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Kochville Township, Michigan

DEVELOPMENT GUIDE

Kochville Township

5851 Mackinaw Road

Saginaw, MI 48604

(989) 792‐7596

KochvilleTownship.com

K o c h v i l l e T o w n s h i p D e v e l o p m e n t G u i d e Page1

Section1Developing Property in Kochville Township

Overall development within Kochville Township is governed by two documents, the Master Plan and the

Zoning Ordinance. Additional documents apply to specific areas such as Access Management Plans for

M‐84 (Bay Road) and Tittabawassee Road, and specific Sub‐Area Plans. All of these documents have

been adopted by the Township’s Planning Commission. Copies of these planning documents are

available for review and/or purchase at the Township Hall.

If you are considering development in Kochville

Township, staff such as the Zoning

Administrator or the DDA Director can tell you

which specific planning documents apply to

your proposed project. This document – the

Kochville Township Development Guide – is

designed to be a supplement to the various

documents and provide a useful, easy to

understand visual guide to development, the

development process, and development standards in Kochville Township. You must use the zoning

ordinance in addition to the standards explained within this guide.

Early coordination and communication with the Township is important when a property owner or

developer seeks to improve property, build new facilities, or expand existing facilities. Based on the

zoning classification of your property and the extent of your improvements, you may need to seek

approval at a Planning Commission meeting. Further, what you wish to do may require rezoning or a

special land use permit and require a public hearing. Township staff will inform you if these are

needed. If you are developing a subdivision (PA 288 of 1967) or a site condominium (PA 59 of 1978),

you will need to comply with the applicable Michigan laws and follow the appropriate approval process.

Q: Where can I find more information about Kochville Township?

A: Kochville Township has a website, www.kochvilletownship.com,

where you can find news, government information, and other helpful

links.

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The Kochville Township office is located at 5851 Mackinaw Rd, Saginaw, Michigan, 48604.


Section2The Site Plan Review Process

Contacting the Township office early in your development process ensures that your site plan proposal

will be considered at the earliest possible date. The general process for site plan approval is

summarized in the flow chart below. If you are platting or building a condominium site, or if staff has

informed you that a rezoning or a special use permit will be required, these tasks must be done prior to

the start of site plan approval process.


Step 1 – Initial Inquiry Developer contacts the Township. The developer and Township staff hold

a pre-submission meeting to discuss the project.

Step 2 – Application & Fees Developer submits application and

associated fees to begin the site plan review process.

Step 3 – Submittal Developer creates a site plan inclusive

of elevations, landscaping, photometrics, and other required information as described in Section 155.331 of the zoning ordinance.

Step 4 – Requirements Preliminary site plans must be

submitted. Five full sets, one 11”x17” set, one

digital set (PDF). Applicant must also submit site plans

to County Road Commission, County Public Works, Consumers Energy, and, if applicable, MDOT.

Digital sets of as-built plans (AutoCAD & PDF) must be delivered to the Township when occupancy permit is granted.

Step 5 – Staff Report The Township will review the plans

and transmit a copy of the draft site plan review staff report to the developer.

Step 6 – Updated Plans Developer addresses deficiencies

described in staff report from Step 5 and submits five updated plan sets along with any required supplemental information.

If the revised plans are approved by Township staff and other applicable agencies, the plan review will be placed on the next available Planning Commission agenda.

If the plans are deemed insufficient, the Developer must make the necessary corrections before the project will be scheduled for Planning Commission.

Step 7 – Site Plan Review Developer attends Planning

Commission meeting. Planning Commission may approve,

approve with conditions, or deny the request for site plan approval.

Q: What are the County Road Commission and Public Works looking for on a plan? A: Check out these two websites:

www.scrc‐mi.org/policies.php

www.saginawcounty.com/PublicWorks


Some projects may also be reviewed by the Saginaw County Land Development Advisory Committee

(LDAC). This includes plats, site condominiums, and large commercial developments. The LDAC helps

ensure your project will meet County Road Commission and County Public Works Commission

requirements. Township staff will inform you of any requirements regarding the LDAC review process.

Kochville Township has developed a site plan review checklist that applicants are required to complete

and submit with their preliminary site plans. It serves as a guide for the applicant and the design

professional as to the specific requirements that are required for a site plan in Kochville Township. A

copy of the checklist is included in the appendix. Additional copies are available from Township staff

upon request.

Staff is involved with the site plan review process right from the beginning when a developer makes an initial development inquiry to Kochville Township. This ensures all provisions of the zoning ordinance are understood and the pathway toward quality construction is followed.



Section3General Infrastructure Guidelines

Parking

Section 155.080 of the Township’s zoning ordinance pertains to parking. The Township’s parking

standards are unorthodox when compared to many other communities as they place a cap on the

number of spaces permitted per use rather than requiring a minimum number of spaces per use.

The intent of this and other portions of the

chapter, like providing incentives for shared

parking, is to improve the appearance of the

roadways by reducing vast areas of surface

parking and to reduce the overall quantity of

impervious surface. There are provisions,

detailed in Section 155.083 of the zoning

ordinance, which provide Township staff the

right to require a specific use to exceed the

maximum number of parking spaces. The

decision criteria are contained within the

zoning ordinance.

When a redevelopment or expansion of a building occurs and the parking is in excess of what would be

permitted by ordinance, Section 155.084 of the zoning ordinance provides for excess parking spaces to

remain until there is a “substantial remodel of the structure or change in use or business use for which

the parking is provided.” At the time of the change or remodel, the

number of parking stalls must conform to the parking requirements

and the design of all new or modified parking and circulation areas

must conform as well. Full details and special exceptions are detailed

in Section 155.084 of the zoning ordinance.

Section 155.086 of the Zoning Ordinance

details the circulation and design

requirements for all parking areas. All

commercial, industrial, institutional, or

Q: What is the minimum number of parking spaces for a proposed use in Kochville Township? A: Actually, the Township has a maximum number. See Section 403 of the Zoning Ordinance.


multiple family developments must be surfaced with concrete, asphalt or permeable interlocking

pavers. All parking lots must be curbed. Each standard parking space must be a minimum of 10’ wide

and 18’ in length. Barrier‐free parking spaces are to comply with Michigan Barrier Free design

requirements. Full details of parking standards, design, circulation, and ingress/egress are provided in

the Parking Requirements chapter of the Kochville Township zoning ordinance.

Landscaping

Landscaping is intended to provide separation of uses from streets and visual separation of compatible

uses so as to soften the appearance of street, parking areas, and building elevations. The minimum

amount required is shown in the following chart. Please note that there are additional landscaping

requirements for the Cardinal Square area requiring low profile landscaping between the fence and

sidewalk or pathway. Specific requirements regarding landscaping and design are contained in Section

155.087. The additional Cardinal Square requirements are described in Section 155.333 of the zoning

ordinance.

Walkways

Walkways are to be provided around a building to

ensure safe access to the building from parking areas,

adjacent properties, and public sidewalks or street

right‐of‐ways and to ensure consistency. They must be

located and constructed as an integrated part of

existing sidewalks and trails and must coordinate with

Township plans for pedestrian circulation. In general,

walkways must be paved, raised 6” above the parking

lot grade, and be 5’ wide. Specific design criteria for

walkways are contained in Section 155.088 of the

zoning ordinance.

Parking Spaces Landscaping Required

50 or fewer 25 square feet per parking space

51-99 Between 25-50 square feet (Zoning Administrator determines)

100+ 50 square feet per parking space


Bicycle Requirements

As an effort to encourage non‐motorized traffic within Kochville Township,

bike racks are highly recommended at most business, retail, office, and

residential structures. For more information on Kochville’s non‐motorized

transportation requirements, see Chapter 8 of this Development Guide or

contact Township staff.

Lighting

Light fixtures are not to exceed 30’ in height and must be designed such that there will be no light

trespass beyond property lines. See Section 155.089 for further details.

Storm Water

Nearly all storm water in Kochville Township is discharged to a Saginaw County drain. On‐site detention

requirements, allowable discharge requirements, and storm water design criteria are governed by the

Saginaw County Public Works Commissioner. Please contact their office regarding specific storm water

design requirements and associated review fees. Developments along Bay Road (M‐84) will generally

discharge to MDOT owned storm sewers. Those developments will require an MDOT Storm Water

Discharge Permit.

In general, developers may be required to share on‐site storm detention and participate in

corresponding basin improvements.

Kochville Township is a member of the Saginaw Area Storm Water Authority (SASWA). This entity is

responsible for development of a county‐wide storm water management plan and a storm water quality

ordinance, which is followed by Kochville Township. Section 155.335 of the Zoning Ordinance describes

the storm water management design guidelines for the Township. The intent of these guidelines is to

encourage the use of structural, vegetative, or managerial practices, commonly referred to as Best

Management Practices (BMPs), designed to treat, prevent, or reduce degradation of water quality due

to storm water runoff.


District Types of Signs and Requirements (Non‐Residential Uses)

Section4Sign Standards

The Township’s sign ordinance is a general ordinance. It regulates the location, size, and

number of signs on a parcel. Signs within Kochville Township are listed by those which are

prohibited, those allowed without a permit, and those which are allowed with a valid sign

permit. All signs are subject to setback requirements, which vary, but all signs must be set

back from the road right‐of‐way or future road right‐of‐way.

The sign ordinance is intended to encourage the eventual elimination of signs that do not

comply with the ordinance. All nonconforming signs may be continued during the useful life

of the sign ordinance as long as they are maintained in good condition. A nonconforming

sign may not be structurally altered so as to prolong its useful

life. It may not be re‐established after damage or destruction

if the estimated cost of reconstruction exceeds fifty percent of

the estimated replacement costs. All nonconforming signs in

existence at the time of this ordinance are presumed to have a

useful life that ends on February 16, 2016, after which time

they must come into conformance with the Township’s ordinance. If you have any

questions or concerns regarding a proposed sign, changes to an existing sign or when your

sign must conform, contact Township staff.

The following chart summarizes dimensions for non‐residential uses only. Please see the full

sign ordinance for complete details, including height limits, setbacks, and requirements for

electronic message boards. The information here is provided as a general guide only.

Integral Wall Neighborhood Freestanding/

Monument Portable

Agricultural/Conservation Greenbelt

No limit 32 ft2 24 ft2 50 ft2 50 ft2

Residential NA 32 ft2 24 ft2 32 ft2 50 ft2

B-1 NA No limit NA 50 ft2 50 ft2

B-2, B-3 NA No limit NA 64 ft2 50 ft2

Industrial NA NA NA 64 ft2 50 ft2


Section5Cardinal Square Design Guidelines

Starting in 2002, Kochville Township worked jointly with Saginaw Valley State University and Saginaw

Charter Township to develop and implement a regional identity, called Cardinal Square. This is the area

of the Township that is bordered by I‐675, Freeland Road, Mackinaw Road, and Tittabawassee Road.

This regional moniker includes zoning

guidelines which encourage high quality

development and present a uniform

street edge consistent throughout the

Cardinal Square area.

The Design Guidelines for Cardinal

Square provide an overview of the

purpose and intent of this specific,

geographical area as well as the intent of

the design guidelines themselves.

Design Guidelines

1. Promote an understanding that this district is unique to the area and distinct.

2. Develop the public nature of the area and reinforce the sense that Cardinal Square

belongs to everyone.

3. Foster physical continuity, meaning that there is freedom of movement for

pedestrians, automobiles, and transit systems.

4. Encourage a diversity of uses, activities, and sizes of developments.

5. Encourage street‐level activity.

6. Create a hierarchy of transportation that begins with pedestrians. The hierarchy in

order of priority:

a. Pedestrians

b. Bicycles

c. Vehicles

d. Transit

7. Encourage quality building.


The streetscape environment includes all the elements that can make a pedestrian comfortable such as

the sidewalk, street trees, street furniture, and the façade of the building.

All development and redevelopment must include sidewalk and sidewalk connections as

deemed appropriate by the Planning Commission.

All new development and redevelopment must include the extension of the multi‐use

path when located on or adjacent to their property.

Multi‐use pathway connections are encouraged, even though the pathway may not be

directly adjacent to the development.

To provide safe and convenient pedestrian access, all public or private crosswalks on

streets and driveways shall be denoted by a change in surface consistent with the intent

of the design guidelines and as approved by Township staff.

Terminal street views (the point where a street connects perpendicular to a second street)

shall focus on a significant built or natural feature such as a building, landscaping, or a

public space, not a parking lot.

Street trees and landscaping should be designed and maintained to enhance pedestrian

access and levels of comfort.

Fencing and Brick Pilasters

Wrought iron or simulated wrought

iron fences with brick columns shall

be installed at key points along key

road frontages, as determined by

staff. The photo to the right

provides preliminary details for the

fencing. More complete details are

included in the zoning ordinance.

All fences shall be located four to

eight feet behind the sidewalk or

pathway, or match the fence on

adjoining properties, as determined

by Township staff. The brick is to

be a uniform color throughout the

area, a terra cotta blend.

2’ x 2’ brick column with limestone cap

32” x 36” fence, at least 16’ long but no more than 32’ between each column

Low growing landscaping between the fence and grass



Guidelines for Building

Entries shall be the highlight of the

building.

Buildings should be developed that relate

to people. They should be visually

pleasing at all sides that are used and

seen by the public. An unsightly “back

door” appearance shall be eliminated

from parking lots and rear entrances.

Each building or business shall be

encouraged to explore some level of

individual expression in order to reflect

the sense of a distinct area rather than a

linear shopping center.

A minimum of 50% percent of the

building materials should be natural brick or stone. The remainder of the building should

be constructed in approved complimentary, natural materials. Accessory structures must

be constructed of materials that are consistent and compatible with the architectural style

of the principal structure.

A minimum of 50% of the building materials for buildings within Cardinal Square should be natural brick or stone.

Q:Where in the zoning ordinance does it discuss the provisions for fencing and brick pilasters? A: See Section 155.333.

Design guidelines in Kochville Township shall focus on a significant built or natural feature such as a building, landscaping or public space, not a parking lot. Maintaining and extending pedestrian access via the multi‐use pathway is paramount.


Section6Access Management

General guidelines for driveways are given in Section 155.086(E) of the zoning ordinance. Additionally,

Kochville Township has two areas that are guided by separate access management plans: Tittabawassee

Road (west of I‐675) and M‐84 (Bay Road). Each road is a high traffic arterial in the Township. The goal is

to minimize operational difficulties and balance the needs of two separate groups: 1) Motorists who use

the roads for long distance traffic movement, and 2) Those who need access to individual locations along

the way. Each area has its own corridor overlay district that guides the placement and construction of

access points.

There are many specific and detailed requirements guiding the placement of access drives in these two

districts Please be sure to consult Section 155.351 (Tittabawassee Road) and Section 155.365 (M‐84) of

the zoning ordinance for complete details. Important highlights of each overlay district are outlined

below.

Tittabawassee Road Overlay District

The Tittabawassee Road Overlay District applies when the average daily bi‐directional traffic volumes on

Tittabawassee Road, for one‐half mile east or west of the proposed access point, exceed 13,000 vehicles

(Determined by the Saginaw County Road Commission).

The zone is located along the frontage of

Tittabawassee Road from Venoy Road

west to Hospital Road for a depth of 600

feet as measured from the right‐of‐way

line for Tittabawassee Road.

Intersecting road frontages are also

included in the overlay zone for a

distance of 600 feet.

All access plans for Tittabawassee Road

need the approval of the Saginaw

County Road Commission.


Driveway Spacing

Driveway space is determined according to the arterial

roadway operating speeds, shown in the table on the

right.

Number of Drives

Driveway openings will be limited. In many cases you

will be asked to share a drive with the neighboring

parcel. If this is not feasible, the other preferred

access point is from an abutting street (see Section

155.351(J) of the Zoning Ordinance).

Design Criteria

Please refer to Section 155.351(K) in the Zoning Ordinance for specifics

regarding design criteria for driveways.

M‐84/Bay Road Overlay District

The zone is located along the frontage of M‐84 for a depth of 660 feet as

measured from the center line of the road.

Service Drives/Shared Access

The use of shared access, parking lot connections, and service drives in conjunction with driveway

spacing, is intended to preserve traffic flow along thoroughfares and minimize traffic conflict, while

retaining reasonable access to the property. Therefore, access from a side street, a shared driveway, a

parking lot connection, or service drive connection to the arterial or collector street may be required

instead of a direct connection to Bay Road. However, where traffic safety would be improved, and the

driveway spacing requirements of this ordinance can be met, then direct connection to the arterial or

collector street may be allowed in addition to a required service drive.

Tittabawassee Road Overlay District Driveway Spacing

Posted Speed Minimum Spacing (Feet)

25 mph 105

30 mph 125

35 mph 150

40 mph 185

45 mph 230

50 mph 275


Driveway Spacing

All driveways or access points located on parcels with greater than 450’ of frontage on Bay Road shall be

at least 450’ from the nearest access point on the same or adjacent parcels.

Number of Drives

Driveway openings will be limited. In many cases you will be asked to share a drive with the neighboring

parcel. If this is not feasible, the other preferred access point is from an abutting street (see Section

155.368(C) of the zoning ordinance).

Application Process

New drives for access to Bay Road must receive approval from the Michigan Department of

Transportation (MDOT), the Saginaw County Road Commission, and Kochville Township. The application

and approval process is described in Section 155.369(D) of the zoning ordinance.

Design Criteria/Standards for Construction

Applicants are strongly encouraged to use and cite the National Access Management Manual by TRB, the

AASHTO Green Book, and the MDOT Access Management Guidebook when designing new access drives

and service drives. Please refer to Section 155.369(C) and Sections 155.370 and 155.371 of the Zoning

Ordinance for specific details regarding design criteria.


Q: Where do I go to obtain an application for a driveway permit? A: If you’re building on M‐84 (Bay Road) visit the MDOT building at 55 E. Morley Dr., Saginaw, MI 48601). If you’re building on Tittabawassee, speak with the Saginaw County Road Commission at 3020 Sheridan Avenue, Saginaw, MI 48601.


Section7Required Fees

As in any community, there are various fees associated with developing property in Kochville Township.

The table at the end of this section summarizes the applicable planning department fees along with

approvals required.

Development Review Escrow Policy

Kochville Township has an Escrow Policy for all types of development reviews. The policy establishes:

A sum of money will be collected up front, prior to any meetings with staff or releasing

review letters to cover costs associated with the review.

The sum of money collected is based on the fees required for each step in a typical review

process.

At each stage of the process, money is deducted from the escrow to cover Township

administrative and consultant fee reviews, as approved by the Board of Trustees.

Upon completion/approval of the site plan, or plat approval process, half of any remaining

money will be refunded to the applicant. If the escrow fund reaches a balance of $250

before the final plans are approved, additional money will be required to replenish the

escrow before additional reviews or meetings can be completed. The remaining half of

the funds will be refunded upon final completion of the project.

The escrow covers typical fees incurred by the Township, including but not limited to,

involvement by township staff and outside consultants, mailings and legal notice

requirements for public hearings, applicant’s appearance at planning commission and/or

Board of Trustees meetings, development fees and all other expenses and costs incurred

by the Township which are directly associated with reviewing and processing a

development application.

All fees shall be paid prior to processing any applications. The amount of the escrow is based on the

cost of the project, which includes land cost.



Q: Where can I find the cost of these fees? A: A fee schedule of current rates for fees and

permits that are assessed by the Township can be obtained at the Township office.

Other Fees

In addition to Planning Department fees, there are other typical fees and permits associated with

development and construction. A general listing is provided on the following page but all developers

should discuss which permits and fees may apply to their specific project with the Kochville Township

Zoning Administrator and the Building Inspector and any other reviewing agency.

Fees

Sanitary Sewer Connection Fee

Water Service and Connection Fee

Permits

Building Permit ‐ Cost varies according to cost of construction.

Sign Permit ‐ All signs require a separate permit that must be obtained outside of the site plan review process. General sign standards are included in this document and specific signage regulations are contained in the zoning ordinance.

Mechanical, Electrical, and Plumbing Permits ‐ Varies with amount of work that must be inspected.

Soil Erosion and Sedimentation Control Permit ‐ This permit is obtained from the Saginaw County Public Works Commissioner. Application, plan review, and inspection fees will apply.


KOCHVILLE TOWNSHIP PLANNING FEES AND APPROVALS

Notes: 1) Whether a site plan qualified under “base administrative review,” “general administrative review,” or

“comprehensive site plan review” is determined by the Kochville Township zoning administrator. 2) Plans requiring either general administrative or comprehensive reviews may be reviewed by the Township’s planning consultant, engineer, attorney, or other officials and expenses to the site plan deposit.

3) Plans required to go for Planning Commission approval are expensed as “comprehensive” site plan reviews. 4) In the event that estimated review expenses will exceed the amount listed above and/or a development’s site plan deposit falls below $500.00, the Township will require an additional escrow deposit to cover the expected funding shortage before proceeding with review. 5) Remaining escrow funds will be refunded within 30 days of issuance of a final Certificate of Occupancy for the project, or within 30 days of written project completion approval by the zoning administrator or township manager for projects not requiring issuance of a Certificate of Occupancy.

One 8 ½ x 11 OR one 11 x 17 reduced plan should accompany each set of larger plans. A digital copy of plans shall be submitted for preliminary approval and an as‐built digital set shall be submitted after receiving the occupancy permit (both in AutoCAD and PDF format). Digital copies are not required for zoning variance or ordinance interpretation.

Base

Administrative

Review

General

Administrative

Review

Comprehensive Site

Plan Review

Special Use

Permit

Plat Rezoning Variance/ Ordinance

Interpretation

Escrow Deposit

Required

(Unused portion

refunded)

$500.00 $3,000.00 $3,500.00 $4,000.00 $1,500.00 $1,000.00 $250 – Residential

$1,000 –

Commercial

Minimum final

cost (Township

administrative

fee for staff,

equipment, and

other expenses)

$500.00 $1,000.00 $1,000.00 $1,250.00 $1,500.00 $1,000.00 $250 / $1,000

Number of Plans 1 + digital 6 + digital 6 + digital 6 + digital 6 + digital 1 + digital 6 + digital

Submittal time

prior to next PC

meeting or

requested

approval

n/a n/a n/a n/a 60 days 45 days 30 days prior to ZBA

meeting

Newspaper

public notice

n/a No No Yes No Yes Yes

Public hearing

required

n/a No No Yes No Yes Variance: Yes

Ordinance

interpretation: No

Notification of

neighbors within

300’

n/a No No Yes No Yes Yes

Approvals

required

Zoning

Administrator

Zoning

Administrator

Planning Commission Planning

Commission

Township Board

Planning

Commission

Township Board

Planning

Commission

Township Board

Zoning Board of

Appeals (ZBA)


Section8Walkability

Kochville Township has a history of strongly supporting walkability enhancements of all types in the

community, including sidewalks and non‐motorized pathways. Sidewalks and pathways are typically

complimented by benches, light posts, trash receptacles, and other amenities as part of the Cardinal

Square requirements. These efforts are guided by the Kochville Township Master Plan (2001), which has

a goal to make Kochville Township a more pedestrian‐friendly community. To help implement this goal,

at the time of site plan review, new developments are required to install sidewalks. Currently, Kochville

Township is in the process of reviewing best practices for Complete Streets. The Michigan Planning

Enabling Act (PA 33 of 2008),

which was amended in 2010,

gives local communities the

opportunity to comprehensively

plan for all types of

transportation. In addition, PA

51 of 1955 requires MDOT and

Road Commissions to adopt

Complete Streets policies. In

Kochville Township, Complete

Streets is currently in the

planning stage, but this work

could lead to infrastructure

initiatives that establish bike

lanes and more bus stops,

sidewalks, and streetscape

elements.

Inventory of existing sidewalks and non‐motorized pathways in Kochville Township.

SVSU


Section9Town and Gown Overlay Districts

In addition to the broader Cardinal Square district, Kochville Township has two other related but smaller

sub‐districts, shown below as the Town Overlay and the Gown Overlay. By designating these two sub‐

districts as having distinguishable building form standards and preferred site layouts, the Township has

set into motion the adoption of construction and site design requirements that aim to retain distinctive

traditional form, reduce negative environmental impacts, support transit and pedestrian environments,

reduce auto dependence, encourage adaptive reuse and investment, ensure compatibility with adjacent

uses, and create more affordable and sustainable neighborhoods. In other words, the Town and Gown

Overlay Districts are designed to foster sustainable development in a vibrant, traditional, pedestrian‐

friendly pattern that encourages diverse and compact development. These sub‐districts promote a

lively pedestrian environment and public space activity by allowing for the integration of different

harmonious uses that foster dynamism and help create a sustainable economic structure.

The Town Overlay District is bounded by Tittabawassee to the south, Bay

Road (M‐84) to the west, Davis Road to the east, and Kochville Road to

the north. This district encourages a broad range of commercial, retail,

and residential developments. The intent is to prepare the Town Overlay

District to become the primary center of economic activity in Kochville

Township. Generally, the building form standards and preferred site

layouts are more relaxed in the Town Overlay, allowing for larger parking

lots and buildings up to four stories.

The Gown Overlay District stretches from Pierce Road in the north, Bay Road (M‐84) to the west, a

portion of Kochville Road to the south, and property lines to the east (see

map at right). Although the Town and Gown Districts have many

similarities, the Gown District distinguishes itself by strongly encouraging

compact development that is accommodating to high levels of pedestrian

use. Generally, the building form standards and preferred site layouts in

the Gown Overlay are more restrictive by limiting building heights to three

stories and requiring structures to be oriented to the street fronts. The

types of uses allowed in the Gown District should adhere to underlying

zoning requirements. The area is designed to work as a transition from Saginaw Valley State University

to the Town District, while emphasizing a comfortable neighborly layout.


Section10The Downtown Development Authority

In 1989, Kochville Township established a Downtown Development Authority (DDA). The DDA was

granted all the powers permitted by PA 197 of 1975, as amended. The Kochville Township DDA was

created to help prevent property value deterioration, increase property tax valuation where possible, to

eliminate the causes of property value deterioration, and to promote economic growth. In 2006, the

DDA district boundary was expanded. Generally, a DDA provides funding options, including tax

increment financing, to fund public improvements in the district, and can be a catalyst for economic

development. The entirety of the Kochville Township DDA District is shown below.

Recent projects in the Kochville Township DDA include the reconstruction of Kochville Road, a

wayfinding sign program, an extension of the sanitary sewer on Bay Road, and the construction of

gateway signs at key entry points into the Township. Upcoming projects include the reconstruction of

Pierce Road, intersection improvements at Bay and Tittabawassee Roads, an extension of the multi‐use

path, and a public art program.

For more information regarding incentives for developing property in the Kochville Township DDA,

please go online to www.kochvilledda.org or call Steve King, DDA Director, at (989) 792‐7596 ext. 119.


Appendix:Site Plan Review Checklist

A site plan will only be accepted and scheduled for a Planning Commission meeting if all of the following information is provided per Section 155.331 of the Kochville Township Zoning Ordinance. _____Name, Address, Telephone Number of Applicant/Owner and Designer _____Date (including revision dates) _____North Arrow _____Location Map (showing one square mile) _____Scale (1”=50’ three acres or less, 1”=200’ larger sites) _____Zoning (subject lot and adjoining properties in all directions) _____Lot Dimensions (indicate all) _____Building Dimensions _____Square Footage of Building(s) _____Building Use(s) (indicate layout of uses if more than one) _____Public Roadways (include curb, lanes, shoulder, width, thru lanes, etc.) _____Access Drive (width, traffic directions, curb, signs, etc.) _____Barrier Free Parking (size and number of spaces) _____Loading Dock(s) _____Road Right of Way (existing and proposed) _____Utility or Public Easements (any kind indicating existing and proposed) _____Setback Dimensions Front, Rear, Sides for all Buildings _____Parking Lot Layout (driveway widths, setbacks, green areas, lines, arrows, etc.) _____Curbing _____Number of Parking Spaces _____Parking Space Dimensions _____Circulations Drive Dimensions _____Curb Cut Dimensions _____Return Radii of Driveways _____Sign Location(s) and Dimensions _____Buffer Yards (indicate type proposed and detail all proposed landscaping) _____Fences (size, type and location) _____Site Draining and Grading _____Storm Drains _____Invert Elevations _____Proposed Finished Grades _____Drainage Ditches _____Catch Basins/Manholes/Detention Ponds _____Allowable Discharge and On-site Storage Calculations _____Accessory Structures _____Dumpster Location and Screening _____Sidewalks (size and location)


_____First Floor Finished Elevation _____Bumper Blocks or Other Vehicular Restricting Devices _____Landscaping _____Building Elevation Drawings Including all Four Sides of Building _____Delineate Phases of Development and Boundaries of Phases _____Neighboring Structures on Adjacent Lots (include distance property line) _____Neighboring land uses and proposed uses _____Location and Size of Adjacent Curb Including Those Across the Street _____Existing Trees (Type and Size) _____Wetlands (calculations of all areas proposed and existing) _____Floodplain _____Existing Ground Elevations On and Within 50’ of site _____Fire Hydrants (existing and proposed) _____Exterior Lighting (height, type and location) _____Existing Improvements (such as buildings, parking lots, etc.) _____Copy of Survey to Verify Property Lines and Existing Structures _____Sanitary Sewer (size, lead and connection) _____Water Mains (size and connections including proposed and existing) _____Sanitary Sewer (size, lead, connection, existing and proposed) _____Water Main (size, connections existing and proposed) _____Lot Split/Combinations and Details (recorded liber/page) _____ Saginaw County (copy of permits if applicable)* _____Soil Erosion _____Health Department _____Road Commission _____Drain Commissioners _____Michigan Department of Transportation (copy of permit if applicable)* _____Department of Environmental Quality (copy of permit if applicable)*

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