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The total land area devoted to open space, exclusive of one-family and two-family lots, shall not be less than twenty percent of the gross land area included in the building lot. Such open space shall be maintained as grassed and landscaped areas, interior or exterior malls, pedestrian walks, and ornamental structures, when part of the landscaping theme. Open space shall not include structures or buildings, off-street parking areas, loading areas and access drives. Trees and shrubbery shall be provided at a minimum of one landscape unit per 3,000 square feet of required open space with one landscape unit consisting of two trees and six shrubs or three trees and three shrubs. There shall be a minimum of one landscape unit per building lot. Landscape units are in addition to screen plantings.
No fence, wall, shrubbery, earthen berm, sign, billboard, or other obstruction to vision shall be permitted which serves to obstruct vision between a height of 30 inches and ten feet on any corner lot within a triangle of 30 feet formed by intersecting street right-of-way lines or, in the case of interior lots, within a triangle of 20 feet formed by intersecting driveway edge and street right-of-way lines.
As an alternative to the 30-foot and 20-foot visibility triangles defined in the paragraph above, an unobstructed area between a height of 30 inches and ten feet at intersections formed by intersecting street right-of-way lines or driveway edge and street right-of-way lines may comply with the sight distance specifications established by Iowa SUDAS (State Urban Design Standards Manual) in Chapter 5, Roadway Design, Urban Geometric Design Criteria if approved by the City.
Reserved
The outdoor storage of materials, equipment, or supplies, when permitted in any commercial or industrial district, shall be so located or screened, fenced or landscaped so as to effectively prevent visibility of such storage from all abutting residential zoning districts or abutting existing residential uses and public rights-of-way. Such screening shall be sufficient if it prevents visibility of such storage area by persons traveling on public rights-of-way or standing at grade level on the side or rear lot lines of such property. Such screening may be accomplished by any one of the following methods:
1. Wall or Fence. Such fence shall not be less than six feet in height and shall be constructed in such a manner as to effectively accomplish the requirements of this section.
2. Landscaped Strip. Such strip shall be designed and landscaped by a qualified architect, engineer, or landscape architect; predominant planting shall be evergreen type trees, shrubs and plants so as to assure year-round effectiveness. Density and height of plantings shall be adequate to serve as a screen.
Nothing in this Zoning Ordinance shall be deemed to require screening from the street side of the outdoor storage of new and used motor vehicles which are kept for resale to the general public by a licensed dealer. The screening of landscape plantings, or any new merchandise or products held for resale to the general public may be required, and such requirements shall be determined by the Department Director. If a property within a commercial zoning district is put to a residential use subsequent to the establishment of an outdoor storage area adjacent thereto, this section shall not apply.
Nothing in this Zoning Ordinance shall be deemed to restrict the location or operation of a child day care center, or preschool, as defined in Section 190.03 of this Zoning Ordinance, if such child day care center or preschool is operated pursuant to a program conducted by any church, cathedral, temple, or other similar place of religious worship.
(Chapter 191 amended by Ord. 1651 – Apr. 10 Supp.)