ORDINANCE #1 : Township Plat Ordinance

NOTICE 

WATERTOWN TOWNSHIP, CLINTON COUNTY, MICHIGAN 

To the residents and property owners of Watertown Township, Clinton County, Michigan, and all other interested persons: 

PLEASE TAKE NOTICE that the Township Board of Watertown Township, Clinton County, Michigan, at a regular meeting held April 3, 1965, adopted the following Watertown Township Ordinance No. 1 as governing said Township of Watertown to become effective May 3, 1965:

TOWNSHIP ORDINANCE NO. 1

TOWNSHIP PLAT ORDINANCE

APPROVED: APRIL 3, 1965  EFFECTIVE: May 3, 1965

An Ordinance to regulate the subdivision and platting of lands within the Township of Watertown, to provide minimum standards thereof, to provide penalties for the violation thereof, and to repeal all Ordinances or parts of Ordinances in conflict therewith:

THE TOWNSHIP BOARD OF WATERTOWN TOWNSHIP, CLINTON COUNTY, MICHIGAN, ORDAINS:

1.      Name: This Ordinance shall be known and cited as the Watertown Township Plat Ordinance.

2.      Regulations:

a.      Whenever any land in Watertown Township is desired to be platted into lots and the plat thereof recorded, the proprietor of such plat shall, before making final plans therefor, file a preliminary proposed plat with the Township Board for recommendations and preliminary approval by the Township Board.  Such preliminary proposed plat shall contain the name and address of the proprietor, the general location of streets and size of lots and streets within the plat, and the type of street construction and drainage structures to be constructed in the plat and plans for development of adjacent area.  Preliminary proposed plat to be accompanied by a topographical map with contour lines shown.

2. The proprietor of any land within Watertown Township desiring to have a plat of the same given final approval by the Township Board, shall deliver to the Clerk of the Township five (5) true copies of the plat conforming with “The Plat Act of Nineteen Hundred Twenty Nine,” as amended, of the State of Michigan (hereinafter referred to as the “Plat Act”), and with the requirements of this Ordinance together with the sum of $200.00 as a fee for the inspection and examination of the lands and plat by the Township Board.  Also, a traverse computation sheet shall be submitted with the plat.  After a plat has been approved by the Township Board, said plat shall be presented at least five (5) days prior to the regular meeting of the Clinton County Road Commission for their approval or rejection.
3. In the event a proposed plat submitted to the Township Board is rejected by the Township Board because of an error in survey of greater than one (1) foot in three thousand (3,000) feet, or because of failure of compliance with the “Plat Act” or this Ordinance in other respects, the platter shall pay to the Watertown Township such additional sum as is necessary to cover the reasonable additional expense incurred by the Township in such inspection and examination.
4. No lot within a plat or subdivision of within Watertown Township presented for the approval of the Township Board from and after the effective date of this ordinance, shall be less than the following dimensions.

(1)   If rectangular in shape, not less than 100 feet in width along the street line and rear line, and 150 feet in depth along the interior side line and along the other side of a corner lot.

(2)   If said lot is irregular in shape with straight or angular sides rather than curved sides, it shall be not less than one hundred (100) feet in width at a distance of forty (40) feet from the front lot line or street line and contain not less than fifteen thousand (15,000) square feet of overall area.  Except in the case of lots which diminish in width from the street or lot line to rear, the said lots shall bot be less than one hundred (100) feet in width—fifty (50) feet from the street line or lot line, and shall contain not less than fifteen thousand (15,000) square feet overall.

If said lot is of a shape other than heretofore set forth, the minimum front or street line shall be in the discretion of the Township Board, provided it approximates the minimum size for rectangular or irregular lots and contains fifteen thousand (15,000) square feet of overall area.

(3)   The results of a standard percolation test should be made at the center of each lot by a registered engineer or a professional engineer.  The percolation test shall show a drop of at least six (6) inches per hour.  In the event such test shows a drop of less than six (6) inches per hour, the lot size shall be increased 2,000 square feet for each drop of less than six (6) inches per hour.  No permit shall be issued unless the fore-going requirements are complied with, and no permit shall be issued regardless of lot size if the percolation test shows a drop of less than one (1) inch per hour.

5. No lot of a plat approved by the Township Board from and after the effective date of this Ordinance, and no lot complying with the provisions of this Ordinance on such effective date, shall be further subdivided in violation of the Plat Act of the provisions of this Ordinance.  This provision shall not, however, prevent the enlargement of building sites by the addition thereto of fractions of contiguous platted lots.  No building shall be done on any lot until said Plat has been approved and recorded with the Register of Deeds.
6. Before approving a proposed plat, the Township Board shall be satisfied that the lands are suitable for platting, that the streets and private roads are properly graveled and drained or adequate security has been provided for such improvements and that the highways, streets, and alleys conform to the general plan of development adopted by the Township Board for the width and location of highways, streets, and alleys in the Township.
7. No plat shall be given final approval by the Township Board until working drawings have been submitted to the Board, showing grades, drainage, structures and road construction plans for roads within and adjoining the said plat, and the same are found by the Board to conform with the minimum requirements of Watertown Township Plat Ordinance and with the requirements of the Clinton County Road Commission.  All grades shall not exceed a 5% grade.  Ditch grade shall not be less than 0.2% grade except upon special approval of the Township Board upon recommendation of the Township Engineer and/or the Clinton County Road Commission.  All grades in excess of 4% shall require installation of curb and gutter.  All road ditches that exceed 2% shall be sodded.
8. All road right-of-ways within plats hereafter recorded shall be at least 66 feet wide, with the improved portion thereof constructed with at least an MIA bituminous surface approved by and constructed to the minimum specifications of the Clinton County Road Commission in force and effect on the date of the adoption of this Ordinance.
9. All surface waters shall be adequately drained within each plat by a separate system of drainage structures or through the connection of such separate system to an adjoining system.

No plans for proposed subdivision drainage will be accepted by the Clinton County Drain Commissioner unless an adequate outlet is provided.

Drain easements shall be a minimum of thirty (30) feet (fifteen (15) feet either side of centerline) for construction and maintenance of drainage.

All subdivision drains shall be located inside the street boundaries and shall be place on the East and North side of streets.  The Drain Commissioner shall be furnished a complete set of plans for the proposed drainage construction.  The plans shall include a map of the entire drainage area showing the boundaries and total number of acres inside the boundaries.  A plan showing the location of the drain, location of manholes and catchbasins and other pertinent information, including the profile of the drain and percent of grade, hub, grade elevations and out per 100 foot station.  Semi-permanent Bench-Marks shall be established at various locations, witnessed and noted.

All construction shall be under the supervision of a competent engineer and shall be so constructed to the accepted engineering standards as to shaping the bottum, tamping, backfilling, etc.  Placing of backfill material shall be subject to Clinton County Highway Commission requirements.

All drains shall be designed to carry a runoff of not less than four (4) acres inches per 24 hours from the proposed development and 1 ½ inches per 24 hours from the entire drainage area.  No tile smaller than 8 inch diameter shall be used.

The tile drain shall be designed as A.S.T.M. Strength specifications.  Tile crossing roadways shall be a strength of C-200 if Vitrified or Tongue and grooved reinforced if Concrete.  All tile joints shall be tightly sealed.  The drains shall be designed for a depth of which will permit adequate footing and basement drainage for all dwellings.  Manholes shall be constructed at all street intersections, entrance of branch drains, angles in drains, change in size of tile, change of grade and located not more than 300 lin. feet apart.  Manholes shall be precast, circular cement block or brick construction and plastered inside and out and shall be a minimum inside diameter of 48 inches.  Cast iron rings and covers shall be placed on all manholes.  Manholes on hard surfaced streets shall be brought up tot he finished grade of the street.

Catchbasins shall be located at all intersections of streets and other locations as required to admit surface runoff.  Catchbasins shall be of precast, circular cement block or brick construction or other suitable material equal to M.S.H.D. specifications, and shall be plastered inside and out and have a minimum sump of 1.0 ft.

The platter may enter into an agreement with the Drain Commissioner for the construction of such storm water improvements with in a reasonable time and post a surety bond for the faithful performance of the agreement.  In its certificate of approval, if granted, the governing body shall specify that the plat as approved complies with the provisions of Section No. 560/19A, P.A. 1961.

10. Permanent dead-end streets shall be prohibited except upon prior approval of the Township Board and the Clinton County Road Commission, to be granted only where the topography of the area, rivers, streams, other natural conditions or the prior development of the area prevents a through street from being constructed.  Permanent dead-end streets shall be provided at the closed end with a turn-around having an outside improved diameter of at least 80 feet and a street property line diameter of at least 132 feet.  Temporary dead-end streets shall be provided at the closed end with a turnaround constructed to the full width of the right-of-way and in accordance with County road specifications.  Plats shall be developed to provide for the continuation of existing major thoroughfares in adjoining areas and for the projection of the same into other undeveloped areas adjoining said plat.  Such provisions may be made through out-lots within recorded plats over which rights-of-ways are granted to the County of Clinton.  The continuation of projection of existing and proposed streets and the determination of what streets are major thoroughfares, however, shall be in the absolute discretion of the Township Board and the Clinton County Road Commission.  All outlots in a Plat shall be dedicated for what purpose (recreation road, Etc.)
11. No plat shall be finally approved by the Township Board until the roads and drainage structures within and contiguous to the same have been constructed in accordance with this Ordinance, or in lieu thereof, a copy of a certified check or escrow agreement in the amount of at least 150% of the cost of the unconstructed balance of the total proposed construction of the improved road has been filed with the Township in favor of sad roads and drainage structures in accordance with the Ordinance and with the requirements of the Clinton County Road Commission.
12. The within Ordinance shall apply to all plats hereafter recorded unless special permission is granted by both the Township Board and the County Road Commission to deviate from the terms thereof, the be granted only in hardship cases or where roads have been substantially completed at the time of the adoption of this Ordinance in accordance with a pre-determined plan of road improvement, acceptable to the Clinton County Road Commission.
13. Nothing herein contained shall be construed to eliminate any additional requirements of the Clinton County Road Commission or Clinton County Drain Commissioner for road construction or drainage structures nor any such additional requirements imposed by the statutes of the State of Michigan.

3.      PENALTIES FOR VIOLATIONS:

Any person, firm or corporation who violates any of the provisions of this Ordinance shall be deemed guilty of a misdemeanor and shall be punished by a fine of not more than _________, or by imprisonment in the County jail not to exceed __________, or by both fine and imprisonment.  In addition to the imposition of the foregoing penalties, the Township may proceed at law or equity with such other additional remedies as the Township Board may deem appropriate, and in accordance with the law and statute provided.

4.      VALIDITY:

Should any section, clause or provision of this Ordinance declared by the courts to be invalid, the same shall not affect the validity of the Ordinance as a whole or any part thereof, other than the part so declared to be invalid.

BACK TO TOP|| BACK TO ORDINANCES ||WATERTOWN TOWNSHIP HOME