Fraser zoning ordinance rewrite advances; commission discusses new districts, ADUs, parking and trees

City planning staff presented the current draft of a comprehensive rewrite of Fraser’s zoning ordinance at the Sept. 3 Planning Commission meeting, describing major structural changes and asking commissioners for feedback on several policy choices. The rewrite, funded by a $50,000 Michigan State Housing Development Authority (MSHDA) grant, replaces the city’s roughly 30‑year‑old ordinance and reorganizes zoning districts, permitted uses, development standards and administrative procedures. Staff said the draft is still under review with the city attorney, the building official and engineering, and that a revised second draft will return to the steering committee and then to the planning commission before a council recommendation. City staff summarized the largest changes: updated and clearer organization of the ordinance text; renaming industrial districts from IR/IC to LI (Light Industrial) and GI (General Industrial); removal or consolidation of under‑used districts (for example, rec and OR districts absorbed into other districts); and creation of a new Transitional Residential (RT) district to buffer residential and commercial areas. Staff said the proposed zoning map largely follows the city’s future land‑use map but noted a few specific parcels were adjusted. The draft adds and clarifies use standards. Staff called out accessory…