What kind of business can I open in a C-2 zoned building in Canton Township?

C-2 is Canton's broadest by-right retail district (Section 16.02.A). Permitted uses include grocery and convenience retail, furniture and appliance stores, building material sales, apparel and jewelry, salons and repair shops, veterinary offices, contractor showrooms with retail sales, laundromats, banquet halls and religious institutions, standard and carryout restaurants, bars, child and adult day care, fitness studios, ice cream parlors, offices and medical clinics, banks, funeral homes, and planned centers under 40,000 square feet.

Special land use approval is required for (Section 16.02.B): car washes, garden centers and outdoor plant display, enclosed theaters, fast food and drive-through restaurants, gas and service stations (filling stations only as redevelopment of existing ones), pet boarding and day care, larger planned centers, and municipal buildings.

Practical gates for any C-2 site:

• Site plan review for all uses, ending at the Township Board (Section 16.03.B; Section 27.02.C.10).
• Required conditions: retail dealings direct to customers, fully enclosed operations, no outside storage (Section 16.03.A).
• Parking at 1 per 150 square feet for retail plus employees, 1 per 65 for restaurants (Section 4.01.C), within a 10 percent overage cap.
• 85 foot front setback, 3 story and 35 foot height cap (Section 26.03).

A change of tenant that changes the use category can re-trigger site plan and parking review (Section 27.02.B.1), so verify the parking math before signing a lease.