Special land uses in Ferndale, MI

In R-1, the special land use a property owner is most likely to meet is a three- or four-unit dwelling (Section 2.05). R-1 also caps each lot at four units, and an accessory dwelling counts toward that total (Section 2.03.A).

The process has two hearings. The applicant files a site plan, and the Planning Commission considers it at a public hearing. Then City Council holds its own hearing and makes the final decision against the Section 10.04 standards (Section 10.03.A). An approval expires in 2 years; the CED Director may extend it up to 18 months. A denied application cannot be resubmitted for 2 years (Section 10.05).

R-2 permits three- and four-unit and multiple-unit dwellings by right, so the special land use track comes up less often here than in R-1, where three- and four-unit dwellings need special approval and lots are capped at four units including an accessory dwelling (Sections 2.05, 2.03.A).

When a use does need special approval, the process has two hearings. The applicant files a site plan, and the Planning Commission considers it at a public hearing. Then City Council holds its own hearing and makes the final decision against the Section 10.04 standards (Section 10.03.A). An approval expires in 2 years; the CED Director may extend it up to 18 months. A denied application cannot be resubmitted for 2 years (Section 10.05).