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Planning staff outlines zoning text amendments to encourage smaller homes, duplexes and parking reductions
Summary
Canton Township planning staff presented a multi-part zoning text amendment package proposing updates to manufactured housing standards, private-road easement widths, parking requirements, duplex allowances and deferring some minimum unit floor-area rules to the state building code; commissioners asked questions and no formal action was taken.
Planning staff presented a multi-phase package of proposed zoning text amendments intended to clarify outdated language and ease development constraints for certain housing types while leaving larger housing-policy changes for future study.
Patrick, Township planning staff, said the batch includes straightforward updates the department intends to advance quickly and other items that will require longer study. Among the key proposals: replace outdated references to “class A mobile homes” with the defined term “manufactured dwelling,” reduce the minimum width for manufactured housing from 34 feet to 20 feet, relocate a 4-foot rear elevation offset to a more appropriate section, and refer exterior-material standards to section 26.06 to avoid duplication.
On private roads, staff recommended allowing engineering services to approve narrower easement widths than the current 60-foot standard where a 27-foot curb-to-curb road and necessary utility and drainage easements can still be accommodated. For parking, staff proposed clarifying that approved driveways and garages (with a 22-foot minimum driveway depth) count toward required residential parking and suggested lower multifamily parking ratios (for example, 1.25 spaces for efficiencies/one-bedrooms, 1.5 for two-bedrooms and 2 for three-bedrooms), citing Institute of Transportation Engineers data.
Patrick also proposed renaming the section on attached single-family dwellings to “duplex” and removing an existing five-acre minimum that has effectively prevented single-duplex construction in many zoning districts. Under the proposal, a duplex would be permitted where the lot area equals twice the minimum lot size of the underlying zoning district, preserving overall zoned density while allowing attached two-unit development in appropriate locations. Site-plan and administrative-review language would allow many duplexes to be approved administratively unless part of a subdivision, condominium or private road.
Staff recommended deferring minimum floor-area standards for certain dwelling types to the state building code (for example, housing for the elderly and specific multifamily minimums) rather than prescribing fixed square-foot thresholds in the zoning ordinance. Patrick said section 26.06 (facade material standards) will return with further revisions after additional review and discussion on newer siding materials.
Commissioners asked whether accessory dwelling units (ADUs) are included; staff said the ordinance does not yet have a general ADU standard but that the duplex changes could enable ADU-like arrangements in some situations. Commissioners also discussed exterior-material definitions, including cementitious siding (Hardie Board) and composite siding products; staff said the draft will clarify allowed materials and might reference common brand names for clarity.
No motion was required or taken; staff said the amendments will return in stages and that section 26.06 edits are likely to appear on a future meeting agenda.
