is intended to protect, conserve and promote specific areas within the city on where there are elements of environmental significance such as dunes, beaches, shorelines, rivers or streams, and wetlands. The City uses a two-prong approach by having a Sensitive Areas Overlay District and a Beach Overlay District. Both have standards that are applied in addition to the underlying zoning. Zoning Ordinance Sections 40-422 – 40-423.03

Regulation meets the following Key Measures:

3

Limits development/redevelopment in floodplains.

Requires water recharge areas and natural water retention basins during periods of heavy precipitation, snowmelt and riverflow designed to minimize impact of harmful pesticides and chemicals. The Sensitive Areas Overlay District defined by FEMA 100-year and 500-year floodplain. May also include wetlands regulated under the Michigan Resources and Environmental Protection Act (Act No. 451 of the Public Acts of 1994, as amended), Part 303, Wetland Protection.
Code of Ordinances, Chapter 16 – Flood Plain Regulations
Zoning Ordinance Article IV, Sections 40-422.02 – 40-422.06

4

Limits development/redevelopment along the shoreline.

City prohibits armoring (see “Limiting hardscaping/armoring of the shoreline” measure). City defines a Beach Overlay District (B-OD) intended to prevent damage to land (both private and public) along the shore of Lake Michigan. References a contour line based on data received from a University of Michigan resiliency study.
Zoning Ordinance Article IV, Section 40-423.01

5

Limits hardscaping/armoring of the shoreline.

No permanent hardscaping or armoring is allowed. The Zoning Ordinance allows for the use of sandbags or geotextile tubes temporarily when placed at the toe of a slope during periods of extreme high water, which must be dismantled immediately when water levels recede to below the State of Michigan Ordinary High Water Mark (OHWM).
Zoning Ordinance Article IV, Section 40-423.03

Documents

Floodplain Regulations

11/7/2011

Download Floodplain Regulations

Beach & Sensitive Overlay Protection District - Grand Haven Zoning Ordinance

1/4/2021

Download Beach & Sensitive Overlay Protection District - Grand Haven Zoning Ordinance