Battle Creek, MI Zoning Overlays & Bonuses: Density Bonus Law (2026)

Battle Creek offers its density bonus only through the planned unit residential development (PURD) in Section 1250.01. A PURD needs a computed area of not less than three acres, and the flexibility is granted through the special use permit process of public hearings. The base count comes from Section 1250.01(d)(3)A: total land area divided by the minimum lot area for the underlying zoning district in Chapter 1241 equals the number of dwelling units permitted, with the quotient rounded down to the next lower whole number.

Subsection B then adds the bonus. A 10% bonus applies if more than two-thirds of the development contains detached buildings each holding only one or two dwelling units, and/or town house or similar one-family attached buildings with no more than four dwelling units in each attached cluster. A 5% bonus applies if additional open space, beyond that required, is provided as a public park or playground of not less than one acre, free and open to the public with no obstructions or restrictions on use.

A further 5% applies if more than 25% of the total site acreage is identified as common open space. The bonuses are cumulative, so a project that meets all three is entitled to a 20% density bonus. The landowner carries the burden of showing that the excess will not have an undue and adverse impact on existing public facilities and on the reasonable enjoyment of neighboring property. The Planning Commission judges reasonableness by the amount, location and proposed use of common open space and the location, design and type of dwelling units, and it considers the physical characteristics of the site. Under Section 1250.01(d)(2), buildings and structures cannot cover more than one-third of the PURD, and no structure can exceed fifty feet.