A. Screening Elements: For the purposes of this article, screening elements shall include, but not be limited to: deciduous trees (shade and ornamental), evergreen trees, berms, solid fences, walls, and sound walls. Cyclone or chainlink fencing (with or without slats) shall not be deemed a screening material nor shall such fencing be eligible for points as set forth in table 8-4F-3 of this article.
B. Solid Fence Or Sound Wall: Where a solid fence, wall, or sound wall is used for screening, the landscape plan shall incorporate vegetative materials along the length of the screening to soften the appearance of such features.
C. Trash Dumpsters: Trash dumpsters shall be fenced or enclosed and screened from public view. The sight obscuring screen shall be at least six feet (6'), but not greater than ten feet (10'), in height. One side of the enclosure may be left unenclosed or unscreened, provided that the trash dumpster shall not be visible from a public roadway or an abutting property.
D. Outdoor Storage Areas: All outdoor storage areas shall be completely fenced or enclosed and screened from public view. The sight obscuring screen shall be at least six feet (6'), but not greater than ten feet (10'), in height. One side of the outdoor storage area may be left unenclosed or unscreened, provided that the materials stored in the area shall not be visible from a public roadway or an abutting property.
E. Loading Areas: Loading areas (including, but not limited to, loading spaces, loading docks, and service or maintenance areas) shall be screened from public view. In addition, loading areas that abut a residential district shall attenuate noise associated with such use by providing a sound wall and/or berm with screen plantings around the loading areas or at the property line abutting the residential district.
F. Berm Slopes: Berm slopes shall not exceed a rise to run ratio of one to two (1:2) and shall be a minimum of three feet (3') in height.
G. Sound Walls:
1. Sound walls shall meet all the following construction standards:
a. The wall shall be tall enough to break the line of sight from the noise emitter and the noise receiver on abutting property. See figure 15, section 8-1A-2 of this title.
b. There shall be no break in the barrier between the noise emitter and the noise receiver on the abutting property.
c. The wall shall be constructed of a rigid, dense material that provides a noise reduction of ten (10) dBA greater than the expected reduction in the noise diffracted over the top of the barrier as certified by a qualified and licensed engineer or architect.
2. For the purposes of this section, the location, height, and direction of the noise emitter and the location and height of the noise receiver on the abutting property shall be determined as follows:
a. For outdoor address systems, the noise emitter shall be at the height and location of the speaker and in the direction that the speaker is oriented.
b. For parking lots, the noise emitter shall be at a height of four feet (4') at any location where an automobile may travel and six feet (6') at any location where a truck or trailer may travel. The noise shall be measured in all directions that are not otherwise attenuated by a structure.
c. For loading areas, the noise emitter shall be at a height of six feet (6') above the floor of the loading dock. The noise shall be measured in all directions that are not otherwise attenuated by a structure.
d. The noise receiver on the abutting property with an existing structure shall be at a height of six feet (6') above the floor (including upper floors, if applicable) of the structure and any outdoor patio area.
e. The noise receiver on the abutting property where there is no existing structure shall be set at a height of six feet (6') at any location where a structure can be built. (Ord. 389, 6-14-2000)